Fidel Castro Says the Apartheid Regime in South Africa was Turned into a Nuclear Power

Edited by Alberto Chirino
2013-12-19 13:16:16

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Havana, December 19 (RHC)-- In his most recent article, Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro addresses episodes in the historic fight against Apartheid in South Africa, and the long-standing struggle of Nelson Mandela. Fidel recalls how Washington and Israel converted the Apartheid regime into a nuclear power.

Fidel says that no other present or past development that he may recall or has heard of, had such a strong impact on world attention, as the death of Mandela, and this was based on Mandela's human qualities and his noble sentiments and ideas.

And in this context, in his article entitled “Mandela has Died, Why hide the truth about Apartheid? Fidel raises the following question: Why do they try to hide the fact that the pre-Mandela Apartheid regime, which inflicted so much suffering on Africa and caused indignation in most nations of the world, that regime was converted into a nuclear power by Israel and the US?

Referring to the chapters of the fight against Apartheid, Fidel recalled that in 1975, South African racist troops left Namibia and made their way to Luanda in Angola.

The South African troops beat back the Angolan forces in their way to Cuito Cuanavale, a former NATO military base, some 100 kilometers from the location of a Cuban tanks brigade. At that point, Angolan President asked Cuba for support, which was given immediately. The Cuban and Angolan contingent counterattacked and the enemy weakened and began to withdraw.

But the problem was, Fidel recalls, the South African Apartheid regime had up to 12 nuclear weapons. President Ronald Reagan had authorized the handing over to South Africa of the weapons and Israel supplied the necessary equipment to launch them.

When the South African troops began to use 140-millimeter cannons, Russian combat aircraft manned by Cubans reacted with such success that it brought the enemy to the bargaining table. Cuba had put an end to a racist imperialist adventure.

Going on to the role of the Cuban delegation that attended the funeral services for Nelson Mandela, Fidel congratulated Raul Castro for his firmness and dignity especially when, in a kind and firm gesture, he greeted U.S. President Barack Obama with the phrase in English: “Mister President, I am Castro.”

Looking to the present and future leadership of Cuba, Fidel said that when his health limited his physical activity he did not hesitate a minute about whom, in his opinion, could assume the responsibility of leadership. Fidel said, one lifetime only uses a minute of history. Whoever assumes responsibility today will require the experience and authority necessary to choose among a growing and nearly infinite number of variations on the way forward.



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