Preview of Cuban Armed Forces anniversary parade

(30 Nov 2001) 1. Various soldiers training in hand-to-hand combat 2. Various soldiers weapons training 3. Cuban flag outside military academy 4. Antonio Maceio Military Academy 5. Various interiors cadets 6. Outside parade ground 7. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Alberto Marrero, Colonel and Superintendent of Academy: "Our minister says this is the same army with three different names, the army of liberation, the army of rebellion and the revolutionary armed forces - it's the same army" 8. Cadets marching 9. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Julia Sotomayor, Cadet: "This is principally a battle for ideas, therefore we will win this battle." 10. Cadets with Cuban flag STORYLINE: Cuba's armed forces, somewhat diminished by almost a decade of economic crisis, are preparing for a display of might this weekend for the first time in years. Many here are seeing the celebration as a sign the economy is slowly recovering from a crisis brought on by the collapse of its socialist allies. As Cuba's economy declined in recent years, parades and celebrations were cut back to save money. Army chief Raul Castro, Fidel's brother, said in an interview published on Monday that Cuba was prepared for any US threat, despite the loss of Soviet aid. "We should never discount the possibility of direct military aggression," he told the national weekly Trabajadores. He said Cuba has built underground shelters and other refuges and armed thousands of people with sniper rifles to repel invaders. One group in training displayed a new Cuban weapon, the heavy, long-barreled Mambi sniper rifle designed to down helicopters. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...