Rice's letter answers criticism from Cuban-American legislators

[Judi Lynn]

September 16. 2003 10:51PM
Rice's letter answers criticism from Cuban-American legislators

The Associated Press


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.


National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has sent a letter to 13 Republican state lawmakers to reassure them that President Bush's administration is committed to bringing a transition to democracy in Cuba.

The letter, dated Sept. 3, comes about a month after the legislators warned President Bush that he could lose their support for the 2004 election if he fails to adopt a tougher Cuba policy. (snip)

(snip) State Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, one of the lawmakers who signed the legislators' August letter outlining their concerns, said Rice's letter was a good start but does not go far enough.

"It demonstrates that President Bush has a strong record on Cuba policy that Cuban-Americans appreciate," Rivera told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "What's important now, however, particularly as we approach the (2004) election, is the need to distinguish President Bush's record from past and future Democratic nominees."

The Cuban-American leaders' letter asked the administration to revise its current migration policy, indict Castro for the 1996 shoot down of two private planes by Cuban fighter jets, ensure that TV Marti is viewed by people in Cuba and give more aid to dissidents on the island. In her letter, Rice pointed out the indictment of two Cuban pilots and a Cuban air force official in the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes. (snip/...)

http://gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030916/APN/309161145&cachetime=5

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For people who still haven't recognized that "dissidents" in Cuba receive money from the U.S. Government, which has been denied here countless times by people who have come and gone from this board, here is another REMINDER that, indeed, our government actually PAYS them actual MONEY, FOLDING CASH, LONG GREEN, SCRATCH.

[Flying_Pig]

1. This bunch is just as bad as ...

AIPAC (Jewish/Israeli lobby). I sure get sick of seeing people with interests other than what is best for THIS country, exerting so much power and influence on our government. Those who give the money, and those who take it, are traitors. Yet another reason for MAJOR campaign finance reform, and publicly financed campaigns.

:grr:

[loudnclear]

4. If you study the history of Cuba and the revolution the roots of AIPAC ilk

was spawned here. One of the reasons that we have not yet sought to normalize relations with Cuba is that many of the wealthy Cubans deposed by Fidel were figures of organized crime and their families of which many were Jews. Cuba is therefore treated in political respects as are the Palestinians. There is no really good reason to continue the embargo of Cuba...neither Castro nor the Cuban people pose any threat to the US. But if you look closely you will see a familiar pattern emerge. At all costs some among us, who are heavily financed by the Israeli lobbies in this country, will demonize Castro as Arafat is demonized. The venom launched against Castro is every bit as contrived and fostered by our media as that against Arafat...with far, far less justification.
One day, people will wake up and smell the money!

[Mika]

5. One interesting thing. Israel and Cuba have some joint ventures

Back in the late 90's I saw some Israeli/Cuban organic and hydroponics joint venture agriculture projects going on in Cuba. I found this interesting, because these joint ventures between Israel and Cuba are partially funded with US tax subsidies to Israel, and Israel is about the only other country to vote with the US on the UN votes against the US sanctions on Cuba. Apparently, what's good for Israel's goose (that lays golden eggs) isn't good for their gander.





Don't ask questions!

[Judi Lynn]

6. Stop! This is way too rotten.

Now this is GOING TOO FAR: joint ventures between Israel and Cuba are partially funded with US tax subsidies to Israel.

I wonder what the people working together on the ventures have to say to each other each year when Israel votes to support the U.S. embargo!

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Just found the agricultural method in google:

Organics in Castro's Cuban Agriculture: Kicking the Face in of the International Pesticide Cartel
Organic farming -- often considered an insignificant part of the food supply -- can feed an entire country concludes a report by the Oakland, CA-based Institute for Food and Development Policy, or more widely known as Food First, a member-supported, nonprofit education-for-action center advocating sustainable farming.

In Cuba, many of the foods people eat every day are grown without synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides, the report, Cultivating Havana: Urban Agriculture and Food Security in the Years of Crisis, found.

Cuba's organic food movement developed in response to a crisis. Before the revolution that threw out dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, and to some extent during the years of Soviet support for Cuba, the island followed a typical pattern of colonial food production: It produced luxury export crops while importing food for its own people. In 1990 over 50% of Cuba's food came from imports. "In the Caribbean, food insecurity is a direct result of centuries of colonialism that prioritized the production of sugar and other cash crops for export, neglecting food crops for domestic consumption," the report says. In spite of efforts by the revolutionary government to correct this situation, Cuba continued in this mold until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1989.

The withdrawal of Soviet aid meant that 1,300,000 tons of chemical fertilizers, 17,000 tons of herbicides, and 10,000 tons of pesticides, could no longer be imported, according to the report.

One of Cuba's responses to the shock was to develop "urban agriculture," intensifying the previously established National Food Program, which aimed at taking thousands of poorly utilized areas, mainly around Havana, and turning them into intensive vegetable gardens. Planting in the city instead of only in the countryside reduced the need for transportation, refrigeration, and other scarce resources. (snip/...)

http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=1186

I've seen reports from American University groups going to Cuba to study this method they've mastered. Guess THAT won't be going on much longer as Bush gives our tiny door to Cuba the ultimate hinge-ripper to please Miami.

[Mika]

2. Hey, the US paid "dissidents" wouldn't exagerate for money..

.. would they? :crazy:




Don't ask questions!

[Sephirstein]

3. I hate these bastards...

Their fucking idea of democracy is to bring Fuhrer Batista back from the dead.

For all the bad things you can say about Castro, he's a big improvement.

[Osolomia]

7. Strong words for tough stance on Cuba

Strong words for tough stance on Cuba
National security advisor Condoleezza Rice emphasizes to Cuban-American lawmakers that President Bush won't back down on his views.
BY OSCAR CORRAL
Miami Herald
Septembet 17, 2003

Bush's stance on Cuba is affirmed

National security advisor Condoleezza Rice has written South Florida Republican legislators to stress that President Bush is committed to the economic embargo against Cuba and bringing democracy to the island.

Her letter underscores the importance in the next presidential election of the Cuban-American electorate, a voting block considered necessary by the GOP to win in Florida, which is expected to be a key state.

... Political observers say the letter -- which highlighted nine steps the Bush administration has already taken to help bring about a free Cuba -- is a clear signal that Bush needs Florida, particularly the exile vote, in the 2004 election.

However, exile leaders and some legislators who helped author the August letter to Bush say the administration's response does not go far enough to appease a frustrated Cuban-American constituency in Miami-Dade.

... ''I take her letter with a grain of salt,'' Prieguez said. ``There is an implicit understanding that we are expecting a heck of a lot more than what's in that letter.''

More...
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6790183.htm

[Judi Lynn]

8. This is almost comical

(snip) ''More needs to be done on the issue,'' Rivera said in an interview Tuesday. ``What is important now as we approach the election is the need to be able to distinguish President Bush's record from past and future Democratic presidential nominees.''(snip/...)

Rivera is actually threatening to go shopping, isn't he? Maybe take the Miami Cuban bloc votes somewhere else, if he doesn't get what he wants?

Hope they all get what's coming to them. What a bunch of morans!