My little brother finally deployed to Iraq BTW. Only hint I got as to his location.....:o)
Posted on 05/06/2005 7:29:20 AM PDT by yoe
"Onward to victory! Fatherland or death! We will win!" - Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro in near unison at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana on April 29, 2005
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are not the only ones opposed to President Bush's nominee for U.N. Ambassador, John Bolton. In his annual May Day speech earlier this month, Cuba's Fidel Castro used the occasion to rail against Bolton. Included in his typically vitriolic diatribe, Castro described Bolton as "irate" and as the "deranged author" of claims regarding Cuba's weapons of mass destruction program. The Cuban dictator warned that the Bush administration wants to showcase Mr. Bolton's "cynical mask . . . as the ideal symbol of the current U.S. Administration before the United Nations."
Castro further described the debate over Mr. Bolton's confirmation as follows:
John Bolton . . . is questioned by several of the most important intelligence services of the United States for venting his fury on some honest officials who had the decency to oppose his depraved and untenable lies. Major media outlets, and what is even more worrying for the extremist, warmongering, and genocidal mob, the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are astounded by at [sic] such shocking behavior. [Foreign Bureau of Information Services translation]
That Castro would lash out against Bolton and the Bush administration should come as no surprise. Indeed, the debate over Bolton's confirmation is about much more than just his treatment of subordinates; it is part of a more substantive debate regarding U.S. national security interests, the seriousness of the threat posed by Castro's alliance with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to these interests, and the direction of American foreign policy in this hemisphere.
On one side of the debate stands Bolton and other like-minded policymakers and analysts who see Cuba's role in Hugo Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution as a direct threat to U.S. interests. This threat was aptly characterized by Bush administration official Otto Reich as an "axis of subversion." On the other side of the debate stand analysts and politicians who downplay the threat posed by the Chavez-Castro alliance and urge a softer approach to dealing with them.
Bolton is right to question the analytical tradecraft of those that would minimize the threat.
One analyst that has repeatedly downplayed the threat posed by the gathering storm south of the border is CIA analyst, Fulton Armstrong. In fact, Armstrong is at the center of most of the Democrats' claims about Bolton's "bullying," "pressuring," "abusing," or seeking the reassignment of analysts with whom he disagrees. It was Armstrong who, before being reassigned to a more clandestine position, was involved in a very public spat with Bolton and his ilk in 2003.
At a time when Cuban intelligence operations, which had successfully penetrated the upper echelons of the Pentagon, were being discovered, Mr. Armstrong was criticized by Mr. Bolton, Mr. Reich, and others for his lenient stance. The New York Times reported in January 2003 that "some administration officials" had sought Armstrong's reassignment because he had "been 'soft' on the threats posed by Cuba." The Times explained:According to several officials, Mr. Armstrong has written skeptically about Cuba's importance as a military threat, its intention to develop offensive biological weapons and its continued inclusion on the State Department's annual list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
One of Armstrong's writings appears in an unclassified edition of the CIA's Studies in Intelligence from 2002. In a piece titled "Sorting Out 'National Interests', Ways to Make Analysis Relevant But Not Prescriptive," Armstrong sorts what politicians and policymakers debate as national interests into "four different types of priorities, only one or two of which are of genuine strategic importance."
Armstrong classifies U.S. policies towards Cuba in the third of these categories and, thus, not of "genuine strategic importance." Under his category titled "sectoral interests," Armstrong explains,
. . . Sometimes issues that do not affect the whole country become elevated to national interest status because of the power of their constituencies. While generally consistent with the national interest, these policy priorities favor one parochial position over others. Their proactive constituencies espouse approaches that their opponents claim overshadow more important issues. Should analysts accept the point of view of narrow interest groups as valid expressions of national interest, when an administration appears to endorse them?
Armstrong then goes on to explain that U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba caters to "narrow interest groups":
On Cuba, senior and mid-level policymakers have barely concealed in the past the fact that a relatively small constituency is the most intense promoter of the "pressure cooker" approach of maintaining the economic embargo, isolating Havana internationally, and promoting internal upheaval. One past Coordinator for Cuban Affairs at the State Department would answer challenges to the government's policy, in open forum, with the answer, "Cuba is first and foremost a domestic political matter." You do not have to be a cynic to see a link between Cuba policy, Florida elections, and campaign finances. Most observers judge that the chance is extremely slim that explosive change on the island--the sectoral interest--would result in stability and democracy--the national interest. But that view continues to underpin the interpretation of our national interests in Cuba.
