Re: [Marxism] Kerry: Bush is too soft on Cuba

[Derek Seidman <derekseidman@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Associated Press
> May 11, 2004
>
> U.S. Seeks to Subvert Succession in Cuba
>
> By George Gedda
>
> Washington - Cuban President Fidel Castro (news -
> web sites) usually
> offers an inviting target during U.S. presidential
> election campaigns.
>
> President Bush (news - web sites), accused by some
> in his party of not
> doing enough to confront Castro, offered them on
> Thursday what amounts
> to a policy of regime change in Cuba.
>
> "We're not waiting for the day of Cuban freedom, we
> are working for the
> day of freedom in Cuba," Bush told reporters.
>
> A presidential commission recommended that the
> United States subvert the
> planned succession in Cuba under which power would
> pass from Castro to
> his younger brother, Raul.
>
> Although Bush did not address that issue directly,
> an aide said the
> president generally accepts the commission's
> proposals.
>
> Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news -
> web sites) said
> Bush was playing election-year politics.
>
> "Four years after candidate Bush came to Florida and
> promised
> Cuban-Americans the moon, all they've gotten from
> this president is lip
> service and broken promises," Kerry said in a
> statement.
>
> Kerry pledged that, as president, he would fight
> full time for freedom
> and democracy on the island.
>
> Bush has taken some steps to demonstrate his deep
> disregard for the
> Cuban leader, who turns 78 in August. But his
> comments Thursday seemed
> to add a new dimension to his belligerence.
>
> Cuban-American Republican members of Congress said
> they were pleased.
> Five senators, including two Republicans, were not.
>
> "Opening America's doors to Cuba - and challenging
> Cuba to open its
> doors to the rest of the world - will be an act of
> strength and
> magnanimity," they said in a letter to Bush.
>
> The commission, headed by Secretary of State Colin
> Powell (news - web
> sites), said the United States "rejects the
> continuation of a communist
> dictatorship" on the island.
>
> The commission recommended measures in its report
> "to focus pressure and
> attention on the ruling elite so that a succession
> by this elite or any
> one of its individuals is seen as what it would be:
> an impediment to a
> democratic and free Cuba."
>
> The 500-page report was made public after Bush
> discussed it with
> commission members at the White House.
>
> A White House fact sheet listed several immediate
> actions ordered by
> Bush based on the report. He restricted family
> visits by Cuban-Americans
> to once every three years instead of the current
> one-per-year. He
> retained the $1,200-a-year limit on dollar transfers
> that Cuban-American
> families can send to the island.
>
> He also restricted remittances and gift parcels to
> immediate family
> members. Recipients could not include "certain Cuban
> officials and
> Communist Party members."
>
> Also, the authorized per diem amount for a family
> visit was lowered to
> $50, compared with $164 now.
>
> It was unclear how these restrictions would be
> enforced.
>
> The plan under which Defense Minister Raul Castro
> would succeed his
> brother has been in place for years.
>
> Fidel Castro is president of the council of state
> and of the council of
> ministers. Raul, who will turn 73 in June, is the
> first vice president
> of both councils.
>
> "The Castro dictatorship is pursuing every means at
> its disposal to
> survive and perpetuate itself through a 'succession
> strategy' from Fidel
> Castro to Raul Castro and beyond," the commission
> said.
>
> It was uncertain whether the question of subverting
> the succession plan
> is addressed in more detail in a classified section
> of the report.
>
>
> --
>
> The Marxism list: www.marxmail.org
>
>
>
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