Seeking former stature, Fidel Castro strikes out – with his pen

The Cuban leader has broken his eight-month public silence with three fiery statements.

from the April 13, 2007 edition

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"I think the question is, if Fidel Castro remains alive and active, what do you do with him? They are trying to carve out a portfolio for him within Cuba – one that focuses mainly on international issues, which doesn't interfere with the domestic running of the country," says Dan Erikson, a Cuba expert at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.

Despite what could become a shadow role on the domestic agenda, his opinions still resonate worldwide. The relationship between Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Castro has vexed the US, and as long as Mr. Chávez supports Cuba's philosophy and finances, through discounted oil and other projects, the alliance will loom large. The columns criticizing ethanol production, analysts say, are a sign that Cuba is concerned about how much a US-Brazil partnership may threaten the regional influence of its alliance with Venezuela.

"It was a public show of support for Chávez," says Ian Vasquez, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. "His criticism has always had resonance because of who Fidel is. That really hasn't changed."

Still, this doesn't mean that he is on the verge of a comeback. "The basic fact remains that he has not been seen in public since July 2006. While there have been statements that he is active in government affairs, taking walks on the beach with [Colombian writer Gabriel García] Márquez, penning Op-Eds and editorials," says Mr. Erikson, "it's hard to know whether to accept this at face value."

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