Cuba: The march to beg for U.S. dollars

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro led hundreds of thousands of Cubans in a massive march in Havana on Friday to protest new steps taken by the United States to squeeze Cuba's economy and topple its communist government.

Workers and students wearing red shirts and soldiers and military cadets in uniform marched waving Cuban flags along Havana's waterfront past the American diplomatic mission, shouting slogans against President Bush.

"Bush, you fascist, there is no aggression that Cuba cannot resist," they chanted during the more than three-hour march.

Authorities said one million people took part in the march organized by the government to repudiate what they see as U.S. meddling.

Castro denounced as "ruthless and cruel" measures adopted last week by the White House to step up support for Cuban dissidents and limit dollar remittances to Cubans and visits from their relatives in the United States.

So, Castro wants the U.S. to permit the continued flow of dollars from Cubans who fled his communist paradise and are earning the living they never could in Cuba. Also, he wants these same people permitted annual visits to relatives in Cuba. Why? [rubbing thumb and index] U.S. dollars, of course.

What utter hypocrisy. It's U.S. dollars that has been helping to prop up Cuba, Mexico, and many Caribbean economies. Castro understands very well what a destabilizing effect turning off the spigot will have on his continued oppressive rule. He knows that as Cubans feel the bite of hunger even more, they'll be more likely to rise up against him. Then, no more six hour speeches; no more orchestrated shouts of "Fidel! Fidel! Fidel!"

BTW, these are the measures that the letter writer from Jamaica is complaining about.