Cuba begins war games with U.S. invasion in mind

By Jeff Franks

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba began its biggest military Manoeuvres in five years on Thursday, saying they were needed to prepare for a possible invasion by the United States.

Despite a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations and assurances last week by President Barack Obama that the United States has no intention of invading the island 90 miles (145 km) from Florida, Cuba's state-run press quoted military leaders as saying there "exists a real possibility of a military aggression against Cuba."

The war games, which are being called "Bastion 2009," also will get the military ready to deal with social unrest the United States may try to foment in this time of economic crisis in Cuba, ahead of an invasion, they said.

Cuban television showed images of tanks firing their guns as they rolled through the countryside, artillery batteries blasting away, camouflaged troops digging trenches and shooting bazookas, attack helicopters and fighter jets buzzing through the sky and rescue teams tending wounded combatants.

It was not clear if the images came from Thursday's Manoeuvres or from file footage of previous activities, nor were the sites of the war games disclosed.

Tanks and anti-aircraft guns were seen on trains outside of Havana on Thursday being prepared for transport to an unknown destination.

In the evening news broadcast, President Raul Castro was shown urging Cubans to fight until they have vanquished the enemy.

"The objective is to never surrender, to never stop fighting," he said in a meeting with military leaders.