McCollum wants to send undercover agents to Cuba (Republican)

[Judi Lynn]

March 22. 2004 5:07PM
McCollum wants to send undercover agents to Cuba

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI


Republican Senate candidate Bill McCollum wants to send undercover agents disguised as tourists into Cuba and wants to change U.S. policy so that no one fleeing the communist country has to be returned, he announced Monday.

McCollum said he supports an embargo of Cuba as strong as the one that helped end South Africa's white minority apartheid rule, but said that the United States has to look at other options since that hasn't been achieved.

"With agents under cover as foreign tourists, liaisons can be developed inside Cuba that can provide valuable information, prepare for a post-Castro Cuba and help undermine the Castro regime," McCollum said in an outline of his proposed Cuba policy.

But rival Mel Martinez, a former member of President Bush's Cabinet who was born in Cuba, questioned the wisdom of openly talking about plans for covert missions.
(snip/...)

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040322/APP/403220906


McCollum's head talking to Gingrich

[BiggJawn]

1. That's just plain dumb.

First, you don't go around blabbing about your planned "undercover operations" because then they ain't undercover no more....Stupid!

Second, there's a Hell of a world's difference between Castro's Communist "empire" in Habana and DeKlerc's Apartheid...And besides, WHAT embargo fo South Africa is he talking about? DeBeers was shipping plenty of "ice" that wound up on lots of ReTHUGlican women's fingers weren't they?

[Eye and Monkey]

8. designed to discourage tourism - "Cubans think we're all CIA"...

Perhaps the term "priming the pump for an international incident" suggests the real motivation behind this proposal.

[saigon68]

25. McCollum wants to send spies to Cuba posing as Tourists?

This guy had better get a new antenna for his tinfoil hat.

[keithyboy]

26. Why, is Cuba a threat to us?

The rest of the countries in this hemisphere should ban together against the US actions against Cuba as threatening the to the Americas. They should seek UN action and sanctions agaist the US for being menance to its neighbors.

[jamesconway]

19. The ReTHUGS Are Always About...

Trying to damage progressive governments.

[Judi Lynn]

2. If you've not heard about Bush's ambassador to Bermuda and his rough

behavior, trying to but into their own policies toward Cuba, this will be a good look.

As background, last year or even the one before, Bermuda had made a decision to sell some used buses they had which were being replaced, to Cuba. _Bush's State Department thought it best they should have our ambassador "lean on 'em" and keep them from completing the sale! Yep. Let'em continue to ride on their own "homemade" buses, _Bush says!

Cuban improvised bus


US Consul gives island a shoulder charge over Cuba link


http://imgsrv.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=RG&Date=20040319&Category=MIDOCEAN&ArtNo=103190105&Ref=AR&MaxW=180
US Consul General Denis Coleman photo



NEWSMAKER by JONATHAN KENT
US Consul General Denis Coleman caused a stir last Friday when he claimed the Bermuda Government had "stuck a finger in the eye" of the American administration by "fostering economic relations" with Cuba.

Bermuda is not accustomed to diplomats directing such strong language against it, but when it comes to the subject of Cuba, Mr. Coleman has never been hesitant in expressing his views.

When Mr. Coleman has popped up in the news over the past year, Cuba has often been the main subject.

When he was asked in May last year about Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown's plans to send old buses to the Communist Caribbean island, Mr. Coleman said: "Left-hand drive buses in Cuba? The tone is more interesting than the action.
(continued)
http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040319/MIDOCEAN/103190105

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dennis Coleman:

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Embassy Row

LUXEMBOURG
Denis Coleman
$105,000 to the GOP*


Note: Denis Coleman was replaced as ambassador to Luxembourg in January 2002 by Peter Terpeluk.

One would think a $40,000 check to the Republican National Committee might encourage the White House to spell your name right, especially in a press release announcing your impending nomination to represent the United States abroad. But if you’re Denis Coleman, a Palm Beach investor who spent several decades heading up the investment company Bear Stearns, there’s no such luck.

President Bush tapped Coleman (whom the White House incorrectly identified as "Dennis Coleman") to become ambassador to Luxembourg. In addition to his experience on Wall Street, Coleman boasts heavy philanthropic credentials -- including a seat on the board of directors of the Covenant House, a Catholic charity that aids homeless children.