Is Armstrong's characterization fair? Is U.S. policy towards Cuba really only determined by "sectoral" interests? Or, are there more important issues of national security at stake?As has been widely reported in recent weeks, the threat posed by Cuba extends far beyond the Communist island's shores. The Cuban dictator has taken a keen interest in assisting his self-styled Venezuelan protégé's Bolivarian Revolution. Indeed the Chavez-Castro alliance jeopardizes U.S. economic and military interests as well as seeks to undermine U.S. allies throughout the region. The threat posed by this "axis of subversion" is most certainly a major issue of national security.
In nearly every sphere of the Bolivarian Revolution, Cuban leaders --with decades-long experience in organizing Communist revolutions throughout the Americas--play a leading role.
For starters, the Cuban and Venezuelan economies are becoming increasingly intertwined. Venezuelan petroleum, with tens of thousands of barrels of oil imported every day, is a vital crutch for the Cuban economy. Chavez even made sure that pro-Cuban revolutionaries replaced the existing leadership of the state-owned petroleum company, the PDVSA, after a massive anti-Chavez worker strike in 2003. In exchange for the oil--which it does not appear that Cuba has paid for--Castro has supplied Venezuela with tens of thousands of trained civilian and military personnel. The civilian personnel have already reorganized large swaths of the Venezuelan economy and begun massive programs of pro-Communist indoctrination.
In addition to expanding a variety of trade agreements between the two nations, the Bolivarian Revolution has taken direct aim at the United States' broader economic interests, in particular the U.S.-led Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
In late April Castro and Chavez celebrated a red ribbon ceremony at the opening of Venezuelan energy and financial headquarters in Havana. The buildings, Castro noted, were just the first steps towards the realization of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA). The intent of ALBA is to form an economic coalition of radical socialist/Communist governments as a counterweight to U.S.-led free trade initiatives throughout the region.
Indeed, according to a FBIS (Foreign Bureau of Information Services) summary of the Fourth Hemispheric Gathering Against the FTAA in Havana on April 29, Chavez called on the attendees to "launch a moral, ideological, political, economic, social, and general offensive." Chavez closed his speech by adding, "The great day for our America is upon us; let us make it a reality." The same summary noted that Castro stressed "that just as the empire [the U.S.] was not able to destroy Cuba during the Special Period [Cuban Revolution], it will not be able to stop Cuba and Venezuela together with hundreds of progressive and leftist movements throughout the world."
The Venezuelan military and intelligence services have also been remodeled according to Cuban organizational standards. For example, writing in the Wall Street Journal, Mary Anastasia O'Grady cited the testimony of a former Venezuelan officer who explained Cuban involvement thusly: "It is a clear and precise expansion of the Communist revolution directed by Fidel Castro. It is the resurrection of the Cuban ideal of exporting revolution." The officer added, the "formal, traditional Venezuelan military no longer exists. The military apparatus now exists to defend the revolution."
"Exporting the revolution" means--explicitly--undermining U.S. allies and regimes less hostile to U.S. interests. Colombia, in particular, has been the target of Venezuelan-backed, Marxist narco-terrorist groups. In addition, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and other nations are all in the Bolivarian Revolution's cross-hairs in one way or another.
Perhaps most worrisome is the aid sought and received by Castro and Chavez from wannabe multipolar powers outside of the region. Russia has agreed to supply small arms in numbers that far exceed any conventional military use as well as aircraft and other armaments. Russian oil and gas companies have signed on to become major components of the Venezuelan petro-economy. China is pursuing the same strategy with regards to Venezuela's natural resources.
Even Iran has gotten into the act. High level Iranian officials have agreed to provide military and economic assistance to Venezuela and Cuba in order to assist their "joint position against the unipolar movement (U.S.)."
Are we to believe, as Armstrong and his cohorts apparently do, that none of this is a matter of "genuine strategic importance"?
Hardly. Arguments over Cuba's alleged limited development of weapons of mass destruction aside, the Cuban dictator and his Venezuelan ally are major threats to U.S. national security.
John Bolton is right to be concerned about this "axis of subversion."
Thomas Joscelyn is an economist who works on antitrust and security issues.
The hispanic communists are now rolling in dinero from Venezuelan crude oil.
Just wait until the radical mayor of Mexico City is elected Presidente for the next 6 years, and joins ALBA and throws Mexican oil into this radical anti-U.S. cartel.
