Bush approves 80 million dollars to foster democracy in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Bush approves 80 million dollars to foster democracy in Cuba

WASHINGTON 10/07/2006 19:48

US President George W. Bush has approved 80 million dollars over two years to help foster democracy in Cuba, and enable citizens of the Communist island free themselves "from the repressive control of the Castro regime."
(snip/)

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=23484



Jul 10, 2006 11:03 am US/Eastern

President Bush Approves Cuba Policy Report

~snip~
A draft version of the report obtained by our news partners at The Miami Herald two weeks ago recommended creating an $80 million fund to promote democracy in Cuba and a broad array of measures aimed at tightening the enforcement of U.S. sanctions on the island, from creating a task force to target Cuba's growing nickel exports to stopping humanitarian aid from reaching organizations with alleged links to the government, like the Cuban Council of Churches.

The text was commissioned in December as a follow-up to the commission's 400-plus page 2004 report that, among other measures, tightened travel by Cuban Americans to the island. Multiple government agencies worked on the latest report, which was presented last week to President Bush.

The Cuban government has blasted the report as a blatant violation of the island's sovereignty and calls Cuban dissidents ''mercenaries'' of the U.S. government.

The draft said the report contains a classified annex, prompting Cuban Parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcón to speculate that it may include plans to assassinate Castro.
(snip/)

http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_191110242.html

[RethugAssKicker]

1. More terrorism from the US on the Way !

[saigon68]

28. OUR LEADER

HE CAN'T WAIT TO KILL A FEW COMMIES FOR MOMMY

[no_hypocrisy]

2. "We're coming to rescue you, Elian!" n/t

[sutz12]

3. How about fostering some democracy here at home?

;)

[acmavm]

4. The frigging irony of this situation is mind blowing.

We lose our freedoms and Constitutional protections and rights, and blivet pretends to be liberating the world. He has to be certifiable.

[Vidar]

5. The only thing Bush knows about democracy is how to destroy it.

[noonwitch]

6. It sounds like a big waste of money

How can we really affect change in Cuba when we have a embargo against them?

Or is this just a way to shore up support for the GOP in south Florida?

[rocktivity]

19. DING DING DING! Noonwitch, you're our grand prize winner!

How can we really affect change in Cuba when we have a embargo against them?

It seems the easiest way to democratize them is to LIFT the embargo and so they can see how much they can rake in through trade, tourism, baseball, etc.

:eyes:
rocknation

[bikebloke]

7. How much will be pocketed...

in Little Havana?

[flordehinojos]

8. bush likes to stick his ass wherever it does not belong.

[grilled onions]

9. Hey Bush Remember Us?????

The obsession this administration has with every country in the world BUT the one they live in is amazing. Isn't it interesting how they think the entire planet wants to be an exact replica of this one and will do whatever it co$t$ to prove to these countries that that's exactly what THEY want!! :crazy:

[Tight_rope]

17. No shit...that's what I was thinking!

:spank:

[xxqqqzme]

10. but he can't scrape together 2 million

for the EPA library?????

[bdamomma]

11. We have a madman on the loose

this man has to be stopped for all mankind.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. Wow. You can fund a lot of Rebel Death Squads for $80 mil.! nt

[leesa]

13. Ruh. Roh. Look out Cuba. Democracy bombs on the way.

This poor country will never be free of our threat.

[Robbins]

14. Look

We could use 80 Million dollars for this country. This Is a big waste of our taxpayers dollars.

[Sadie5]

15. My 2 cents worth

The 80 mil is just enough to pad their pockets for the next few years. Cuba will never see a dime of this money. Are the Cubans busy gathering flowers and candy to throw at Bush?

[VegasWolf]

16. What about schools in Amerikkka? nt

[redqueen]

18. What about democracy HERE? Healthcare HERE? Schools HERE?

This administration is completley USELESS!

[Judi Lynn]

20. Bush Transition Plan for Cuba Can't Work and Cubans Don't Want It

JULY 10, 2006
10:01 AM

Bush Transition Plan for Cuba Can't Work and Cubans Don't Want It

WASHINGTON - July 10 - Sarah Stephens, director of the Freedom to Travel Campaign, released the following statement regarding the second report of the Bush Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba:

"There are three things wrong with the Bush Commission's plan -- the Cuban people don't want it, it can't work, and the timing couldn't be worse, arriving at a time when Latin Americans are fiercely resisting efforts by the United States to dictate their future for them.

