Global Security Newswire

Cuba's National Assembly has scheduled a special meeting for Saturday to consider former President Fidel Castro's recent predictions of nuclear war over the atomic standoff with Iran, Reuters reported (see GSN, July 13).

Last week, the one-time ruler of the communist nation said he would like to see Cuban lawmakers respond to his multiple warnings of a looming nuclear war stemming from the use of military force by the United States or other nations to head off Tehran's suspected nuclear-weapon efforts.

Castro also suggested in July that a devastating conflict with North Korea could produce a "sea of flames" on the Korean Peninsula.

Nuclear conflict is "now virtually inevitable," Castro stated on a Cuban Web site.

Saturday's special session of parliament is set to "analyze diverse themes of interest concerning the international situation," according to an official note from the Cuban government.

Cuba specialist and former CIA officer Brian Latell said Castro's nuclear warnings demonstrate "his adamant opposition to any improvement of relations with Washington" (Esteban Israel, Reuters/National Post, Aug. 4).