Cuba Counters U.S. Jab With Iraq Abuse, Nazi References

Upset by the U.S. diplomatic mission’s holiday display supporting dissidents, Cuba’s government retaliated Friday by putting up a billboard emblazoned with photographs of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners and a huge swastika overlaid with a “Made in the U.S.A.” stamp.

The U.S. mission, headed by James Cason, rejected a demand this week to remove decorations that included Santa Claus, candy canes, white lights wrapped around palm trees -- and a sign reading “75,” a reference to the 75 dissidents imprisoned last year by Fidel Castro’s government.

Cuban National Assembly leader Ricardo Alarcon on Wednesday called the U.S. display “rubbish” and said Cason seemed “desperate to create problems.”

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell told Associated Press on Friday that the sign was an effort to show “solidarity with people who are being held and intimidated and whose rights are being denied by the Cuban government. And the Cuban government’s response is to ... show the world a swastika? I don’t think that is very wise.”

Wayne Smith, who represented the U.S. here during the Carter and Reagan administrations and has long advocated restoring normal diplomatic relations with Cuba, said the images of prisoner abuse in Iraq were an appropriate response by Castro’s regime.

“If I were in their shoes, this is what I would do -- call attention to the fact that the United States is now guilty of torture, of massive violations of human rights,” Smith said by telephone from Washington.

“Yes, I’d like to see the 75 all released, but we’re in no position now to criticize anyone,” he said, although he added that he thought the Cuban billboard’s Nazi reference went too far.

Two Australian tourists who were passing by called the billboard tasteless, but a Greek traveler said it represented the truth. “These are the crimes in Iraq, the torture of Iraqi people by the Americans,” Antonio Nankoudis said.

Cubans also were supportive of the billboard. “This is well placed, so the whole world understands that what’s most important is humanity,” passerby Evelio Perez said.