Fidel: U.S faces widespread opposition to a war against Iraq

www.heraldtribune.com By MAR ROMAN Associated Press Writer

President Fidel Castro said Wednesday that the U.S. government faces widespread disapproval from the American public and risks harming the world economy if it launches a military attack on Iraq. "The vast majority of the world's public opinion opposes this already announced war," Castro told a packed audience of foreign visitors at Havana's convention center in a nighttime speech broadcast live on state-controlled television. "The threat of a war in Iraq has been looming considerably over the world economy, which is currently affected by a serious and deep crisis," said Castro. The Cuban president said Venezuela's current political turmoil had already affected world oil prices, pushing them to intolerable levels, especially for poor nations. "It's a general opinion that the aim of the war against Iraq is to take possession of the world's third oil reserve, which worries Europe as it imports 80 percent of the energy. On the contrary, the United States imports between 20 and 50 percent," Castro said. Castro, wearing an elegant black suit and tie, spoke at the end of an international academic conference dedicated to independence hero Jose Marti on the 150th anniversary of his birth. The Cuban leader was responding to U.S President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech Tuesday night, in which he pledged to use the "full force and might of the U.S. military" if needed to disarm Iraq. Castro said recent surveys show that 65 percent of Americans oppose a military attack on Iraq without approval of the United Nations Security Council. Bush's statements are especially dangerous, said Castro, because "they are not pronounced by a mad man from a dark corner in a mental hospital," but a leader with access to nuclear weapons. Among those in the audience were former French first lady Danielle Mitterand and ex-Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid. The well-known Cubans there included Elian Gonzalez, the boy at the center of an international custody battle three years ago, and Aleida Guevara, daughter of the late revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. As he wound up his prepared speech, Castro looked at his watch and expressed surprise that he had spoken for less than an hour. Castro's speeches can run more than two or three hours.

Last modified: January 29. 2003 10:36PM

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