During his many years in power, Fidel Castro has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use force, repression, and other means to intimidate Cubans and keep them from opposing his rule. In his eyes, these means are justifiable because they quell opposition to revolutionary forces that Castro says are necessary to create a more just society.

In Cuba, Castro's courts send people to jail for political crimes. These offenses fall into one of three categories. Some actions are considered to be dangerous to the state. Other offenses involve irreverence toward or defiance of authority. The third kind of offense is spreading enemy propaganda. Those convicted of committing any of these offenses can be severely punished. Government officials seldom deny that they take harsh measures against dissidents, saying that they must be tough on enemies of the revolution to preserve the Communist way of life, and...