Cuba readies nationwide military exercise

Cuba readies nationwide military exercise
Last Updated: Monday, November 18, 2013, 12:18

Havana: Cuba announced plans for its biggest military exercise in four
years, summoning armed forces and civilians to defend the Communist
nation from invasion.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces will be leading the way in the exercises
dubbed Bastion-2013 from tomorrow through Friday, state media reported.

The training, including tactical exercises and maneuvers will include
the armed forces and "the greatest possible number of regular troops,
reserve members and the general public," Rebel Youth newspaper reported.

Troops are receiving the training "in case it should become necessary to
wage the entire people's war," referring to the doctrine that calls for
the Armed Forces to team up with civilians in a ferocious and sustained
resistance plan.

The strategy has been in place since 1980, when it was launched by
ex-president Fidel Castro, now 87, under his brother Raul Castro.

Longtime defense chief Raul Castro, 82, has replaced his brother at
Cuba's helm.

The Castros regularly rally the people to defend this island of 11
million from their government's traditional foe, the United States,
which lies just 145 kilometres away.

Cubans are often reminded by officials that the United States has
occupied Cuba twice, from 1898-1902 and from 1906-1909. It also
intervened militarily in Cuba from 1917-1922.

And Washington refuses to leave the US naval base in Cuba's southeastern
province of Guantanamo, though Havana has asked it to do so for decades.

AFP
First Published: Monday, November 18, 2013, 12:18

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