Castro Cuts Power to USINT

A while ago, I wrote about how Castro forced hundreds of thousands of his citizens to march past the US Interests section in Havana to protest a blinky sign that the US has used to provide information to Cubans on human rights issues.

Well, Ol’ Fidel is still pissed. Now he has cut power, and frequently cuts water to the USINT building too. And he routinely denies VISAS for employees at the facility. From the AP here:

Cuba cuts U.S. diplomatic mission’s power

HAVANA – The Cuban government cut off electricity to the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana a week ago and U.S. requests for power to be restored have gone unanswered, U.S. officials said Monday.

The building has been operating with generator power.

The loss of power at the seven-story mission appeared to be the latest chapter in a flap over the U.S. government’s use of the building to provide information to the Cuban people.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said from Washington that work at the mission continues, including interviews of refugees and outreach programs.

He said Cuban authorities also reduce the availability of water to the mission from time to time.

In January, Fidel Castro complained about use of the U.S. mission to carry human rights messages to passersby on outdoor electronic signs.

I would not be surprised if Fidel tries to create an incident to force a confrontation with the US- and watch for him to try to get Hugo Chavez of Venenzuela to join him in this conflict.