Cuba Releases Photo of Elián González in Military School Uniform

​This April marks the ten-year anniversary of when Elián González was forcibly removed from the home of relatives in Miami and returned to his father in Cuba. The Cuban propaganda machine, ever aware of the symbolism of Elián, has no qualms about exploiting the boy, now 16, when it serves the regime's purpose.

The AP reports the government released today the above photo of González -- wearing a Cuban military school uniform while attending a Young Communist Union congress -- under the headline "Young Elián González defends his revolution in the youth congress." González is no stranger to being celebrated in Cuba. His father was appointed to the parliament and still serves, and the boy's December 7 birthday is marked with parades and celebrations every year.