Bush attacks Cuba and other rivals

[Osolomia]

Tue 13 January, 2004
By Kieran Murray

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush has told Latin Americans they had a "God-given right" to freedom in a sharp attack on Cuba's Fidel Castro and other rivals in a region where anti-U.S. sentiment is rising.

Bush patched up his friendship with Mexican President Vicente Fox earlier on Monday after a year of disputes over the Iraq war, but he had only stern words for other Latin American leaders who have fallen foul of Washington.

Speaking at a 34-nation summit of leaders across the Americas, Bush singled out Cuban President Fidel Castro for his toughest condemnation.

"Through our democratic example, we must continue to stand with the brave people of Cuba, who for nearly half a century have endured the tyrannies and repression," Bush said at the summit's inaugural ceremony.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

More...
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=437757§ion=news

[Goldom]

1. They have a god given right,

but we don't? Blah.

[stevedeshazer]

2. Cuba's a rival??

They must be about to join the new Axis of Evil next week in the SOTU address....

[WealthAndDemocracy]

5. My bet is Syria or Iran as the next target

[Osolomia]

12. The Bushies clasify Cuba as "Beyond the Axis of Evil" for years now

On June 4th, 2003, in testimony before the House International Relations Committee during a hearing on “U.S. efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction,” John Bolton, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, repeated charges he had made last year that Cuba “has at least a limited, developmental offensive biological warfare research and development effort.” He also asserted that Cuba has “provided dual-use biotechnology to rogue states.” He talked about Cuba in a section of his testimony entitled “Beyond the Axis of Evil,” discussing Cuba, along with Syria, Libya, and the Sudan.

More...
http://www.wola.org/cuba/cuba_terroism_allegations.htm

[stevedeshazer]

23. Unbelievable

Thanks. I learned something.

[Judi Lynn]

25. Thanks here, as well.

This was very informative:

Why has the Bush Administration suddenly decided that Cuba is involved in some form of bio-terrorism? It is most unlikely that it has any evidence today that it did not have in November 2001, when it left Cuba off the list of countries of concern. Indeed, it has produced a carefully worded statement but no evidence at all. Why then this sudden attack?

Cuba watchers know well the reasons why. Many hardline Cuban exiles and their political allies are riled that the Bush administration is permitting former President Jimmy Carter to travel to Cuba. For several years now, coalitions of business, agriculture, political and rights groups have joined forces with an overwhelming majority in Congress to lift trade and travel restrictions against Cuba Opponents understand that the writing is on the wall for the embargo. This would appear to be a desperate effort to stay the inevitable.

Staunch supporters of the failed U.S. policy toward Cuba have been anxious for the administration to fulfill its campaign promise to toughen U.S. Cuba policy. Some of these groups have been complaining that the administration was not taking seriously enough their accusations concerning biological weapons in Cuba. With Jeb Bush running for re-election in November, the Administration would seem to have decided to silence those complaints and do what the hard-line exiles require.

But this will not fool our allies in the war against terrorism and it will not fool Congress. Such transparent tactics aimed at winning domestic political battles only detract from our seriousness of purpose in the struggle against real terrorism. Making unsubstantiated, politically expedient charges against Cuba in no way serves the interests of the American people. (snip)

I'm hoping the American people will WIN this tussle.

[Don Claybrook]

3. United Fruit sez Thanks!

And I'm sure that the Mafia would like their gambling concession back.

[kalian]

4. Shrub should watch what he says....for it was the US that....

placed military dictatorships in MANY Latin American countries during
the 70s.
Latin America is no longer the pushover the bushistas think they
are. Latin Americans are PISSED.

[stevedeshazer]

7. That's OK

He'll talk Mexican to them. Bush hablar la espanol, see? </sarcasm>

[Judi Lynn]

16. A D.U. reader who has lived all over Latin America

told some of us that Bush's Spanish is simply goddawful, and almost unbearable to witness.

He left the impression it's far WORSE than Bush's English, if possible.

Bush not hablar la espanol bueno, usted.

[ninkasi]

20. His Spanish is laughable...

I used to be fairly fluent in Spanish, but haven't used it much in the last 20 years. I still know enough to know that what he thinks is Spanish and what Spanish speaking people think is Spanish are two different things.

[Judi Lynn]

22. Thanks for your observation!

He doesn't seem clever enough to recognize he's not even close, either! Seems damned proud of himself, maybe imagining himself similar to Jackie Kennedy giving speeches in French!

