In his recent state visit to Cuba, U.S. President Barack Obama urged the Caribbean nation to help rebuild the ties that were lost during the Cold War. In one of his notable addresses in the country, the U.S. president declared that it is now time for both Cuba and the United States to put aside their differences and move forward in peace and cooperation.
It was an address that the current Cuban president, Raul Castro fully embraced. For the numerous citizens of the Caribbean nation, the U.S. president's visit signified the possibility of the countries being able to finally reach an accord with each other. For former president and iconic communist leader Fidel Castro, however, Obama's visit was not so impressive.
In fact, in a column published in Granma, the official news publication of Cuba's communist party, on Monday, Castro criticized Obama's visit for being an attempt to "sweet-talk" the people of Cuba. The former president also urged the country to be very wary of the "olive branch" that the U.S. extended though Obama's state visit.
Simply put, Castro's long opinion piece implied that there is simply too much history between Cuba and the United States. So much history, in fact, that simply throwing aside all differences in the past today would seem like a betrayal of the very principles Cuba's communist regime fought for in the past.
"I suppose all of us were at risk of a heart attack upon hearing these words from the President of the United States. After a ruthless blockade that has lasted almost 60 years, and what about those who have died in the mercenary attacks on Cuban ships and ports, an airliner full of passengers blown up in midair, mercenary invasions, multiple acts of violence and coercion?" Castro wrote.
Castro further urged his people to deny the "illusion" painted by Obama during his visit, as well as the possibilities of aid being given by the United States to the Caribbean nation. For the communist leader, Cuba does not need any help from America, as it is capable of standing on its own.
"I also warn that we are capable of producing the food and material riches we need with the efforts and intelligence of our people. We do not need the empire to give us anything. Our efforts will be legal and peaceful, as this is our commitment to peace and fraternity among all human beings who live on this planet," Castro concluded.
Despite the fiery reproach from the former Cuban president, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the Obama administration actually welcomes Castro's words.
"The fact that the former president felt compelled to respond so forcefully to the president's visit, I think is an indication of the significant impact of President Obama's visit to Cuba," Earnest said.
