Agence France-Presse,
HAVANA: Cuban President Fidel Castro Monday slammed Britain for building the Astute class of nuclear-powered attack submarines he said is destined to sink whatever is left of Britain's international prestige.
(Britain's World War II prime minister Winston) “Churchill said, 'Sink the Bismark.' Today (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair says: 'Sink whatever's left of Britain's prestige,'” the ailing 80-year old leader said in an editorial published Tuesday by Cuba's official daily Granma.
Furthering his criticism of Britain's staunch support of the US occupation of Iraq and Washington's “imperialistic system,” Castro said the “marvelous submarine would bring about either (the end of Britain) or the holocaust of the human race.”
“What a wonderful feat,” Castro said, adding that Britons, however, “surely cannot feel any pride” in the new weapon.
Britain on Monday announced a 295-million-euro (395-million-dollar) contract to build the 7,800-tonne HMS Audacious, fourth in the Astute class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, the largest and most powerful ever built in Britain for the Royal Navy.
Granma said the four vessels, the first of which is expected to be launched in January 2009, would cost a total of 7.5 billion dollars to build.
With that money, Castro said, “you could train 75,000 doctors and treat 150 million patients,” or build 3,000 well-equipped clinics.
Castro handed power to his brother Raul on a temporary basis in July of last year after undergoing intestinal surgery.
While he has not been seen in public since then, Castro has published in Granma his thoughts on international politics, energy and environmental issues.