[stevedeshazer]

24. See, me observo

Busho no es closo? Eye crombo!

[Bridget Burke]

29. And Fox's English is better than Shrub's....

He speaks slowly but clearly, with well-chosen words that actually mean something.

[chookie]

6. Breaking: Pot calls Kettle "black"

Oh, I get it, like "Old Europe" and "New Europe" -- we have "Old Dictators" (Castro) and "New Dictators" (Bush and Cheney).

[coloradodem2005]

8. hypocryte

"Dictatorship has no place in the Americas."

Well Mr. President, don't punish people for speaking out. Repeal the Patriot Act and the Patriot Act II, which you passed with impunity.

[coloradodem2005]

9. hypocryte

"Dictatorship has no place in the Americas."

Well Mr. President, don't punish people for speaking out. Repeal the Patriot Act and the Patriot Act II, which you passed with impunity.

[kskiska]

10. "Dictatorship has no place in the Americas."

I'm speechless.

[Say_What]

31. LOL Especially when the US is guilty of setting up and supporting

the most brutal dictatorships in this hemisphere and elsewhere. More convenient amnesia from the BushCo THUGS.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html

[goforit]

11. How many enemies does this guy, * , actually have?

Unbelievable!!!!

[peacebuzzard]

21. Are you with us or against us?

He better not ask again, I think it has been answered.

[PartyPooper]

13. Vicente Fox will be showcased in Crawford before Easter.

Junior's new best friend. But, I don't think Fidel Castro has a prayer of a chance of being invited to the ranch during the * pResidency. No sireee!

Instead...it's punishment....punishment...and, more punishment!

:spank:

[Osolomia]

17. With the complicity of the Democratic Party!

Democratic Presidential Candidates on Cuba
http://www.lawg.org/Misc/prez-candidates1.htm

[Osolomia]

26. That's why this travesty of democracy continues to this day

Cuban ports off-limits for Cape students
13 January 20004

By JACK COLEMAN
STAFF WRITER
The Bush administration's harder line against Americans visiting Cuba now affects oceanography students sailing from Woods Hole.

Between 1999 and 2002, college students on Sea Education Association cruises stopped eight times at Cuban ports, as allowed by licenses obtained from the U.S. Treasury Department every year.

But relations with Cuba, strained since Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's alignment with the Soviet Union in 1960 spurred a trade embargo by the United States, were further frayed last March by Castro's crackdown on Cuban dissidents.

In response, the Bush administration stopped issuing licenses for "people to people" cultural exchanges with Cuba and revived long-dormant civil cases against Americans who visited Cuba and allegedly violated travel restrictions. Nantucket resident Jennifer Wolfe Kennelly is one of those Americans.

Wolfe Kennelly, a nurse working and studying at a Chicago hospital until this summer, faces a possible fine stemming from a vacation she took to Cuba in December 1999.

Much more...
http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/cubanports13.htm

[Mika]

30. Vaction in Cuba = Evildoing

Maybe Al Queda is running the bicycle & hiking tours and fishing trips there, taking vacationing evildoer cyclists and hikers from America on tours of Cuba. Or maybe Al Queda is running the cold drink concession stands on the beaches there.

[Say_What]

32. Depends. Are there any Mexican nationals slated for execution?

that's why Fox cancelled the last time he was invited.

[Dirk39]

14. If for the better or the worst, I guess even U.S. banks and

corporations will try to get rid of Bush pretty soon. Maybe just for a better whore like Wesley Clark, but Bush is just too plain idiotic stupid.

"Cuba, who for nearly half a century have endured the tyrannies and repression," Bush said at the summit's inaugural ceremony.

That's what your free market, free speech terrorism is about: Batista! And this is all you have to promise: that Latin America will become a whorehouse for american soldiers again, after they killed and slaughtered for the wealth of corporate America.
Dear Mr. Bush: noone in Latin America will believe this idiotic propaganda anymore. Not even people with restricted internet access.
You're history -for the better or the worse.
Dirk

[Say_What]

35. "Cuba, who for nearly half a century have endured the tyrannies and repres

He's right. From 1898 till 1959, one US supported dictator after another and then they threw them out, took back their land, and have said F*CK YOU to US style democracy ever since.

<clips>

American firms make profits of $77 million from their Cuban investments, while employing little more than 1 percent of the country's population.

