No sooner did Cuban American relations hit their warmest notes in half a century than former President Fidel Castro stirred from retirement to say: Not so fast.
The 82-year-old Castro tossed cold water on U.S. interpretations of his brother Raul's overture to President Obama last week. His successor as Cuban president had offered to discuss "everything, everything, everything" -- from human rights to political prisoners -- with his U.S. counterpart.
Obama "misinterpreted" Raul Castro's remarks, Fidel wrote in his blog Tuesday, declaring that his brother meant only that "he was not afraid of addressing any issue."
"That shows his courage and confidence on the principles of the revolution," the elder Castro wrote.
The intervention shows Fidel's determination to ensure that there is no deviation from the principles of that revolution. Since being forced by illness to transfer power to Raul in 2006 -- a move ratified by the parliament in 2008 -- Fidel has rarely been seen in public.
But he has been heard. Castro blogs with the frequency and energy he once devoted to his exhaustive and exhausting speeches. His Reflections by Comrade Fidel is translated into seven languages, and remains a fascination for Cuba watchers trying to measure the island's political mood -- though the extent of his remaining influence is unclear.
Here, a collection of his blog musings on Obama and U.S. policies:
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May 25, 2008
On candidate Obama:
I feel no resentment toward him, for he is not responsible for the crimes perpetrated against Cuba and humanity. Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor. I have therefore no reservations about criticizing him.
In his speech, Obama portrays the Cuban revolution as anti-democratic and lacking in respect for freedom and human rights. It is the exact same argument which, almost without exception, U.S. administrations have used again and again to justify their crimes against our country.
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April 3, 2009
On Obama's performance at the G-20 Summit in London:
Undoubtedly, he is much better than Bush and McCain, but his thinking is not geared to the real problems of today's world. The empire is much more powerful than he or his good intentions are.
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April 6, 2009
On the visit by members of the Congressional Black Caucus to Havana:
