U.S. embargo of Cuba remains strongly in place, U.S. official says

The top architect of U.S. policy for Latin America came to Miami on Wednesday with a message for those who may think recent unprecedented agreements between Cuba and the United States signal a softening in policy: Nothing has changed.

The U.S. embargo remains firmly in place, and recent accords to buy food and supplies from U.S. companies were the result of a policy reverse by Cuba, not the United States, said Lino Gutierrez, acting assistant secretary of state.

And, he added, Cuba's criticism of the war in Afghanistan is ``nothing short of appalling and offensive.''

Gutierrez made his remarks in Coral Gables, where the anti-Castro Center for a Free Cuba issued a report highlighting what it said was the deteriorating political and economic situation on the island.

Gutierrez said the Bush administration's mission is ``to see a rapid, peaceful transition to a free and democratic Cuba,'' and that the embargo is a key component of U.S. strategy to do that.

``The United States has not changed any rules . . . or moved in any way to encourage these sales,'' Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez's statements were part of a Bush administration effort to dispel speculation that the food shipments scheduled to begin arriving in Havana this month could lead to more permanent trade relations between the two nations.

The White House reiterated the message in Washington on Wednesday with a statement saying that Bush strongly opposes a Senate proposal to allow private financing of U.S. food sales to Cuba.

Cuban officials did not disagree with Gutierrez's assessment that planned food and medicine sales of up to $30 million are an ``exceptional purchase'' because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Michelle on Nov. 4. But they also have made clear that they are willing to buy more U.S. products if trade sanctions are fully lifted.

``We do want to buy from American companies,'' said Luis Fernández, spokesman for the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. ``But those discriminatory and humiliating sanctions need to be lifted.''

Those who support an end to the embargo said the upcoming shipments are historic and groundbreaking no matter how dismissive both sides may want to be.

For the first time in four decades rice and other grains grown in U.S. fields will float across an ocean that generally separates both nations.

``If something hasn't happened in 40 years then it happens, that is significant,'' said Sally Grooms Cowal, president of the anti-embargo Cuba Policy Foundation. ``Like in a football game, this is the first down.''

The United States implemented the trade embargo after President Fidel Castro swept to power in 1959 and began nationalizing U.S. property on the island.

A year ago, Congress enacted legislation that eased some restrictions to allow cash sales of food and medicine but the Cuban government had refused to make purchases, saying the measure reinforced the embargo because no credit purchases were permitted.

Cowal says the U.S. policy hasn't worked but she never once has condemned Castro's communist dictatorship as "not having worked"…….in fact she's been a good friend to Castro.

Ms. Sally Grooms Cowal - She also was president of Youth for Understanding, an organization that promotes exchanges involving high school students from the United States and foreign countries. Elian and his father stayed at the organization's estate in Washington before they returned to Cuba.

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Cowal's group (Cuba Policy Foundation) received its initial funding from the ARCA FOUNDATION, a wealthy organization devoted to more contact and fewer trade restrictions with Cuba. Its chairman is SMITH BAGLEY, a grandson of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds and a major Democratic donor. ******(Remember the two DNC fundraisers with Elian as their trophy?)*******

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Friday December 7 6:41 PM ET Castro to US Students: Know World--[Excerpt] HAVANA (AP) - Cuban leader Fidel Castro encouraged a group of college students from the United States to keep visiting foreign countries, saying it's critical for young Americans to know the world around them.

``What young Americans need more than anything is to know the world,'' the Communist Party daily Granma quoted Castro as telling the 672 students, who were in Cuba for a two-day visit this week during a cruise-ship study program operated by the University of Pittsburgh.

``Because it is such a powerful nation, with all of its technological resources, all its political and military might, the fact that its young people do not know the world constitutes - from a political point of view - a great tragedy,'' the paper said he told the Americans. [End Excerpt]

This from a communist dictator who has locked up the minds and bodies of the Cuban people for 45 years. If it wasn't so sick it would be laughable.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro gestures during a non-stop speech exceeding five hours
Friday, Dec. 7, 2001, during the ending session of the leftists Sao Paulo Forum in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

Castro II Chavez's "peaceful" revolution

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FREE OTTO [Excerpt] While the eyes of the world focus on the Middle East, the war on terror has its targets in this hemisphere, too. Unfortunately, President Bush's designated envoy to the Americas must fight this country's shadowy enemies with both hands tied behind his back. Otto Reich, Bush's nominee for assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, is being held hostage by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) who refuses to hold a confirmation hearing on Reich's candidacy. Dodd apparently would rather brood over Reich's performance in the Reagan administration than permit him to address these clear-and-present dangers today:

Venezuela. Hugo Chavez, the increasingly erratic president of this key U.S. oil supplier, has declared himself "a Maoist" and befriended pro-terrorist dictators. A Caracas-based, anti-Chavez group called the National Emergency Coalition published a veritable Chavez photo album in the September 25 Washington Times. In one picture, Chavez rides in Saddam Hussein's Mercedes with the Iraqi thug at the wheel. During an August 2000 visit, Chavez called Iraq "a model" for Venezuela.