Coleman has been equally as generous to Republicans over the years. He and his wife (Annabelle) each contributed $40,000 in soft money to the Republican National Committee in August 2000. Their combined total was $105,000 to federal parties and candidates during 1999-2000, all to the GOP.
(snip/...)

http://www.opensecrets.org/bush/ambassadors/coleman.asp

[seemslikeadream]

3. Karl Rove affirms Bush's Cuba policy

The Miami Herald
2004-03-21

BY PETER WALLSTEN AND LESLEY CLARK
[e-mail]

With Democrats vowing to exploit a rift between the White House and some Cuban-American leaders, President Bushs top political strategist assured Miami GOP activists Friday night that the administration is committed to economically strangling Fidel Castros government.

In a speech that seemed designed specifically to soothe long-simmering tensions, senior White House strategist Karl Rove devoted more time to Cuba than any other issue -- drawing a standing ovation from the heavily Hispanic crowd at a Miami-Dade Republican Party fundraiser.

''Have no doubt, we will remain committed,'' Rove told the crowd at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre in west Miami-Dade County. Referring to the president, he added: ``He knows, you know, we must not waver.''

PROMISES

Rove unleashed a litany of promises to tighten the grip on Castro, saying the administration would find ''new and creative ways'' to limit the flow of money to the island, punish companies that do business there and crack down on travel.

http://www.cubadebate.cu/index.php?tpl=noticias-show¬iciaid=2015¬iciafecha=2004-03-21


:hi: JudiLyn

[Judi Lynn]

4. Here's something I just discovered which has been kept totally quiet!

Do you remember hearing that a Miami family visiting in Cuba was murdered? It was a shock as there is a VERY low crime rate in Cuba, and things like this just don't happen.

I was rummaging around in google a moment ago and found this thing, originally published in the Miami Herald, picked up and repeated by the Cuban-American "exile" operated site, Cubanet, which is financed with U.S. taxpayers' money. They ALSO manage and publish articles written by "independent journalists" in Cuba.

This article is interesting because probably no one outside South Florida ever HEARD that Cuba asked our own FBI to help in the investigation! Well, well, well!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FBI helps Cuba probe crime


By Gail Epstein Nieves and Elaine de Valle . [e-mail]. Published Thursday, January 17, 2002 in The Miami Herald

The FBI in Miami is helping the Cuban government with its investigation into a five-person massacre that claimed the lives of a Hialeah Gardens couple and three other people last month, officials confirmed.

"The Cuban government asked the State Department, which came to us,'' FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said Wednesday. "I can't say what they want us to do, but they have made a formal request for our assistance here.''

A federal source familiar with the request said the Cuban government is seeking any criminal intelligence that could link the slain couple's son, Osmani Placencia of Miami, to migrant smuggling. The U.S. Border Patrol says that no such evidence exists, however, and Placencia denies any involvement in smuggling ventures.

The unusual collaboration between Cuban and American law officers comes at the same time that sobering crime-scene photographs of the victims' bodies are making the rounds in Miami -- sent electronically by Cuban state employees with access to computers and e-mail.
(snip/...)

http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y02/jan02/17e2.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very attractive photo of Karl Rove attached to your article, seemslikeadream! Attractive for him, that is! :hi:

[NashVegas]

5. Silly Republicans

Don't they understand that if they'd just lift the freaking travel ban, Havana would be crawling with spooks in no time?

[yellowcanine]

6. Oh yeah, lets tell Castro we are sending undercover

agents disguised as tourists. That ought to make the legitimate tourists there feel really safe. Is this guy as stupid as what comes out of his mouth suggests he is?

[Cooley Hurd]

7. That might be part of their plan...

That's a pretty good way to discourage tourism to Cuba - make the Cuban govt hassle every tourist out of fear they're spies. Who would want to go there if it meant being shaken down every time?

[AP]

9. They want Castro to crack down some more so they can say...

..."look at Castro crack down. He has no legitimacy. We should invade."

[Judi Lynn]

10. Exactly!

Happened last year for them, and worked, somewhat.

They are going to get more desperate as more and more U.S. businesses join the large group already doing business with Cuba. There are several hundred businesses already engaged from 38 or 39 states.

