Cuba responded Friday to U.S. diplomats' refusal to take down Christmas decorations by putting up a huge billboard in front of the U.S. Interest Section emblazoned with a swastika and showing photographs of Iraqi prisoners being abused by American soldiers. The billboard, put up overnight, had a large swastika in red and the word "fascists" covered with a "Made in the U.S.A." stamp. It sat prominently on the Malecon, Havana's coastal highway, facing the mission's offices. | "I'm Fidel Castro, and I approved this message." |
The U.S. Interest Section, headed by chief James Cason, ignored a demand earlier this week to remove Christmas decorations that included a reference to dissidents jailed by Fidel Castro's government. The trimmings included a Santa Claus, candy canes and white lights wrapped around palm trees — and a sign reading "75" — a reference to 75 Cuban dissidents jailed last year. All of the decorations will stay up until after the holidays, the U.S. official reiterated Friday. | What's diplospeak for "Neener neener?" |
Cuban Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon called the sign "rubbish" this week, and said Cason seems "desperate to create problems." Cuba had warned the U.S. Interest Section to remove the decorations or face unspecified consequences. | "We hear your vacquero Presidente likes to play poker. Well, we'll see your mistletoe and raise you a Bush = Hitler billboard." |
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