Havana on the offensive as Castro lashes out at 'fat little brother' Bush

[Clara T]

Havana on the offensive as Castro lashes out at 'fat little brother' Bush

· Leader reopens spat after recent mental health jibe
· Governor blames girth on lack of exercise, not greed

Richard Luscombe in Miami
Thursday December 8, 2005
The Guardian


The Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, has finally acknowledged the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush - one of his most vociferous critics - as a political heavyweight. But his comments were a well-aimed dig at Mr Bush's expanding waistline rather than any softening of relations between Havana and Washington.

This latest round of a long-running personal feud with the Bush family follows last month's CIA assertion that the 79-year-old communist dictator was losing his mental faculties through Parkinson's disease.

"Forgive me for using the term 'fat little brother'," Mr Castro said to laughter from students at a University of Havana graduation ceremony. "It is not a criticism, rather a suggestion that he do some exercises and go on a diet, don't you think? I'm doing this for the gentleman's health."

Unlike his older brother George, who has maintained a strict fitness regime during his time in the White House, Jeb Bush admits he has gained weight since taking office in 1999. A spokesman for the 52-year-old governor said he weighed 102kg (16st 1lb), almost 9.5kg heavier than the ideal weight for a man 1.93 metres (6ft 4in) tall.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/cuba/story/0,11983,1661817,00.html

[flamingyouth]

1. Duplicate (and not LBN)

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