By the late 1950’s, American capital control:
90% of Cuba’s mines
80% of its public utilities
50% of its railways
40% of its sugar production
25% of its bank deposits

http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/time/timetbl3.htm

[Judi Lynn]

37. Great photo of Camilo Cienfuegos! n/t

[IndianaGreen]

15. America is the greatest threat to freedom in Latin America

Listening to Bush tell these lies is like hearing Hitler accuse Poland of attacking Germany.

Latin America is not America's backyard, and Latinos are not the new slaves!

[Say_What]

33. Correction: Greatest threat to freedom on the PLANET

*

[Judi Lynn]

18. You might enjoy taking a peek at this old article from 1958

It discusses sending arms to Cuba during a period of unrest. What's quite interesting is the description of the state of affairs in Cuba by an Oregon Democrat:

(snip) Noting that the rifle shipment had been suspended pending consultations with appropriate Cuban officials," the statement added:

"It would be entirely contrary to our policy to intervene in affairs and we do not intend to become involved."

United States policy has been to sell arms to "friendly" Latin-American countries that are signatories of the Rio de Janeiro treaty of reciprocal assistance provided that the arms are not used for aggressive purposes.

Among members of Congress who have called for a halt in arms shipments to the Batista regime is Representative Charles O. Porter, Democrat of Oregon.

Placing the State Department statement into the Congressional Record on Monday, he hailed it as showing that "we have finally suspended" such shipments, which he described as "identifying us with the vicious police state ruled by Batista." (snip/...)

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/cuban-rebels/4-3-58-embargo.htm

On edit:
I forgot to include another photo of Fulgencio Batista:

When the American tourist reached Havana after a five-hour flight from New York, he had a choice of about five multi-million-dollar swank hotels. There were also numerous nightclubs in Havana which had facilities for gambling. All were million-dollar-plus establishment – Batista had changed the gambling laws in 1955 to allow gambling rooms in any club or hotel worth a million. His government also helped finance the buildings and put up millions to help with construction. Import duties were waived on materials for hotel construction and Cuban contractors with the right "in" made windfalls by importing much more than was needed and selling the surplus to others for hefty profits.
These schemes were what had aroused the wrath of Castro and the citizens of Cuba. They saw their government giving money with little return expected; what should have been returned to the government coffers with interest went to line the pockets of corrupt officials.

The government was to get $25,000 for license plus twenty percent of the profits from each casino. What Batista and the "in group" got has never been certified. It was rumored that to get a license a fee for $250,000 and sometimes more was required under the table. Periodic payoffs were requested and received by the corrupt politicians.
The slot machines in Cuba, even the ones which dispensed small prizes for children at country fairs, were the province of Roberto Fernandez y Miranda, Army general, government sports director and Batista's brother-in-law, Roberto, was also given the parking meters in Havana as a little something extra. Parking meters didn't fare too well when the rebels first came to town. (snip/...)

&imgrefurl=http://www.cubaheritage.com/articles.asp%3FartID%3D182&h=226&w=200&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522Fulgencio%2BBatista%2522%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG">~~~~ link ~~~~

The article doesn't get into the death squads, the torture, the mutilation, and the murders of the Batista regime. That's available on the internet for anyone willing to look for it.

[Dirk39]

19. I did reconsider it again, Georgie-boy...

I've checked my bank account again, tonight. Please Georgie Boy, sweet little thing: let me do your PR-work. The people you hired for your and your family's hard earned nazi-money are evil communists, who just want to make you look like a fool in front of the world. I can't just sit here and watch, as they get everything wrong, you're about. Hire me! For just 5.000,- an hour - but please pay in euro - I make you look good. The people will understand your message. PM me now! I help you!
Dirk

[Mika]

27. How many dictators did Cuba install in the Latin Americas?

I can't seem to find any info on Cuban installed dictators in Latin America, although there is plenty on US installed dictators in the L.A.'s.

[Osolomia]

28. Musn't let documented facts obscure DUers unsubstantiated fantasies

or the pointless flamers will be let loose and this thread will be locked as usual

I will admit to a certain bias against threads which argue that Cuba is a bastion of freedom and democracy.

- Skinner ADMIN (1000+ posts) Sun Jan-11-04 01:05 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=120&topic_id=10711#10723

[Say_What]

34. See link at post #31 for US installed dictators

*

[Moderator]

36. Osolomia

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
news source.


Thank you


DU Moderator