Some questions cannot be avoided

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Ont to : not part that ong, ople ation with $ SO tionwhy i the here the 1 the ould peo" out evoit is it is de it : one eing have izen, rson, m to y are ty of d its lever i has et of f the ially cepts n the Castro's speech was addressed particularly to the new generation of revolutionary youth coming of age in an especially difficult time for the Cuban revolution. Fidel alluded both to the arrogance of U.S. imperialism in the wake of its victory in the Gulf war and to grave problems of supply created by the crises of the East European and Soviet regimes.

In the face of the collapse of the "socialist camp," Fidel stressed that the Cuban regime's independent devotion to its principles was proved by its determination to continue to strive for socialism and stand up to the pressures of seemingly triumphant capitalism and imperialism.

This courageous stance highlights the difference of the Cuban revolution from the other states that belonged to the so-called socialist bloc. The regime in Cuba is based on a genuine revolution, led by sincere revolutionists. It has a perspective of worldwide struggle against imperialism.

The bureaucratic leaderships of the other Stalinized "socialist" states are a result of a partial counterrevolution in the Soviet Union fostered by the economic difficulties of an isolated revolution. As the masses were crushed by deprivation, they managed to usurp power in the name of defending the revolution. Mainly interested in exploiting their usurped positions, they always have aimed for a deal with the imperialists. This fundamental reality has been made absolutely clear in the present circumstances, and the Cubans have to confront the consequences of it.

Because the Stalinists ruled as usurpers of anticapitalist revolution, the Eastern Bloc bureaucrats have had to defend their base against the imperialists, sometimes being carried further than they intended. Such conflicts made it possible for the Cuban Revolution to receive material aid from the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc nations.

Now, the Cubans face a far more general betrayal of basic socialist perspectives and of anti-imperialist struggles at the hands of the bureaucrats.

Since revolutionary Cuba has always been directly threatened by the U.S. economic blockade and military intervention, Castro's first concerns clearly are that these menaces will sharpen. With respect to them, he issues a ringing defiance, basing himself on the power of great masses of people united in revolutionary conviction.

However, the threats facing Cuba now, like the rest of the workers and revolutionary movement, are not simply economic and military. The political challenge posed by the collapse of the "socialist camp" has to be taken up. It has to be explained why the Stalinized regimes went into crisis and collapsed, and how such problems can be avoided in the future, in order for the masses of working people to regain confidence in their ability to take control of their own fate. Here, the Cuban leadership has offered only partial answers, but it cannot continue to avoid the basic questions.

Indeed, answers to these questions-in particular, how to build workers' democracy—are essential to solving the increasing difficulties revolutionary Cuba faces.—the editors heart of each and every person, every man and woman, every compatriot, every soldier,