Dodd and Chafee
Posted on 01/02/2002 12:55:26 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
HAVANA -- (AP) -- The government promised Tuesday to fight for the repatriation of five Cuban agents sentenced in Miami on espionage charges as it celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
``Cuban men and women, we toast this heroic nation capable of so many great achievements, the revolution that illuminates our hopes, for the return of the heroes to the homeland,'' read the government's New Year's message, published on the front page of the Communist Party daily Granma.
Jan. 1 is the most important day on communist Cuba's calendar, marking the day in 1959 that Castro and his bearded revolutionaries entered the eastern city of Santiago after dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country.
No large public events were held here on New Year's Eve, when most Cubans celebrate the holiday at home with their families. The government did organize a series of public concerts for Tuesday evening, featuring well-known performers such as nonagenarian musician Compay Segundo and the Los Van Van band.
This year's Jan. 1 message indicates that the government plans to devote as much time and energy to the fight for the five agents as it did to the battle for the repatriation of boat-wreck survivor Elian Gonzalez. The child was returned to Cuba in June 2000 after a seven-month custody battle between his family in Miami and his father on the island.
The battle over the five spies has not created the kind of sympathy among average Americans or Cubans that the fight for Elian did.
But it has become a top priority for Castro. Last week, he called a special session of the National Assembly, which unanimously agreed to bestow the title of ``Heroes of the Republic of Cuba'' on the five men convicted on charges of spying on the United States.
After a six-month trial, the men were given sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison for espionage conspiracy and lesser counts.
Castro says the men are patriots who were protecting their country from possible terrorist attacks.
During the special parliamentary session on Saturday, Castro told the assembly that because of the men's importance, 2002 would be officially known as the ``Year of the Heroic Prisoners of the Empire'' -- the ``empire'' being the United States. The Cuban government regularly chooses a slogan for each year, which is then used in official correspondence and in state media instead of the year's number.
In its New Year message, Havana also mentioned the country's economic problems, deepened by world recession, the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States and widespread damage caused by Hurricane Michelle.
The message said Cubans were working together to recovery from the damage the hurricane caused in early November. ``Not a single Cuban was forgotten in the tragedy,'' the letter said.
It also repeated earlier government estimates that the Cuban economy grew 3 percent during 2001, despite a drop in tourism and sinking prices for Cuban exports.
Here is the latest call from Fidel Castro, the bloody communist dictator who has murdered and imprisoned Cubans for over 40 years.
Damn. Now when the ICC get's ratified I'm going to be arrested for this post. I hope there's a good lawyer on FR.
Senator Christopher Dodd refuses to allow hearings on Otto Reich. What's his problem? Is Dodd afraid his smear campaign will be exposed?
JESSE J. HOLLAND, AP (Dec 21, 2001) Senate Confirms Two Bush Nominees--Dodd kicks Otto Reich nomination back to Bush without a vote….[Excerpt] But Democrats then sent Reich's nomination for the State Department's top position for Western Hemisphere affairs back to the president for the second time this year without approving it.
Senate Democrats, led by Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, refused to hold a confirmation hearing for Reich, whom they consider unqualified. The White House also refused to withdraw his name, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign.
Democrats say Reich is too divisive for his position. His supporters claim he is being targeted for his strident opposition toward Cuban leader Fidel Castro From 1983 to 1986, Reich headed a State Department office that was accused of running a prohibited covert propaganda campaign against Nicaragua's then communist-backed government.
Bush returned the nomination to the Senate after getting it back in August. He would have to resubmit the nomination again in January to get it reconsidered by the Senate.
On Friday, Dodd's office released a letter to Bush that was cosigned by Sen. Michael Enzi R-Wyo. The letter strongly urged Bush not to give a recess appointment to Reich during the year-end holiday season.
``Our opposition to this nomination is well known, but what is less well known is that many of our colleagues, including our colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee, have quietly supported our efforts to prevent this nomination from going to the floor,'' Dodd and Enzi wrote.
On Monday, senior administration officials said Bush was considering a recess appointment for Reich if the Senate failed to confirm him.
The Constitution permits a president to make temporary appointments if he acts during Senate recesses.
__________________________________________________
Democrats have yet to schedule a hearing on Reich. They question whether his work as a lobbyist for companies involved in Latin America presents conflicts of interest. And they cite his leadership of a State Department office during the Reagan presidency that was accused of running a covert propaganda campaign against Nicaragua's then Communist-leaning Sandinista government. Majority Leader Tom Daschle says Senate opponents may filibuster his nomination, preventing a vote. ``If they're not going to be given fair treatment, then they are going to have to consider recess appointments,'' Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said of the White House. ---Source--( JESSE J. HOLLAND, AP -Dec. 27, 2001)
US culture and political influence lures individuals away from conformity with their own culture or government, making the US an 'imperialist threat.'
I was wondering why the 'empire' chat started up last night, not realizing it might be related to Fidel issuing more talking points. = : O
It's time for Bush to give Otto Reich a recess appointment. --Bush mulls recess appointments
The Democrats don't want a dyed in the wool, anti-communist blocking their long standing kiss Castro's
communist, anti-American butt agenda! --Stop Otto Reich site
Hold hearings Sen. Dodd!! Allow Otto Reich a face to face opportunity to answer your smear campaign.
Dodd is a communist-sympathizer and a lying sack-of-shit, that is what the -D is for, lying sack-of-shit!
Time to cut all the PC barbra streisand.
Dodd and Chafee
They'll murder a few to begin with.--- Florida Family on Humanitarian Mission to Cuba Slain in Attack
I am stuck with schumie and queen hil here in NYC, if you got any ideas, I'm all ears!!
I predict!
Import more conservatives!
We keep wondering when Mr. Dodd's Democratic betters are going to call him to account for such behavior. It'd be nice to know, for example, how Florida Democrats Bob Graham and Bill Nelson feel about this treatment of a Cuban American. Tom Daschle recently met with Mr. Reich, but the majority leader has been reluctant to overrule his party's junior barons when they get the bit in their mouths.
Mr. Bush has the recourse of a recess appointment for Mr. Reich once the Senate leaves town. Given the worsening state of Latin America, and Mr. Dodd's irresponsibility, the President can justify such a move in the urgent national interest. [End Excerpt]
Who on earth would want to do that?
More liberal doublespeak. (BTW- the libs are always enacting laws to exacerbate the suffering of us - why not the Cubans?). Clinton used a similar argument in his war to promote Islamic terrorism.
You know, I really think the people are beginning to see through the liberal spin.
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