Well, Reuters reports it. The Miami Herald agrees. Google gives more, of course, and I’m pretty well satisfied that this isn’t bunkum.
Basically, two morning zoo DJs (Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero) in Miami called Cuba’s foreign relations ministry and got Fidel on the line. Fidel Castro, Dictator of Cuba, one of the people the US really Doesn’t Like Too Well.
The prank went down like this: Using a Venezuelan accent, Ferrero pretended to be ''Lieutenant Camilo" and managed to penetrate the thicket of secretaries and aides and get to the man in charge. Then, they used tape of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to convince Castro that he was dealing with a friend in need: They told Castro that Hugo was missing a briefcase full of sensitive documents. For four minutes they kept it up, feigning a bad satellite connection to cover the dodgy process of re-editing tape into one end of a conversation.
The intrepid DJs were treated to a stream of Spanish expletives when they told Castro who they were. That part makes me laugh, and it will make me grin all day.
Presumably, Castro didn’t enjoy being called a murderer, either. But the Cuban expats in Miami probably loved that part.
Anyway, here’s where it gets strange: The FCC got a complaint and is now fining the station $4,000. Why? Because Castro didn’t know the call was being broadcast.
Think about that for a while. $4,000 for pranking the head of a foreign country we deeply dislike, payable to the FCC.
Anyway, the DJs are collecting pennies to pay the fine, although the station has the option of contesting it.
The Cuban government is silent, and I’d pay good money for good tape of Castro blowing his top on the air. :wally
