[Cincinatus' Wife]

(March 7, 2002) U.S. Pressure on Cuba May Increase: Otto Reich views Castro as menace--[Excerpt] One even said President Bush's first year in office was little more than an extension of Clinton era policies toward the island.

It turns out, however, that the Bush team is just getting warmed up. One reason a more assertive policy may be in the offing was the installation in January of Cuban-born Otto J. Reich as the State Department's top official for Latin America.

He joins other Cuban-Americans in key positions who, like Reich, have viewed Castro as a menace for years.

Shortly after Reich took office, the administration began a policy review of Cuba with a view toward determining Cuba's potential for damaging U.S. interests.

One issue under study, according to a senior official, is the role Washington says Cuba plays in international terrorism. Cuba is on the State Department terrorist country list, a designation based on ties Cuba maintains with other countries on the list, including Iraq, and the haven Cuba provides for foreigners linked to alleged terrorist organizations. [End Excerpt]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Paya did not say what Varela Project backers will do if the initiative is rejected by the National Assembly,
something analysts and diplomats think is virtually certain.

Bump!

[Cable225]

In an apparently unprecedented move during President Fidel Castro's 43-year rule, a group of dissidents says it has gathered 10,000 signatures to ask the Cuban parliament for a referendum on political reforms.

This should go over well. Looks like somebody's gonna be cleaning up 10,000 bodies.

[The Great RJ]

I'm sure any Cuban foolhardy enough to sign this petition is already in a re-education camp or mental institution (a favorite ploy of the KGB) for possibly wanting to change things in this "socialist workers paradise."

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Beautiful! Hats off to these courageous Cubans!

Now - we can put down wagers as to when this story will make on Dan Castro-lover's news "show".

[Demidog]

This kind of flies in the face of everyone claiming that people are so controlled in Cuba that they cannot affect change.

This makes our Embargo all the more silly. The extra contact would be greatly helpfull.