Posted on 08/02/2006 4:19:54 PM PDT by SmithL
The White House and Congress, caught unaware by Fidel Castro's illness, prepared Wednesday for a possible showdown in Cuba as lawmakers drafted legislation that would pay millions of dollars to dissidents who fight for democratic change.
"The message will be: The United States stands with you," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., one of the authors, said in an interview. "Be ready to assert your independence."
There was no sign of upheaval in Cuba Wednesday, two days after Castro stunned U.S. officials and many of his own countrymen with the news that he had temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul, in order to undergo surgery.
The handover was a surprise to the White House and Congress, one senator said.
"The president's comment was that everybody was caught by surprise, and we'll have to wait and see" what U.S. action is necessary, said Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, who discussed the developments with President Bush on Tuesday. "I think all of us can say we had no idea this was coming."
The remarks underscored the scanty reliable intelligence the U.S. has on an old Cold War foe that lies just 90 miles off the Florida shore.
"It's difficult for us to assess what the situation is," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. He cautioned Cubans against any mass exodus — and Cuban-American exiles against returning to claim property they lost in Cuba.
"Stay where you are. This is not a time for people to try to be getting in the water and going either way," Snow added. "We have talked about the importance, eventually, of finding an orderly and safe way for people to make transit between two places."
At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States had no independent information about Castro's health. "This is a pretty closed decision-making
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
"'Stay where you are. This is not a time for people to try to be getting in the water and going either way,' Snow added."
What are the chances Cubans will heed this plea?
I think they need to check the ER hospital rooms in Houston, I bet he has checked himself in and is operating incognito getting free medical treatment.
"The White House and Congress, caught unaware by Fidel Castro's illness, prepared Wednesday for a possible showdown in Cuba "
Who says they were caught unaware? The AP? The AP has existed unaware since their inception!!!
The White House and Congress, caught unaware by Fidel Castro's illness...
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The opening line from AP is so MSM, it is cliche. I would not bet on that line to save my soul...eyes have been on Castro for well over a year now, hoping he would fall down a flight of stairs...
"The White House and Congress, caught unaware by Fidel Castro's illness"
AP propaganda at work again, how do they know "caught unaware"? Intelligence isn't announced to you idiots at Ass-Press!
Morons
Give it 5 more days until his carcus starts stinking up the joint and they tell us he is in fact - dead.
Mr. Rather looks young, while Mr. Castro looks almost the same (though a little fatter).
Someone's going to produce a memo from 2002 or something saying "Someday Castro might croak". The MSM will use this memo to say Bush was warned and didn't do anything to stop the bloodshed in the revolution following Castro's death.
Well, I'm sure the MSM will work with whatever happens or doesn't happen to make sure it's portrayed as Bush incompetence and/or evil deeds.
Considering Raul has been very quiet so far, and the most conciliatory in the past...I'm wondering if at 75 he is thinking about making world history after his brother dies, and reversing course.
Dictators go to France for their medical treatments.
no no no. The MSM has been telling us ad nauseum that Cuba has WONDERFUL doctors and medical facilities. The best doctors in the WORLD are in Cuba, doncha know?
I don't know if it means anything, but I did hear that some Disney animatronics techs were seen being escorted past customs in Havana...
Didn't a bunch of the Cuban doctors ditch and defect somewhere in Venezuela when news of Castro's sudden illness broke?
Cuban doctors are on rafts right this minute......
Did anyone tell them a hurricane was brewing?
Hurricane Janet?
Perish the thought.
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