News - 09-02-06
AFIO PRESIDENT GENE POTEAT APPEARS AT RALEIGH SPY CONFERENCE ON CUBA
Speaking before the Fourth Annual International Spy Conference held recently in Raleigh, North Carolina,
AFIO President and retired senior CIA officer Gene Poteat described the 1962 Cuba missile crisis
as a major accelerator in the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. According
to Poteat, during the face off, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev recognized that the United States
was the stronger country, which stayed his hand in firing the missiles from Cuba. However, with this
recognition came a determination to accumulate more weapons in order to catch up with the U.S.
The Spy Conference focused on Cuba this year, and due to Cuban leader Fidel Castro's recent health
problems, took on an air of immediate relevancy that was supported a great deal by the Internet as
news from Cuba broke throughout the conference. Brian Latell, a former CIA officer and National
Intelligence Officer for Latin America, said that much of what is on the Internet is pure rumor
and speculation, such as rumors that Castro was shot in the stomach. However, he says that more people
are coming to believe that Castro is dying and the most prominent theory is that Castro has a metastasized
cancer of the stomach, intestines or colon. Humberto Fontova says that indicators of Castro's faltering
health could be detected back in June when government television started showing pictures of Raul,
Fidel's younger brother and heir apparent, playing with his grandchildren. Raul normally stayed in
the background. He also says that Castro's enemies have started a campaign targeting Raul. For
CSPAN streaming video of the one hour panel portion of this multi-day event, visit:
CSPAN Videos
Choose "American Perspectives: American Perspectives: Couric & Schieffer, PBS Pres., & Castro (09/02/2006)
[EAB/
News&Observer 25Aug06/Clabby]