Castro's friends

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Cuban leader Fidel Castro says he has "the privilege" of being a friend to Elian Gonzalez.

In other news, Castro just learned that he won't see ever again 50 other "friends."

Ending an arduous yearlong journey, 50 Cuban performers were granted political asylum this week after what is believed to be the largest group defection of Cubans in American history. . .

"It's historic that 50 artists defected together and made the sacrifice to leave their families at home," said Ms. Durr in an interview before leading a rehearsal in a warehouse east of the Las Vegas airport. "Some of them have wives and children that they haven't seen in a year."