HAVANA – Cuba's foreign minister called President Barack Obama an "imperial and arrogant" liar Monday for his conduct at the U.N. climate conference, a reflection of the communist island's increasingly fiery verbal attacks on the U.S. government.

Bruno Rodriguez spent an hour and a half lambasting Obama's behavior in Copenhagen, telling a news conference, "at this summit, there was only imperial, arrogant Obama, who does not listen, who imposes his positions and even threatens developing countries."

He called the summit "a fallacy, a farce" and said Washington used back-room deals and strong-arm tactics to foist on the world a deal that he labeled "undemocratic" and "suicidal" because it urges — but does not require — major polluters to make deeper emissions cuts.

Rodriguez also said Cuba and other poor nations have refused to recognize the agreement because they weren't permitted to participate in its development.

He singled out comments Obama made during a news conference in Copenhagen, when the U.S. president said no agreement had yet been reached but he was confident one would before the summit ended. "Obama knew he was lying, that he was deceiving public opinion," the foreign minister said.

When asked if Cuba was serious about forging a climate agreement given that President Raul Castro declared Copenhagen a failure days before it ended, Rodriguez said, "Cuba's prestige is well-recognized in international negotiations."

"It was an open secret that countries would not reach an agreement," he said.

Rodriguez would not answer questions about the status of an American citizen who was detained in Cuba on Dec. 5 while working as a U.S. government contractor.

Castro first publicly mentioned the detention Sunday, when he told the Cuban Parliament that the American was arrested for distributing illegal satellite communications equipment.

"The United States won't quit trying to destroy the revolution," Castro said, referring to the armed rebellion that brought his brother Fidel to power on New Year's Day 1959.

"In the past few weeks we have witnessed the stepping up of the new administration's efforts in this area," he said, adding that the arrest "demonstrates that the enemy is as active as ever."

American diplomats in Cuba have requested — but not yet received — Cuba's permission for consular access to the detainee, whose name has not been released. Rodriguez refused to say whether his office would grant the request.

Rodriguez's comments Monday echoed remarks by former President Fidel Castro, who in a weekend opinion column called Obama's speech in Copenhagen "deceitful, demagogic and full of ambiguities."

Last week, the elder Castro, who stepped down as head of state in February 2008, wrote that Washington is looking to solidify its control over Latin America and that Obama's "friendly smile and African-American face" hide his government's sinister true intentions for the region.

Raul Castro over the weekend mentioned recent war games Cuba conducted to prepare for a U.S. invasion and hinted that the contractor's arrest shows further American aggression against his country is a real possibility.

"I just want to note that here we have a people who are ready to protect, at any price, the successes of the revolution," he said. "I'd advise one and all that they cease provocations of this type."

He forgot "fool" also.Obama is going to give poor countries 100 billion to fight global warming.As if we just have great big piles of money sitting around thinking of ways to spend it.Our Country is going broke and he is giving 100 billion away like it means nothing.Can't wait to see how poor countries spend money on recycling projects and hybird cars while their people are dying of starvation.

yes, Mr. Obama ended up being pretty much the same bull... as Bush. Sadly in the USA, there is power bigger than the president. That power is known as CIA.

I wouldn't worry about Cuba

in a couple years they will be underwater and then we'll see what they have to say

typical imperialist, first world answer
it´s like to say I live in freakin´ USa, i don´t give damn the rest of the world
but then all of the sudden 9/11 happens, and what did u say?

but I don't give a damn about the rest of the world

come to think of it I don't really give a damn what you think either

Can I have some global warming please? It's freezing over here.

average North American train of thought

No kidding I wish it would warm up here also -10 in the mornings.Two weeks of below freezing all day long.Winter just started.Gore should be left on a iceberg in the middle of the artic and left to die.Trillions wasted all in the name of global warming.All time scam of the world.

I feel for ya, Thomas.
I have to turn on a burner and put on a bathrobe when I get up. Have to wait til the sun comes out to be able to put on my cut-offs and tee shirt.

If Gore and his bunch wanna' give out dough to ailing countries, they should open their own wallets. I'd even dare to bet, if a homeless family wanted to set up a tent somewhere in Gore's back 40, he'd have 'em put under the jail.

How can folks like him call themselves Pro-American??

Anyone who supports him should share the same boat to the iceberg.

No, this train of thought is more widespread than North America.

I dont give a damn about the rest of the world or what you think either.

Whoo Hoooo! Obama is going to invade Cuba. I think I'll take up cigar smoking.

Kim, what (other than the obvious) is this thread about?

At almost 100 percent literacy, immunization rates and free higher education, what are they worried about?

Food rationing, few available medicines, and no more Soviet support, they lash out at at whatever 'enemy' they have to blame them for the failures of the revolution.

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I don't understand either sense we are a poor country to .

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I feel sorry for obama . he actually thinks it a 2 color world . the cubans maybe a brown and the chinese a yellow doesn't seem to make em bros

Why should Americans care about the rest of the world? They don't care about us. All individuals exercise rational self-interest, and it's not reasonable to expect individuals to ignore their immediate needs, wants, and responsibilities to babysit the rest of the world. Besides, most of us are busy making and designing stuff for the rest of the thankless masses in the world.

Besides, Americans have dozens of charities that help people overseas, so you're stereotyping millions of people here unnecessarily. Learn to distinguish the people from the government-it will get you far in life.

No! I'm keeping it for myself!

This shows that no matter what, you can't please everyone. Some will say the US needs to butt out of everything (or they pick and chose what we can butt into) or they say the US doesn't butt in enough.

so confusing

Come on LW.
Bush refused to sign the Kyoto accord and was goes down in history with the worst environmental record of any US President.

All Obama did was reach a compromise at a stalled summit. A weak compromise, but
Without the compromise they would have left Copenhagen with nothing.

As far as this Cubans remarks are concerned. He's just angry because smaller countries who are still developing their Industry aren't wanting to cut greenhouse gases.
Cuba is one of those.

The guy shouldn't complain at all. After all Cuba will be a recipient of the UN funds to help the developing nations.

Heard an interesting interview yesterday with an Indian official who was on the Copenhagen team for India. She said that India had met with China to discuss cooperation and possibilities but the Chinese really weren't willing to give anything or do anything. She said the Chinese went into the conference with the attitude that it really wasn't their problem and the rest of the world should pay them to change from their current path but there would be no verification under any circumstances. She said the US was aware of this position in advance also.

It should be noted that Obama stated strongly that the only way we would pay the 100 billion per year was if we got firm commitments and verification. We got neither but agreed to pay the money anyway.

The problem is not going to be solved by politics and money. If it is solved, it will be by science and engineering.