Cuba: Caning the Students

On trial last week in Havana's grim La Cabaña fortress was Rolando Cubela Secades, 33, Fidel Castro's former chief student organizer and gun-slinging bullyboy for the University of Havana. His crime: plotting to assassinate Castro, by means of a high-range rifle with a telescopic sight imported from Spain.

As is usual in Castroland, the prosecutor explained that the CIA was behind it all. And as usual with show trials everywhere, the defendant agreed with every word.

"To the wall! To be executed! That is what I want. It is deserved!" cried Cubela. At that point, the script suddenly changed. Dramatically, the prosecutor...

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