Bush admin reacts to letter by Fidel Castro

Two Bush administration spokespersons commented on a letter issued yesterday by Fidel Castro:

• White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that the letter was “interesting” though hard to figure out what Castro meant.Perino also added that the White House will continue “to work for democracy on the island.”

• State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey was more critical of Fidel’s letter. “You know, it's the old country song 'how can we miss you if you won't ever leave.' And I'm also not sure, when he's referring to the younger generation, whether he means young guys like his 78-year-old brother,” noted Casey.

Castro’s letter- which was read on Cuban television- implied that he would “retire” and allow younger generations to come into power:

"My basic duty is not to cling to office, much less to obstruct the rise of younger people, but to pass on experiences and ideas whose modest value arises from the exceptional era in which I lived," Castro's letter said, according to a CubaVision anchor.

According to Lucia Newman- ex-CNN Cuba correspondent and Al Jazeera's Latin American editor- Castro’s letter “reinforced” the possibility that he could serve as “an elder statesman.”

Sources- Reuters, AFP, CNN, Al Jazeera

Image- BBC News