Fidel Castro Makes Forbes’ Wealthiest
AP reports: “Cuban President Fidel Castro denounced a Forbes magazine report naming him one of the world’s wealthiest rulers, putting in a special television appearance on Monday to rebut the story he called “rubbish.”
In its May 5 article, “Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators,” Forbes put Castro in 7th place in a group of 10 world leaders with “lofty positions and vast fortunes.” The magazine estimated Castro’s personal wealth to be $900 million — nearly double that of the $500 million of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and just under Prince Albert II of Monaco’s estimated $1 billion.
The article also referred to rumors of Castro having “large stashes in Swiss bank accounts.”
“All this makes me sick,” Castro responded Monday on the communist government’s daily public affairs program Mesa Redonda, or “Round Table.” “Why should I defend myself against this rubbish?”
(Bites lip)
Later on the program, Castro pounded the table, saying,
“If they can prove I have an account abroad … containing even one dollar I will resign my post.”
Yes, they operative word is “prove.” Hence, Swiss bank accounts.
Castro also gave the floor to several top officials, including Central Bank President Francisco Soberon, to deny the claims and defend his integrity.
And of course, these are all credible sources who, given the chance, would gladly speak out against the dictator and then face the consequences.
But it all matters not. There’s no news or surprise, really, that Fidel Castro has accumulated vast amounts of wealth for himself, his family and his cronies. As a Communist ruler, he is predictably following the example as set forth in Russia, where poverty was only mandated for the people, not the leaders who enriched themselves and enjoyed Western luxuries.
The fact that he denies his personal wealth doesn’t make him a criminal.
It just means he’s a Democrat.
UPDATE:
Michelle Malkin: “Cuba Before Castro Ruined It”
May 17th, 2006 at 7:07 pm
“The fact that he denies his personal wealth doesn’t make him a criminal.
It just means he’s a Democrat.”
Classic!!!
May 18th, 2006 at 7:48 am
Wait a minute. I’m no fan of Castro but, hey, all he said is ‘Where’s the proof?’.
Isn’t that a reasonable question to ask? Isn’t that the standard you’d like to have the media held up to whenever they report something you disagree with? The tendency of the media to report statements by ‘credible sources’ as ‘proof’ is both subtle and pernicious. He may very well have stashes of cash lying around (of course, nothing like the mounds of it Saddam had…) still the burden of proof is on Forbes. They can’t make claims like that and say “Well, it’s all in Swiss bank accounts of course (wink wink nudge nudge)”.