The door is open, business is growing, and they just might finally find a way to create an international incident so obnoxious that they can use it as an opportunity to close ALL transactions between Americans and Cubans of ALL kinds, other than travel to and from Cuba by Cuban "exiles" and relatives, AND launch the successful Bay of Pigs Invasion the older _Bush undoubtedly has always been dreaming of since his original one came apart in 1961.

I'm sure you already knew _{George H. W. Bush} contributed 2 or 3 of his own boats to the effort, right? One was named "Zapata," and one was "Barbara," I think. The older guy was already involved with right-wing Cubans a long time ago.


"George and Felix, chillin' at the VP office."

http://www.parascope.com/ds/papertrail/felixNote.htm
http://www.parascope.com/ds/papertrail/papertrail0498.htm#bush


Same CIA-connected Cuban, Felix with Che Guevara, after he and his group grabbed him in Bolivia. Felix Rodriguez took Che Guevara's watch, given to him by his father in Argentina. He shows the damned thing to reporters.

A real touch of class, not.

[seemslikeadream]

18. JudiLyn just a couple of pictures

[Judi Lynn]

23. Omigosh! seemslikeadream, you've outdone yourself!

What the HELL happened to Cheney?

Alan Simpson continued to be completely recognizeable, the "Great Communicator," too, and Cheney, but good grief, Cheney's a wreck!

He looked sour back then, but he still looked somewhat like a human being.

[9215]

12. Nice one AP

Castro exercises considerable restraint IMO.

[Mika]

13. What about the millions of tourists who go to Cuba every year?

Does anyone think that any of McC's ravings will affect the millions of Canadians and Brits and Germans and Spanish and Italians and Japanese and Latin Americans etc etc etc who go to Cuba every year unfettered by any government?

If anything, public support will increase for Cuba's tourism worldwide as a backlash to GeeDub & Co's corrupt global policies and the bullying of the Caribbean.




"Who would want to go there if it meant being shaken down every time?"


The only people getting shaken down every time they travel are Americans and travellers IN and TO America.

Many millions of non Americans enjoy trips regularly to Cuba with nary a bad word about their experiences there.

Not everyone is cowed by the fear tactics of the current fascists in power here.

---

... because our Bonesman is better than their Bonesman

[jamesconway]

20. Of Course

If the Cuban government became convinced that many of them were spies, well, that would cause a real difference.

[salin]

11. it just occured to me who McCollum et al remind me of

not just this story - but their overall one-dimensional, simplistic, bull-in-china-shop approaches - with the unmitigated arrogance that they are so righteous that they can just will things to be so (and control the rest of us) - he was always one of the creepiest of the "House Managers".


Its the Big Blue Meanies - who worked to banish music from Pepperland in ... the Yellow Submarine

[Judi Lynn]

14. For DU'ers interested in Cuba, here's something short and interesting

from the Christian Science Monitor!

A transforming glimpse of Cuba
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0325/p18s04-hfes.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to take the time to mention a great DU'er has pointed out that the top photo on this thread contains the inestimable likeness of our impressive Representative, HENRY HYDE! Hey, Henry!

You may recall he was contacted in total seriousness by the husband of the woman with whom he had been having an affair. The husband begged him to go away, and allow the family to come back together.

Does anyone remember what Henry Hyde did at that point? I don't. I was so shocked by this naughty Republican I can't even remember if he broke it off, or spit in the man's face.

Let's not be too hard on Henry, one of the most pompous impeachment managers. He had this destructive relationship when he was a tender youth in his 40's. It was a simple "youthful indescretion." Get off poor Henry's back, would you?

[Judi Lynn]

15. Oliver Stone's movie on Fidel Castro will be shown in Canada

but, of course, not here!

Stone glad Canada will air Castro doc
Director claims film was victim of a fake e-mail campaign

JOHN MCKAY
Canadian Press


March 23, 2004

TORONTO (CP) -- Oliver Stone has always attracted the lightning and it's happened again.

The director of such controversial films as JFK, Natural Born Killers and Nixon says his recent project, a documentary on Fidel Castro, was the victim of a fake e-mail campaign, a new "sickness" that he believes threatens pop culture and even democracy itself.

