U.S. aims to erode Castro's position

[Osolomia]

By Tom Carter
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Bush administration plans to announce in the next few weeks a new set of Cuba initiatives to undermine the regime of Fidel Castro, the State Department's senior diplomat on Latin America said yesterday.

"We are reviewing where we are in meeting the president's commitment to promote democratic change on the island," Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, said in an interview.

"Right now we are doing an inventory, looking for concrete, specific, achievable objectives," Mr. Noriega said.

He refused to specify what the package would include, but said his office was in consultations with other parts of the government including South Florida's representatives on Capitol Hill, trying to find ways promote change in Cuba.

Mr. Noriega, well known as a hard-liner on Cuba, said the Cuban-American community would recognize some of the measures as their own.

"This is something I feel very strongly about. The president has made explicit commitments ... to support change in Cuba. My job is to make good on those commitments. I am convinced we can be doing a better job," he said.

More...
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030828-100400-4440r.htm

[oneighty]

1. All Right!

Why don't you damn fools send him some exploding cigars.

Yeah that oughta do it. The harder those "Wanna Be Castros"

try, the stronger Castro gets.

The Bushies got a hang up on initiatives and packages,

especially the package.

180

[Mika]

2. There goes more of our tax dollars

Here's a small sampling of our tax dollars at work in Miami (not to mention the over $25,000,000+ per year of our tax dollars going to Radio and TV Marti broadcasting to Cuba that no one listens to)

http://www.usaid.gov/regions/lac/cu/upd-cub.htm

1. Freedom House: Transitions ($500,000 - completed)
2. Center for a Free Cuba ($3,317,479)
3. The Institute for Democracy in Cuba ($1,000,000 - completed)
4. Cuban Dissidence Task Group ($250,000 - completed)
5. International Republican Institute ($2,174,462)
6. Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project ($1,325,000)
7. Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia ($2,700,000)
8. Accion Democratica Cubana ($400,000)

The pandering to the Miamicuban "exile" vote is going to cost us many millions more now.

[Mika]

3. Great quote from Amb Noriega

From the http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030828-100400-4440r.htm link,

Mr. Noriega said that while the Bush administration "refuses to interfere in the internal affairs of our neighbors, ..."

These thugs are a laugh a minute.

[meegbear]

4. Maybe it's me ...

but shouldn't we NOT be announcing stuff like this?

[Mika]

5. They had to announce it

It wouldn't be pandering for votes if they didn't announce it.

But, it is a move pandering for votes, so they announced it.


Hey, its only our tax dollars, and its not like those dollars could be used for something a little more useful or anything. :shrug: