In his speech at Cuba's Revolution Day celebration, the Cuban president brought up President Bush's past drinking habits.

BY VANESSA ARRINGTON
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Cuba - Fidel Castro on Monday vigorously denied recent charges by President Bush that he encourages sex-tourism in Cuba to attract U.S. dollars to the impoverished island.

The Cuban president also became personal with Bush, bringing up old reports about his American nemesis' alleged past drinking habits.

Speaking at the island's annual Revolution Day celebration in the central city of Santa Clara, Castro said the sex tourism allegations show that what the White House considers to be true about Cuba is ``that which the president makes up in his head, whether it corresponds to reality or not.''

''There are many in the world who know very little about the Cuban Revolution, and could fall prey to the lies diffused by the United States,'' Castro said.

During a speech in Tampa earlier this month, Bush accused Castro of turning Cuba into a major destination for sex tourism, which is ``a vital source of hard currency to keep his corrupt government afloat.''

''The regime in Havana, already one of the worst violators of human rights in the world, is adding to its crimes. Castro welcomes sex tourism,'' Bush said at the July 16 conference on ''human trafficking'' -- forced labor, sex and military service.

LESS VISIBLE ON STREETS

Although prostitution does exist on the island, it is unorganized and has been far less visible since Castro launched a massive crackdown on street crime in early 1999.

Castro said someone should have told Bush that before Cuba's 1959 revolution about 100,000 women were involved in prostitution because of poverty, discrimination or unemployment. The were educated and given other jobs, he said.

Castro went on to lash out at Bush in a more personal manner, summarizing arguments made in Justin A. Frank's book Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President, and saying that Bush apparently had replaced his drinking with religious fundamentalism.

''He depends on religion as a defense mechanism, substituting thought,'' said Castro, paraphrasing from the book by the Washington, D.C.-based psychoanalyst and professor of psychiatry. ``In some ways, he doesn't even have to think.''

In an autobiography written when he was Texas governor, Bush wrote about swearing off alcohol in 1986, when he was 40. Bush said a spiritual awakening prompted him to quit.

Earlier Monday, Communist Party faithful gathered for Castro's 1 ½-hour speech in this provincial capital, where Cuban flags hung from the sides of buildings in observance of Revolution Day.

The day marks the failed July 26, 1953, attack on a military barracks that launched the Cuban Revolution.

''With the heroism of always,'' declared a banner hanging over a street in this city about 125 miles east of Havana.

The top leaders of Cuba's ruling Communist Party were among about 1,000 people attending the event. The proceedings were also broadcast live on Cuba's state-run television and radio.

FEARS OVER INVASION

Castro ended his comments to Bush saying he hoped God does not ''instruct'' the U.S. president to invade the island, a fear the Cuban leader often repeats.

''He had better check on any divine belligerent order by consulting the pope and other prestigious dignitaries . . . asking them for their opinion,'' he said.