Stone's Comandante is a free-form personality profile of the durable Cuban dictator culled from 30 hours of interview video he and his crew shot in Havana in 2002. But it was cancelled by HBO last May when the U.S. network argued that a new, aggressive crackdown on dissidents in Cuba had rendered the film incomplete and outdated. Apart from screenings at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals, it has not been seen, especially by American audiences, and no U.S. telecast is planned.

But Comandante has been acquired by CBC Newsworld, which plans to air it in prime time Sunday night, making it the only broadcast in North America in the foreseeable future.
(snip/...)

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=5dbda00f-0ee1-4fbd-bb2c-dbe4f6107a49

[Judi Lynn]

17. Here's better review of "El Comandante," airing on Canada tv this weekend.

Located by a well-traveled DU'er on another message board:

'THE AMERICANS HAVE A VIEW OF CASTRO THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY RIGID... I THINK THEY'RE WORRIED THEY MIGHT LIKE HIM.'

Oliver Stone spent three days in Cuba with Castro talking about youth, power, everything from Fidel's failings as a father to drinking nights with Krushchev. The result is a film HBO won't show, perhaps because it puts a human face on the U.S.'s eternal enemy. But the CBC isn't afraid to air it

By SIMON HOUPT
Saturday, March 20, 2004 - Page R1

~~~~ link ~~~~

[jamesconway]

21. I'm Going to Watch It

I thought it was supposed to get a limited theatrical release, even.

[Fridays Child]

16. Shh. Top Secret. Don't say a word.

Posturing little dweeb.

:eyes:

[jamesconway]

22. Indeed

;-)

[0007]

24. McCollum is a jerk, a politician on the take and a pimp for the

Cuban American National Foundation (CANF)

A two footer with absolutely no class what so ever, but the biggest prick America has ever seen.

[Judi Lynn]

27. One of the most Cuba-familiar posters here,

posted this article in another forum, showing a comparison, contrast between Cuba and Haiti, both countries having been jerked around BUT GOOD by certain U.S. administrations:

(snip)
Haiti's history is plagued with dictatorship and violence. This is the second time the elected Aristide (corrupt as he may be) has been forced to leave the country due to a violent coup. Unfortunately, despite his social idealism, he was unable to substantially raise the country's standard of living or challenge the American control of the Haitian economy. Today, the country has the highest illiteracy rate in the hemisphere and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its people are denied basic rights such as education and health care and basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

Across the Windward Passage, things are very different. In Cuba, every citizen is assured these basic human rights and needs. Cuba has the lowest illiteracy rate in the world (below one per cent). Its education and health care systems are studied worldwide because of their remarkably high quality and efficiency. When I was in Havana several years ago, I met members of a commission of European medical professionals who were studying how the country can provide such an unprecedented high level of care with so little in terms of finances. Also unlike Haiti, Cuba enjoys political stability and has the region's lowest level of street violence and crime.

We are taught by our media that Cuba is an evil empire, a violent and repressive dictatorship. In actuality, Cuba is a unique and thriving democracy, and has been democratic ever since it overthrew the American backed dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in 1959. Cuba has regular free elections which determine who will be in the governing party and who will be the party's leader. Fidel Castro's repeated electoral success in this regard is a tribute to the esteem in which he is held by the people of Cuba. After all, he was the leader of their revolution which the majority of Cubans hold lovingly in the highest respect. In my experience, Cubans react with hilarity when asked if Castro is a dictator.

Why is Haiti so troubled, while 80 Kilometres away, Cuba's standard of living has been recognized, in all important respects, to be among the highest in all of South America?
(snip/...)

http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/sil/oped/032504haiti.html

[yellowcanine]

28. I don't know whose morning breath I would fear more -

Henry Hyde's or Bill McCollum's in that picture. Looks almost like they are going to pucker up and smooch. Think there would be any tongue action?

[Judi Lynn]

31. Maybe McCollum is starting to suddenly resemble

that "youthful indescretion" to Henry Hyde, from back when he was a simple lad of 40 something!

[enki23]

29. are we supposed to believe we don't already have them?

.

[Judi Lynn]

30. Here's a story of a Cuban exile who claims his group went in

and killed a "spy" and came back to Miami:

(snip)Frometal Jacket
The extreme idealism of F-4 commander Rodolfo Frometa