"The hispanic communists are now rolling in dinero from Venezuelan crude oil."
Mexico provides the US with about 14% of the oil we use.
Thanks for posting this.
The liberals and their MSM buddies are infected with Boltonmania.
This article makes one wonder if the oil commies are funding the Rats and MSM to spew their Boltonmania bs.
A favorite source for greasing the brain with crude thoughts..........
http://www.gravmag.com/oil.html#highcost
Stay safe !
Thanks for posting that great link.
I will be saving it as a favorite to use as a crow bar or sledge hammer with liberals who like to lie and whine about oil.
My little brother finally deployed to Iraq BTW. Only hint I got as to his location.....:o)
Awesome, Squantos. Hats off. (Mutters something about no greater love and friends...)
And thanks for the ping, Grampa Dave.
Lets run this through the Braille Krypto Machine to decode the message. ASA Vet, can you handle this critical job?
Actually I'm a buddhist monk so am not allowed to do that anymore.
Okay! Just watch out for the lightening bolts.
I think the larger danger is dropping that heavy beggars bowl on my bare feet.
Never underestimate the "cleansing power of lightening":
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1397994/posts
Lightning Strikes Car and Home [A must see pic of the car after ZOTTING!]
KSLTV ^ | 5-5-05 | Alex Cabrero
Posted on 05/06/2005 8:50:15 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
A rock chip this isn't! How about a lightning bolt! It's what's left of a Salt Lake woman's windshield after lightning struck as she was driving down a highway.
Lightning is the number one natural killer in Utah so she's lucky to be alive, and what a story she has. One minute she's driving down the highway, the next she's pulled over after lightning ripped through her car.
Regional-Venezuela, Politics, 8/16/2005
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Monday condemned what he said the continuation of occupation of Iraq and the US polices and plots to control the world.
"The best way to enable the United Nations to actively assume its role is achieving fundamental reforms in the organization," Chavez told leaderships of the delegations participants at the16th World Festival for Youth and Students during a meeting, held in Caracas. He stressed impossibility of realizing the real peace in the world without achieving justice and equality among peoples.
He underlined the importance of the continued work among the youth to "challenge capitalism and imperialism through deepening awareness, enhancing the relations and activating communication among them" to reach a balanced and multipolar world prevailed by social justice and equality among peoples.
Chavez called the youth for setting up permanent bureau for them in Venezuela to start communication among them, and to put programs and plans for making continuous review in a way to achieve the desired goals.
At the end of the meeting the Venezuelan president raised the Palestinian flag amid applause and shouting of attendances in support of the Palestinian cause and Palestinian people's struggle against the Israeli occupation.
Al-Assad: terrorism spread due to unjust policies
Syria-Venezuela, Politics, 8/11/2005
President Bashar al-Assad sent a message Wednesday to the participants in the 16th World Youth and Students Festival which is held in the Venezuelan Capital of Caracas with the participation of a Syrian delegation headed by Adnan Arbash, Chairman of Youth Revolution Union.
Al-Assad underlined the Syrian people's efforts to cooperate with other peoples in spreading amity and encouraging dialogue of civilizations, pointing out to the role of Syrian National Students Union and other trade unions and organizations in this regard.
President al-Assad pointed out to the latest developments on the international scene which necessitate solidarity against hostile attacks targeting many peoples' identity, interests and future.
"Israel is swallowing up the Palestinian lands, and the Palestinian people are being killed and besieged at a time Israel, backed by the American administration, violates the international law as well as principles incorporated in the UN Charter," the president added.
"We in Syria face threats and false accusations as well as unjustified pressures from the U.S. and its allies, on top of which Israel and the Zionist organizations," he said.
Al-Assad pointed out that terrorism prevailed the world due to the unjust policies adopted by the U.S. and Israel, as well as the weak role of the UN which was hoped to solve international discords and spread peace in the world.
He also underscored Syria's commitment to a just and comprehensive peace as well as its firm principles, asserting that Syria will never abandon any part of the occupied Arab lands or usurped rights.
The Festival was opened Tuesday with a speech delivered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who called on students and youth in the world to cooperate to achieve peace and to struggle against imperialism and war.
He condemned the American policy which aims at eliminating peoples' identities and seizing their treasures.
Deputy Chairman of the Syrian Students Union Basem Sodan presented the Syrian flag to President Chavez who kissed the flag and raised it in front of the mass during the opening ceremony.
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