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The Associated Press reported that in response to questioning at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Fidel Castro has "done some good things for his people." Powell was referring to Castro's two proudest socialist accomplishments -- public schooling and national health care. With Powell's boss, President George W. Bush, advocating increased government funding for the U.S. Department of Education and for Medicare and Medicaid, it's not surprising that Powell would endorse Castro's decades-long efforts along these same lines. Of course, while Castro correctly understands that these programs are the hallmark of a socialist system, Powell and Bush continue to believe that they are actually "free enterprise." That's obviously what caused Powell to heap some misguided praise on one of the most tyrannical dictators of our time. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-rv/aponline/20010427/aponline053813_000.htm