BY KIRK NIELSEN
[e-mail]


Steve Satterwhite

Pop morality quiz: An organization with offices in the United States has assassinated a foreign spy in that agent's homeland, or tried to do so. This is: A) right, B) wrong, C) legal, D) illegal, E) the kind of activity U.S. and Cuban authorities should be investigating.
If you live in Miami there's a good chance your head is already swirling with questions you want to ask before responding. For example, was the target a spy for Tony Blair or that tyrant Fidel Castro?

Comandos F-4 chief Rodolfo Frometa answers "A" because the target was Juan Pablo Roque, post-Soviet Cuba's most notorious spy. Roque is the debonair pilot who is now reviled in el exilio for marrying a Miami girl, Ana Margarita Martinez, then dumping her in an extreme example of putting his work before his relationship. Their matrimony was part of Roque's cover identity that enabled his infiltration of Brothers to the Rescue, the men who flew Cessnas over the Florida Straits in the early to mid-Nineties to spot hundreds of Cuban rafters trying to ride the Gulf Stream to freedom, or at least a free-market economy. Roque split for Havana in February 1996 just a few days before a Cuban MiG destroyed two Brothers to the Rescue planes over the straits, killing four of the group's members. An FBI investigation found that Roque had provided information to his superiors in Havana related to the Brothers' flight plans.

The alleged hit on Roque, according to Frometa, occurred this past December 16 near the intersection of Ayesteran and Boyeros in the El Cerro section of Havana. It was carried out by several F-4 members based in Havana. A policeman named Luis Ramirez Echeverria died in the shootout, as did one Ramon Sosa, a 32-year-old member of the F-4 hit squad. Roque was severely wounded and hospitalized. "I can't assure you that he is still alive," Frometa said last week. "He could be dead already."
(snip/...)

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2003-02-06/metro.html/1/index.html


Their exile group, Comandos F-4, may have committed murder, but Rodolfo and Teresa Frometa insist they've done nothing wrong


Another group:
(snip)
ARMED PARAMILITARY COMMANDOS ARRESTED
Seven anti-Castro Cubans armed with automatic weapons landed in Cuba on October 15, killing one local resident and attempting to steal a vehicle before Cuban authorities arrested them. The seven, captured after a shootout with security forces, left for Cuba from a third country in order to avoid violating the US Neutrality Law, which prohibits launching armed operations from the US. They are members of the Miami-based Democratic National Unity Party (PUND), which claimed responsibility for their action.
(snip/...)
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/142.html

Another group:
(snip)
ALPHA 66 THREATENS TOURISTS
On November 6, 1993 Canadian newspapers, particularly those from Montreal, ran disturbing headlines: Alpha 66, an anti-Cuban group from Miami. announced that starting on November 27, tourists travelling to Cuba would be attacked by Alpha 66 members operating in Cuba. In the following months, travel wholesalers in Montreal also receive death threats. "Adding insult to injury is the fact that in this same week the anti- Castro terrorist group Alpha 66 announced that it now considered tourists in Cuba as justifiable targets for kidnappings and assassinations. Since Canadian tourists make up the largest single group of tourists in Cubaa ... it is clear that we constitute the largest probable target."

"COMMANDOS L" THREATENS TOURISTS
According to an article in the Jan. 23 edition of the daily Jersey Journal, Tony Bryant, the new leader of the Cuban exile group Commandos L, has "warned international tourists to stay away" from Cuba, saying "We're going to attack them." Last October, Commandos L sprayed the hotel Melia at the Varadero beach tourist resort with gunfire in what bryant told his audience was meant as a message to tourists.

ALPHA 66 ATTACK TOURIST HOTEL
The anti-Castro paramilitary group Alpha 66 announced in Florida that several of its commandos attacked a tourist hotel on the northern coast of Cuba on Mar. 11, marking the start of a campaign against the island's tourist industry. According to Alpha 66, no one was hurt in the attack from the commandos' small boat offshore or by the fire returned by Cuban security forces. "All the Cuban tourist centres are military objectives for Alpha 66," said the group's military chief, Humberto Perez. Perez said the attack was launched from a base located outside the US, though it was coordinated in Miami; US legislation prohibits the launching of armed attacks from US territory against nations that are not at war with the US. Alpha 66 had threatened to begin attacks against foreign tourists in Cuba beginning Nov. 27
(snip/...)
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/142.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus photo! Wake Forest University College Republicans!



Don't laugh.