Castro's Sis: I Worked for CIA
Agency recruited Fidel's sister to help overthrow dictator brother
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Fidel Castro spent much of the 1960s with eyes in the back of his head, always looking out for any attempts on his life -- he claims there were more than 600 plots -- but little did he know that one of the most serious threats was his own sister.
Fidel Castro spent much of the 1960s with eyes in the back of his head, always looking out for any attempts on his life -- he claims there were more than 600 plots -- but little did he know that one of the most serious threats was his own sister.
Juanita Castro claims she was recruited by the CIA to help overthrow her dictator brother, working with the agency for three years before she left Cuba for Miami in 1964.
The famous sister of Fidel and current leader Raul, now 76, made the revelations during an Univision-Noticias 23 interview yesterday, according to Reuters.
Her memoir, "Fidel y Raul, Mis Hermanos" (Fidel and Raul, My Brothers), co-written with Maria Antonieta Collins, hits store shelves today, and it's sure to reveal her tenuous relationship with her brother.
"I began to become disenchanted when I saw so much injustice," Castro said in the interview with Collins. "My situation in Cuba became delicate because of my activity against the regime."
Juanita Castro had been working to hide the same people her brother was targeting for execution as his regime took control. She said that's when the CIA approached her.
"They wanted to talk to me because they had interesting things to tell me, and interesting things to ask me, such as if I was willing to take the risk, if I was ready to listen to them -- I was rather shocked, but anyway I said yes," she said.
By 1964, Juanita Castro had left Cuba, landing in Miami where she opened a pharmacy and led a quiet life. She said she hasn't spoken to her brother since 1963. The CIA was never able to get close to Fidel, now 83. He has since given power to Raul, 78.
Juanita Castro's book is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $19.99. The 432-page Spanish language book was shelved by Castro for 10 years.
Posted Monday, Oct 26, 2009 - 7:41 AM EST
