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National Review ^
| November 29, 2001
| Deroy Murdock
Posted on 11/29/2001 11:29:38 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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.
Argentina: Senior U.S. officials also told Insight that "a lot of people made big bucks" selling bogus passports via the Federal Police under Carlos Menem, Argentina's previous president. U.S. immigration authorities are investigating whether terrorists used such records to enter America.
Brazil: According to the New York Post, several mosques in Foz do Iguauc may be tied to al Qaeda and other terror groups. Police arrested two associates of an accused, radical fundraiser from Paraguay for furnishing phony immigration documents.
Canada: Cops are holding 20 alleged terrorists and may extradite at least one to the U.S.
Beyond liquidating terrorists, it also is vital to promote free trade, transparency and the rule of law in the Americas. Argentina, meanwhile, resembles Humpty Dumpty sitting atop a $130 billion wall of external debt, trying not to succumb to vertigo and tumble onto his neighbors.
"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.
President Bush scrupulously has maintained a bipartisan tone as he prosecutes the war on terror. In November alone, he ignored conservatives who begged him to campaign with the GOP's now-defeated gubernatorial candidates, Virginia's Mark Earley and New Jersey's Bret Schundler. He signed Democratic legislation to nationalize airport-security employees. In a touching gesture, he even renamed the Justice Department's headquarters after Democratic icon Robert F. Kennedy.
It's high time the "Gimmecrats" gave something back. With Otto Reich at his side, Bush should walk into the White House press room and remind his loyal opposition that bipartisanship - especially to crush regional terrorists - should be a two-way street, not a Republican alley beside a Democratic freeway. President Bush personally should invest some of his abundant political capital to win Senate confirmation of an experienced, principled diplomat who will toil to keep America's neighborhood peaceful, prosperous, and free. Mr. Murdock is a columnist with the Scripps Howard News
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Bush nominee deserves better than old grudges[Excerpt]As America embarks on a long-term war against international terrorism, it is essential that President Bush have his foreign policy team in place. Unfortunately, one Democratic senator is still fighting the Cold War and is settling old ideological scores by blocking Senate action on a key State Department nominee.
Otto Reich was nominated on July 12 to be assistant secretary of state for Western Hemispheric Affairs. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not even bothered to schedule Fa confirmation hearing for Reich, and has no plans to do so. The reasons have nothing to do with Reich's competence or qualifications, and everything to do with Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd's affinity for Cuba's Fidel Castro and the communist Sandanista regime in Nicaragua. [End Excerpt]
Castro Spies Target U.S. Defense
Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's Castro
Senator Christopher Dodd---Take a moment and drop him a line.
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Sooner or later, Bush and the Republicans are going to have to address the issue of Democrats who are obstructing nominations. They should do it sooner and forcefully. With his high approval rating, all Bush needs do is go on TV and name names. Force Dodd and Leahy to explain why they are crippling the executive and judicial branches of government in a time of war.
2
posted on
11/29/2001 11:40:27 AM PST
by
LarryLied
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Screw the democrats in Washington. They won't listen to you. I have a better idea.
Tell President Bush to make Recess Appointments !!!
3
posted on
11/29/2001 11:42:00 AM PST
by
PetroniDE
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Spout a lot of patriotic rhetoric,and then sabotage the war effort just to undermine President Bush!
We can deal with foreign terrorists,but God save us from traitorous Democrats with any power or influence here at home!
4
posted on
11/29/2001 11:49:31 AM PST
by
NYCON
To: LarryLied
Sooner or later, Bush and the Republicans are going to have to address the issue of Democrats who are obstructing nominations. Bump!
To: PetroniDE
Tell President Bush to make Recess Appointments !!! Bump!
To: NYCON
We can deal with foreign terrorists,but God save us from traitorous Democrats with any power or influence here at home!Bump!
To: All
Fidel, Saddam and Hugo --An improbable but growing friendship of three military revolutionaries--[Excerpt] The Castro-Hussein-Chávez connection is anti-American and anti-capitalistic, but not in an ideological way. What matters to the three is domestic power built upon a base of nationalism that they believe legitimizes their policies
In a way, this bizarre trio represents the rebirth, a half century later, of the kind of nationalist populism spawned by General Juan Perón in Argentina and Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt. Mr. Castro and Mr. Saddam gained power through armed revolutions; Mr. Chávez, a paratroopers' lieutenant colonel, was democratically elected in 1998, after serving time for trying to overthrow the government in 1992.[End Excerpt]
To: LarryLied; All
Ask that Otto Reich be given his confirmation hearing for Western Hemisphere's assistant secretary.
It has been blocked by Senator Dodd. Dodd has attacked Mr. Reich but because he has been nominated by the President, Mr. Reich can not respond publicly.
Dodd is letting him twist in the wind because he wants to hurt Reich, the President and because he is soft on Marxists and Mr. Reich is not!
White House Contact
The President
Senatorial Contacts
To: Cincinatus' Wife
Dodd has a history of supporting those who hate America and mass murderers. Consider his comments supporting the overthrown of Lon Nol and the ascent to power of Pol Pot:
"The greatest gift our country can give to the Cambodian people is peace, not guns. And the best way to accomplish that goal is by ending military aid now."--Chris Dodd (D-CT)
To: LarryLied
The man is slimy. From his committee web page:
Senator Christopher Dodd----"As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, Dodd has worked to bring peace to Latin America, end human rights abuses against the Latin American people, and reduce drug trafficking in the region. He:…….."
To: LarryLied
MORE from Sen. Dodd's Foreign Policy web page:
(He knows we're not ready for a snap of him with Castro)
"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]
___________________________________________________
The man is a textbook appeaser! Stands up to right-wing and coddles Left-wing dictators. But then, they are political kin.
To: Cincinatus' Wife
His father was scum too. In High School I took photographs for a local newspaper. Tom Dodd was running for re-election and there was a rally on the Branford, CT green for him. Only about a dozen people showed up. One of whom was a kid only a few years older than me. He was in a wheelchair and had his Army uniform on. He was puffed up and drooling. He had been wounded in the head. His mom was holding his hand as he waved a little America flag. Tom Dodd got out of his limo, took one look at the vet and the crowd, said "What the F--- is this?", turn his back and got in the limo and left. I was 3 feet from him. He was drunk.
To: LarryLied
Sick. sick. sick. The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
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