Millions of Cubans took to thestreets today in May Day activities called to defend thenation from what President Fidel Castro said was the threat ofattack by the United States, which he said justified a recentcrackdown on political dissidents.
Castro set the tone this morning in a televised speechhe dubbed "Cuba and the Nazi-Fascism" delivered at a hugegathering in Havana's Revolution Square, as smaller rallies andmarches unfolded across the Communist-run Caribbean island.
Castro charged the Bush administration was out toassassinate him or invade the country, stating that he was notworried about being killed, but rather about a U.S. attack.
"If the solution were to attack Cuba like Iraq, I wouldsuffer greatly because of the cost in lives and enormousdestruction it would bring Cuba. But it might turn out to bethe last of the (Bush) administration's fascist attacks,because the struggle would last a very long time," he said.
Cuba is smarting from a deluge of international criticismfrom friends and foes over the sentencing of 75 dissidents tolong prison terms, and the execution of three men who hijackeda ferry in a failed bid to reach the United States.
Castro insisted the repression came because Cuba was underthreat from Washington.
The 76-year-old revolutionary icon, in power since his 1959rebellion toppled a US-backed dictatorship, warned critics,particularly on the left, their words could be used to justifya US invasion.
"We would not want those who have, in our opinion, attackedCuba unjustly ... to have to suffer the infinite sorrow theywill feel if one day our cities are destroyed and our childrenand mothers, women and men, young and old, are torn apart bythe bombs of neo-fascism," said Castro, dressed in hiscustomary military garb.
Castro's words were bound to stoke rising fear among Cubansthat the United States, frustrated by more than four decades offailed efforts to topple him and encouraged by success in Iraq,might might resort to military force.
"In Miami (home to many anti-Castro Cubans) and Washingtonthey are now discussing where, how and when Cuba will beattacked or the problem of the revolution will be solved,"Castro said.
The repression and executions came as the Iraq warunfolded, along with repeated charges by Castro that a USplot is unfolding against his revolution.
Western diplomats by and large discount the justification,pointing out an economic recovery from a 1990s depression hasfaltered since 2001 and discontent with government policies isincreasing.
Many governments, international organizations,intellectuals and Pope John Paul II have condemned therepression, leaving Cuba more isolated than at any time overthe past decade. The Pope's call last month to free dissentersand sorrow over the executions seems to have particularlybothered the Cuban leader.
"Not even Jesus Christ, who drove the traders out of hetemple with a whip, would fail to opt for the defense of thepeople," he said.
Castro, during his speech, praised the Pope's opposition tothe Iraq war and insisted his holiness would never councilMuslims to stand by as they are killed, adding, "he would notcouncil the Cubans to do such a thing, either."
International Workers Day is a holiday in Cuba, the onlysocialist workers state in the Americas. May Day istraditionally marked by huge government-organized rallies.
Authorities said more than 6 million of the Caribbeanisland's 11.2 million residents turned out this year.