Reflections by Fidel »

Chavez, Evo and Obama (Part One)

Chavez, Evo and Obama (Part One)

I take a break from the tasks that are occupying all of my time these days to dedicate a few words to the unique opportunity presented by the political science of the sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly. The yearly event demands singular effort from those taking on the greatest of political responsibilities in many countries. For them, it constitutes a tough test; for the fans of that art, and there are many since it vitally affects everybody, it is difficult to remove oneself from the temptation of observing the interminable but educational show.

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Post-war intelligence service recruited mass-murdering Nazi

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Walther Rauff was a senior SS man who had led the working group which developed the mobile gas chamber – converted trucks which killed the people in the back with engine exhaust fumes. They were taken to concentration camps through Germany, Poland and Ukraine. The newly created Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), West Germany’s federal intelligence service hired him in 1958, even though he never made a secret of his past, according to the documents seen by Der Spiegel magazine.

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Persevering

Diana Nyasa swim from U.S. to Cuba

It’s a little after 10am and Diana is swimming strongly. We are 67 nautical miles from Cuba. She has a strong heart rate of 85 and is persevering. The challenge will be the prospect of crossing the Gulf Stream to reach land. Every professional aboard the flotilla, whether they be physicians or international marathon swimming hall of fame representatives, is astounded at this achievement, even to this point.

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Encountering Extraordinary Animals

Shark

This afternoon – it is stunning to actually witness – Diana is swimming stronger and stronger. Her strokes are up to 50 per minute, she is eating pasta, gobbling bananas, bits of peanut butter sandwiches, along with high-carb & high calorie liquid concoctions. Bonnie Stoll has not left her side.

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Message to the Five from Giustino Di Celmo

Mensaje de los Cinco a Giustino DiCelmo

EVERY year since September 4, 1997, Giustino Di Celmo returns to Havana’s Copacabana Hotel, walks through its halls, greets the employees, embraces the workers. In the lobby, he places a kiss on his hand and caresses the bronze plaque engraved with the face of Fabio, his son and the innocent victim of a crime. The grief-stricken Di Celmo family have never ceased demanding justice and an end to acts terrorism against Cuba.

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Eusebio Leal was Awarded Honoris Causa Title In Spain

Eusebio Leal

The Spanish University of Alicante (UA) conferred it’s Honoris Causa doctorate to the Historian of Havana, Eusebio Leal. At the ceremony, the house of higher studies highlighted Leal work in the process of restoration and conservation of the historic area of Havana, combined with the economic and social development of his community. The Historian of Havana thanked the distinction and stressed the historic ties between Spain and his country.

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The age of the Reaper

New bases extend US's drone war

The Reaper was not formally invited to the United Nations General Assembly annual bash in New York. In ancient times, he used to be known as the Grim Reaper. Grim the wily fellow still is – always under many guises. Reinventing the concept of death from above, he may call himself MQ-9 Reaper and strut his stuff equipped with Hellfire missiles. Or he may wear a business suit and incorporate the persona of the president of the United States.

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A message from the Cuban Five on the execution of Troy Davis

The Cuban Five

We feel deeply the horrific execution of Troy Davis. It is another terrible injustice and stain on the history of this country. We join in the pain felt by his relatives, friends and brothers across the world. Now we have another cause, another flag, to pursue our struggle for a better world for all, free of the death penalty and barbarism.

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Strong LatAm Presence at UN

UN General Assembly

The presidents of Chile, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname and Costa Rica are expected to deliver speeches on Thursday, the second day of debate of the 66th regular session of the UN General Assembly. Chilean President Sebastian Piñera will speak in the morning, while the Dominican Republic’s Leonel Fernandez, Peru’s Ollanta Humala and Suriname’s Desire Bouterse will do so in the afternoon.

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US Blockade Hurts Cuban Telecommunications

U.S. blocks Cuba unjustly

The U.S. blockade of Cuba has cost the Cuban telecommunications industry more than seven billion USD in losses in the last year alone, created obstacles to the purchase of hardware and software, and hindered Cubans’ ability to surf the Internet. The seven billion USD in losses were reported for May 2010 to April 2011, according to a Cuban government report sent to the UN General Assembly (UNGA).