"U.S. sanctions defeat our ability to influence Cuba's economic system or human rights, and the Cuban government uses these regime change reports to discredit the United States in Cuba and around the world," Stephens said. "It's a horribly misguided and ineffective policy. It would be much for effective for us to engage and trade with Cuba, and we should start by restoring the rights of Americans to travel to the island," Stephens said.

"The report refers to the so-called 'information blockade.' The real information blockade is enforced by George Bush, who stops Cuban families from visiting their relatives in Cuba, who stops religious institutions from engaging in their ministry on Cuba, and who stops America's goodwill ambassadors, our people and our businesses, from traveling to Cuba and engaging in commerce with Cuba."
(snip/...)

http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0710-02.htm

[Nutmegger]

21. Why do we always have to interfere?

This is all being done in our name too. And "they" will call us "un-American" because we don't want American interference. :(

[Megahurtz]

22. It's amazing how money just flies out of this country like it's nothing,

while millions of people struggle here at home!

Fucking sick!!!:puke:

The U.S. needs to take care of their own problems first
and stay out of other people's business.:grr:

[amandabeech]

23. Cuba has energy resources, including the potential to make lots of

ethanol. It is much more efficient to make ethanol from sugar cane. I'll bet ADM and Cargill would love to get in there once they've cornered the market here.

There's also some oil and gas around Cuba, perhaps even in the Straits of Florida. I'm sure *** and his cronies would love to grab it. That is if they can find a drilling rig that hasn't been leased by the Saudis for several years. Lots of rigs are leaving the Gulf of Mexico now.

[Judi Lynn]

24. Bush offers help to Cuba but only without Castro

Bush offers help to Cuba but only without Castro
By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Updated: 6 minutes ago
As Cuba prepares to celebrate the 80th birthday of Fidel Castro and the eventual passing of his presidential powers to his younger brother, the US has released its own plans for the island's future – a pledge to help Cubans attain democracy and a free-market economy.

President George W. Bush on Monday approved a "Compact with the People of Cuba", which promises support "as they move from the repressive control of the Castro regime to freedom and a genuine democracy".
(snip)

The report does not mention "regime change" but it explicitly offers support to Cubans who want to overthrow their government. Ms Rice said the US would help those "who are willing to push for freedom despite the consequences".

The US also leaves open the possibility that a post-Castro government would turn to it for help. The US would only respond if there was a genuine commitment to implement free elections and a free-market economy within 18 months.

No mention is made of possible US military intervention, although a separate classified annex to the report was not made public.
(snip/...)

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13806504/

[Art_from_Ark]

25. The bu$h handbook for democracy in Cuba

1. Find manipulable, air-headed right-wing nut candidate to run for President.
2. Pour $$$$$$$$$ into candidate's campaign coffers.
3. Set candidate's relative up as governor of strategic province.
4. Set the main vote counters up as candidate's campaign chairpeople.
5. Install unverifiable voting machines throughout the country, and make sure to have especially crappy machines in the opposing candidate's strongholds.
6. When the vote doesn't go the candidate's way, even with all that, go running to the Supreme Court that the candidate's father helped pack with sympathetic loonies, and have them make a favorable one-time ruling with no Constitutional basis that is straight out of Animal Farm's "Some animals are more equal than others" bizarro world.

[Judi Lynn]

26. Cuba warns dissidents over US aid

Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 July 2006, 09:26 GMT 10:26 UK
Cuba warns dissidents over US aid

A top Cuban official has warned dissidents they will face consequences if they accept funds from a new US plan to promote political change in Cuba.
Cuba's National Assembly president, Ricardo Alarcon, said the plan was a "politically delirious provocation".
(snip)

President George W Bush on Monday approved the $80m (£43m) fund which he said would help boost democracy in Cuba.
(snip)

Mr Alarcon told the Spanish news agency, Efe, that any dissidents who "conspired " with Washington and accepted its funding would have to "face the consequences".

It would be a crime to accept such money under Cuban law, as it would be in any country, Mr Alarcon aid.

Mr Alarcon has said the US aims at "regime change"

"Imagine that someone in the US were to be supported, trained, equipped and advised by a foreign government, that in itself would be a crime. It would be a serious crime in the US, punished with far more years in prison than here in Cuba," Mr Alarcon said.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5171836.stm

[w4rma]

27. What a total waste of taxpayer money. (nt)