Talking About A Revolution
This week sees the y of Fidel Castro's rebel forces entering the Cuban capital of Havana and taking control of the country. A month later, in February 1959, Castro became prime minister and the revolution was complete. Castro continued to rule Cuba until his retirement last year on health grounds.
Barely 90 miles off the coast of the United States,has long held a fascination with the world's media as has Castro and Che Guevara whose early days with the Cuban leader are the subject of a .
Over the years Panorama has made a series of programmes on Cuba. One memorable film broadcast a statement by Castro detailing his intentions within a few days of his successful revolution in January 1959, claiming to be neither ''a Communist or Marxist, but representing democracy and social justice''. Indeed Castro himself in a 1961 interview with Panorama's Robin Day defines himself as a socialist.
But it was the island's stormy relationship with the United States in the early 1960s which made it synonymous with the Cold War and perhaps most came to define the Castro legend: the foiled Bay of Pigs invasion attempt, the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962 and the many supposed CIA-sponsored attempts on Castro's life (638 if a is to be believed ). Some of the fascinating films Panorama made in this period can be viewed here.
As the year's progressed the Cold War became consigned to history and the United States' concerns about the threat from what it regarded as a 'communist' neighbour diminished, Cuba became less of a thorn in America's side. However, the relationship between the two has never formally been resolved. With a arriving at the White House later this month, this might be the time for change.
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