European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Castro s Cuba ideological purity prevails associated Pressa s his revolution approaches its 30fh birthday. President Fidel Castro has become something at an ideological renegade in the communist world waging a lonely struggle in defense o socialist Purily while others Experiment Wilh capitalist reforms his recent speeches underscore his resistance id change. He has adhered to a St rfcs viewpoint with Only minor variations since that new year s Day Ince decades ago Evhen he toppled a discredited Dic Lalor and proceeded to turn Cuba upside Down. While the soviet Union and other communist countries try to overcome economic stagnation by borrowing some capitalist practices. Castro remains a no apologies Dolon Dor of centralized planning and slate domination of Tho Economy. Some analysis even foresee the possibility Omha first serious Sociol cuban nit since the two countries became Dovold allies in 1968. ".-. As cuban misuse of economic Aid which has averaged about $5 billion annually in recent years. To a recent article the soviet newspaper pravda blamed Cuba for serious Imberto Lrons at soviet backed Industrial projects in Cuba. Castro meanwhile makes no attempt to conceal his disdain Lor soviet reforms Cuba he has said must watch Over the ideological purity of the revolution that is Why we cannot use any methods that reek of he acknowledged recently that his country s future is somewhat More Uncertain As a result of the Kremlin s philosophical shirt. We can expect difficulties that May come from the enemy Camp the United slates and difficulties that May come from the Campol our own friends he said. In 1986, at about the Lime soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev began moving toward capitalist Stylo reforms Castro shut Down a six year Experiment involving the Sale by Farmers of their produce at Market rates. He was afraid that a spreading capitalist mentality and a Elile might take hold. Moscow to Cut adrift simply because of differing economic policies. Cuba provides important political support for Moscow and is widely admired throughout much of Africa and latin America. Cuba also serves As an indispensable base for soviet monitoring of . Military and space activities. At one facility alone 2,100 soviet technicians engage in intercepts of . Communications according to american officials. Castro had planned a huge Welcome in Havana for Gorbachev on dec. 9 but the visit was postponed on Short Nolice because of the earthquake in soviet Armenia. Despite the apparent durability of soviet cuban relations Castro s unorthodox views have left him somewhat out of the marxist mainstream. While other countries look on material incentives for workers As a fac t of we that must be accepted is the Price Lor increased production Castro believes perhaps More firmly than before that people should work not Lor personal gain but out of a sense of patriotic the extent that Cuba is undergoing difficult cuban president Fidel Castro left and brother Paul chief of the cuban armed forces. Farm products Are sold by the government without rationing but at High prices at a parallel cubans must rely on overcrowded infrequent buses c transit making transportation one of Cuba s More pro Etmo a slice of Small town America by Thomas Ferraro International n the Edge of Fidel Casio s Cuba behind bathed wire and the taig Gesl . Minefield in the War Fri. -. Sits a slice of so blown America. Etmo pronounced git Short or naval base Guantanamo Bay Cuba. The Only american military installation on communist 7,000 people live in Tho Seaside. Community that features six outdoor. Movie Heaters two schools one stoplight dozens of sol Ball Fields an 18 Hole Golf course giant warships a big Airstrip and a Mcdonald a. A. -. I have to worry Abdul a lot of thing that Tew Navy captains have to worry about says cant John. Boyd Etmo s. Commanding Pali car and Unolt Ciai mayor. Etmo s chs task is to provide training or the Navy s Atlantic Fleet but or the past three decades a concern has been that Castro might invade the Neaily. Century old installation. Consequently. There is an evacuation Drill every Throe months Lof non military personnel. Women and children with overnight bags a her on Street joiners Lor delivery by bus to ships and planes. And around the Clouti marines provide Security at a bathed wire and mined 17 male Border that separates the base from 1 Tho rest of the Island. But All has been relatively Quiel since an Exchange of gunfire in july 1964, and the biggest complaint in t threat of. Attack but eventual boredom with the routine and confinement. Marino pfc. Valiard Campbell 22, of Spiro Oklahoma member of Etmo s. Border patrol on his sunny Day near the Northeast. Gate Campbell Peers through a pair of v binoculars at a member of Cuba s Frontier brigade a mile away. 1 initially its kind of weird looking. Through the big eyes at a communist. Says Campbell speaking Over the wind whistling through the Sierra Maestra. Mountains. But you get used to it you looking at them and them looking at you. Sometimes they will wave at Youl does he wave Back to Aren t supposed to says Campbell glancing at a Superior Olliver we Aren t supposed to make any gestures to them.". Seated Al his desk it. Bob Hinos Public altars of icon since August 1986. Oilers his View of the world of we go about Small town american Lile. Here. You know gelling the kids to school getting to work on Lime and doing your Job r -. There is Sorne Lhing Dit Lurenl Here. From most bases though. After a year or so the Walls Start closing in on you. Some people refer toil As Rock top gripes include Lew places to shop a Navy Exchange and a Marino Exchange few women the male female Ralio is 5-to-l and despite ail tha recreation facilities and Palm tree lined beaches a limited number of things to do Mcdonald s is a godsend mines. Says. The 45-Square mils base in Southeast Cuba Dales Back Toa 1903 lease and. 1934 to Caty that states the United Stales can stay As Long As it wants or until both countries mutually agree it should leave. For years the two were Good neighbors. Hundreds of cubans worked at the base and marines and sailors went to Havana to drink cuban rum smoke cuban cigars and let Oil american steam. But on Jan. 1,1959, slates Page 14 the stars and stripes forbid personnel to venture of Etmo and reduced the number of cuban employees there Are now just 46, All a Lingbeck to pre-1959. The action. Followed Castro s Rise to Power and the. Kidnapping and Safe return o 29 marinas and sailors shortly alter his 1959 revolution. Castro complained. The naval base is a. Dagger plunged into the cuban soil.,. A base we Are not going to Lake away by Force. But a piece of land we Psi never give soared during the failed 1961 Bay of pigs invasion by .-Ba de cuban exiles and during the 1963 cuban missile crisis that saw president John. Kennedy pressure the soviets to remove nuclear weapons from the Island. In february f964 there was More trouble. Installation for the . Arrest of. 30 cubans fishing in Fortada a water Castro Cut off water to the base. This. Lorod fhe Navy to install its own desalinization Plant in july of that same year Cuba claimed that Ono of its sentries was fatally shot by a Marine. The United states denied it saying the a warning shot Over the sentry s head after the sentry shot at another Maine saturday c
