Cuba: U.S. still out to get Castro

The Cuban parliament insists that the U.S. continues to seek the end of its communist President Fidel Castro, according to an AP story by Will Weissert published on philly.com.

In the wake of the release of anti-Castro documents by the CIA in June, the parliament condemned combined CIA-Mafia assassination attempts and insisted the U.S. policy has carried on to the present day. "The conduct of the Bush government clearly shows its intention to keep employing the worst possible tactics against Cuba," a resolution said.

In 1960, the CIA reached out to American mobsters for help getting rid of the communist president. Johnny Roselli, linked to the Chicago Outfit, was a key player. Poison pills were settled on as the method of assassination. The efforts reportedly ended after the failure of the Bay of Pigs mission in spring of 1961. Official U.S. involvement in assassination was outlawed in the 1970s.

Castro, 80, has not made a public appearance since last summer, when he established his brother Raul Castro as temporary leader of the government and underwent surgery to repair an intestinal problem.

Related MobNews post:

• CIA papers show partnership with Mafia 06-26-07

CIA papers show partnership with Mafia

Agency and Mob cooperated
in effort to kill Castro

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency released documents today detailing its early 1960s cooperation with organized crime figures in failed efforts to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to a Reuters story by Steve Holland and Andy Sullivan.

CIA Director Michael Hayden ordered the release of the documents, many of which had already worked their way into public knowledge.

CIA operatives actively encouraged Chicago gangster Johnny Roselli to orchestrate an attack on Castro (right). The Agency also approached Chicago organized crime boss Sam Giancana and Tampa boss Santo Trafficante. Giancana reportedly suggested the use of a poison pill.