U.S. will spend millions to expedite the end of communism in Cuba

BY NANCY SAN MARTIN AND KARL ROSS

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - President Bush on Thursday called for spending an extra $45 million over the next two years and tighter sanctions on Cuba to hasten and prepare for a democratic transition on the communist-ruled island.

The new restrictions will cut back family visits to Cuba by Cuban Americans from once a year to once every three years and tightened the list of those on the island who can receive cash remittances and packages from the United States.

Part of the $45 million will go toward the purchase of an airplane and broadcasting equipment that may be able to break through Cuba's highly effective jamming of Radio and TV Marti.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/politics/8607511.htm

My apologies if this has been posted. My brain has been entirely too busy today.

COMMUNIQUE NO. 4 ISSUED BY ZARQAWI'S "ATTAWHID AND JIHAD GROUP" - MILITARY DEPARTMENT

SITE Institute,5/6/2004 - The Military Department of “Attawhid and Jihad Group” headed by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, posted a communiqué on a Jihadi website known as an Al-Qaeda mouthpiece claiming responsibility for a suicide operation conducted in Iraq.

The Communiqué stated that: “On Thursday dated 17 Rabih Al Awwal 1425 [May 6, 2004], the heroic Mujahid Abu Mitiib from Al Haramain country [Saudi Arabia] – May God have mercy on his soul and accept him - took off in a car loaded with 600 Kilograms of TNT and headed towards what is known by “the Presidential Palace”, main headquarters of the occupation forces and their followers. The Brother was awarded a large number of infidels and apostates.

Muslims, The enemy often claims that the Mujahideen seek to kill innocent people. Those who were killed today were from the secret police and intelligence, who were waiting for their masters to give them permission to enter the palace. Thanks and gratitude to God.

At this time, and under these circumstances, striking a target has more than one meaning [indication]:

Firstly: It means that all the military, political, security and other efforts made by America and its allies to preserve their strategic interests in the region went to waste.

Secondly: It means that the Mujahideen – Thanks to God – still have the capability and initiative to take the enemy by surprise, and strike its strategic joints at the time and the place they find appropriate.

As we bless this operation and congratulate the Ummah [Nation] for it, we call upon the Muslim youth everywhere to carry on and follow this path of glory, pride, dignity, heroism, manliness, Jihad and martyrdom {so that there shall be no Fitna [internal civil war] and the whole religion shall be for God}.

God is Greater {Glory be to Him and His Prophet and Believers, but the hypocrites don’t have a clue}.

Signed The Military Department Attawhid and Jihad Group 17 Rabih Al Awwal 1425 May 6, 2004

http://www.siteinstitute.org/exposing.asp?id=222