Fidel Castro Says Obama's Cuba Policies Ignore Needs of Cubans

Fidel Castro Says Obama's Cuba Policies Ignore Needs of Cubans
By Matthew Walter

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Former Cuban President Fidel Castro said U.S.
President Barack Obama's policies toward Cuba are focused only on
Cuban-Americans, and ignore the needs of Cubans living in the island nation.

Recent comments by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel show that the
Obama administration isn't planning to lift its trade embargo on the
communist country, Castro, 82, said in a note published on the
CubaDebate Web site.

"The almost 12 million Cubans that live on the island don't interest
him," Castro said in the letter. "Sooner rather than later, Obama's
politics are losing their virginity."

Castro and his top ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, have started
to criticize Obama after initially saying they wanted improved relations
with the new U.S. president. Castro said this week he questions Obama's
plan to seek energy independence, and said it would hurt oil exporting
countries.

Venezuela is the fourth-biggest supplier of foreign crude oil to the U.S.

Castro hasn't been seen in public since 2006 when he had intestinal
surgery. He ceded the presidency to his brother, Raul Castro, last year
after ruling the country for almost half a century.

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