In another snapshot, Chavez hugs Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and says, "We have sister revolutions with equal struggles and the same destiny." Elsewhere, Chavez embraces Muammar Qaddafi and calls Libya "a model of participatory democracy." Chavez greets Fidel Castro as well and says that Cuba and Venezuela are "swimming together toward the same sea of happiness."

Chavez also appears to be arming Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels. Colombian defense officials say that between January 1998 and July 2000, they captured 470 clandestine FAL rifles stamped with the insignias of Venezuela's military and its arms manufacturers.

Cuba: Castro's worker's paradise seems to be a giant O'Hare Airport for suspected terrorists. As counterterrorism consultant Paul Crespo reported in the Nov. 5 issue of Insight, three Afghans detained in the Grand Caymans shortly after the September 11 attacks allegedly arrived there from Cuba. Two others, allegedly linked financially to al Qaeda, were stopped in Panama bound for Cuba. ……………..

"I need Otto Reich in place," Secretary of State Colin Powell pleaded with senators on October 3. Eight weeks later, Reich's State Department office literally remains empty, its desk unoccupied and bookshelves bare. Even as an overworked career diplomat juggles crucial security and economic matters in Reich's absence, Dodd could care less.

"That nomination's not going anywhere. That's the end of it," Dodd recently snapped. He has hurled at Reich a number of easily refuted ethical charges pertaining to his 1980s service as director of State's Office of Public Diplomacy and as Ambassador to Venezuela. However Dodd will not let his subcommittee hear Reich defend himself. Perhaps Dodd fears looking foolish once Reich demonstrates his innocence.[End Excerpt]

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Cuba Dissidents Open Web Site, List Foes--[Excerpt] HAVANA (Reuters) - A group of Cuban economists led by one of the best-known opponents to President Fidel Castro's government on Friday launched a Web site they said was the first to be run by dissidents from within the Caribbean island.

The Cuban Institute of Independent Economists said at a news conference the site's cubaicei.org list of local dissident organizations was the most extensive available, including 132 groups numbering around 21,000 activists.

The site also includes monthly reports on the economy giving a much more damning vision than the official version, opinion pieces and photos showing the grimmer side of society like an empty shop, a beggar and dilapidated buildings.

``Our objective is to open a window on a part of civil society in Cuba,'' said the institute's director, Martha Beatriz Roque, who was released from jail last year after nearly three years behind bars on charges of inciting sedition.

…….Snip

``This page is done entirely from within Cuba, only using technical help abroad,'' Roque added. ``We don't want to be behind a curtain. We want a space for people to see us.''-[End Excerpt]

I do believe Senator Dodd likes running the show his way!
Today Senator "thanks for nothing" Lott told Brit Hume Otto Reich deserves a Senate vote on his nomination.

---Senator Christopher Dodd---"Stood up against right-wing military dictatorships in Panama, Cuba, El Salvador and Nicaragua and introduced a measure to prevent an arms race in Latin America. Fashioned legislation on El Salvador which culminated in a comprehensive political settlement and cease-fire agreement.

Was the only U.S. Senator in 1997 to accompany President Clinton to Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina in order to meet with government officials and political leaders in each country.

Continues efforts begun in 1993 to support the restoration of democracy in Haiti and traveled to Haiti with Secretary of State Albright to encourage reconciliation and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

Has worked to modify U.S./Cuba policy to facilitate a peaceful transition to democracy and has offered humanitarian legislation to permit the sale of food and medicine to Cuba.

Opposed the enactment of Helms-Burton because it would harm U.S. interests in Cuba.

Believes in the importance of cooperative multilateral counter-narcotics efforts and has proposed legislation that sets specific goals with regard to the success of the Mexican government in the war against drugs.

Passed reforms to the U.S. International Military and Education Training School programs for Latin American military personnel to re-emphasize human rights and civilian control of the military." [End Excerpt from his Dodd's web page]

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