Posted on 05/20/2002 8:16:13 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Monday refused to support lifting the Cuban trade embargo unless Fidel Castro releases political prisoners, conducts independently monitored elections and accepts a list of tough new U.S. conditions for a "new government that is fully democratic."
"Freedom sometimes grows step by step, and we will encourage those steps," the president said, outlining his new U.S. policy on Cuban Independence Day.
Seeking to balance his hard-line policy with a sensitivity to Cuba's grinding poverty, the president outlined administration actions designed to make life better for the Cuban people. One initiative would resume direct mail service to and from Cuba.
Bush's speech, which aides said has been in the works since January, came a week after former President Carter traveled to Cuba and urged the people to embrace democracy while calling on the United States to lift the 40-year-old trade embargo.
Carter and other critics argue that the restrictions have failed to end Castro's regime while making life tough on ordinary Cubans. Bush also has been accused of shaping his policy to win support of Cuban-Americans, a force in Florida politics and thus a key to his re-election hopes.
Indeed, Bush was traveling to Miami later in the day to address Cuban-Americans eager to hear his anti-Castro rhetoric.
Speaking in Spanish at times, Bush said Cuba's legacy of freedom "has been insulted by a tyrant who uses brutal methods to enforce a bankrupt vision. That legacy has been debased by a relic from another era who has turned a beautiful island into a prison."
If all his conditions are met, Bush will support lifting the congressionally mandated trade ban - even if Castro is still in charge - said two senior White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. But they said Bush does not envision Castro's making the necessary changes, prompting the new policy designed to foment change from within the country.
"If Mr. Castro refuses our offer he will be protecting his cronies at the expense of his people and eventually, despite all his tools of oppression, Fidel Castro will need to answer to his people," Bush said.
"Well-intentioned ideas about trade will merely prop up this dictator, enrich his cronies and enhance the totalitarian regime. It will not help the Cuban people," he said.
To win his approval of easing restrictions, Bush said Cuba must:
_Allow opposition parties to speak freely and organize.
_Allow independent trade unions.
_Free all political prisoners.
_Allow human rights organizations to visit Cuba to ensure that the conditions for free elections are being created.
_Allow outside observers to monitor 2003 elections.
_End discriminatory practices against Cuban workers.
"Full normalization of relations with Cuba, diplomatic recognition, open trade and a robust aid program will only be possible when Cuba has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is respected and when the human rights of all Cubans are fully protected," Bush said.
"Meaningful reform on Cuba's part will be answered with a meaningful United States response," he said. "The choice rests with Mr. Castro."
He voiced support for a referendum in Cuba asking voters whether they favor civil liberties, including freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty for political prisoners.
Pledging to help the Cuban people weather the nation's economic crisis, Bush called for the resumption of mail service and promised assistance to nongovernmental organizations that aid Cubans. He also pledged to create scholarships in the United States for Cuban students, family members of political prisoners and professionals trying to build civil institutions in the communist regime.
Money still needs to be found for the scholarship program, White House officials said. They said the initiatives can be carried out without congressional approval
Last week, a 40-member, bipartisan group in Congress announced support for easing the embargo. The private Human Rights Watch called for the same, saying the embargo "imposes indiscriminate hardship on the Cuban people and impedes democratic change."
Politics loomed large over Bush's events Monday.
Cuban-American voters helped carry him to a narrow victory in Florida, the state that decided the 2000 election, and they favor the kind of hard line he was espousing. The tough talk also could appeal to the broader Hispanic vote throughout the United States.
Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, faces re-election this year and is depending on Cuban-Americans, who vote heavily Republican.
The president was to headline a fund-raiser Monday evening for the Florida Republican Party, which will use the money to boost Jeb Bush's re-election campaign. It will be the third fund-raiser for his brother the president has attended this year.
I'm just surprised that nobody's pointed out the absolute bias of this one sentence. When Carter gave his speech last week, did the news report it as his "pro-Castro rhetoric"???
Its unfortunate that so few conservatives pay attention to what has happened to our money supply. This fan of Murray Rothbard couldn't agree with you more.
My main problem with the paleos (on top of their protectionism and law-and-order attitudes) is the fact that they are cult-like and castigate anyone who deviates as a "neocon." Neocons, despite their pseudosophistication and propagation of political correctness (think Martin Luther King) tend not to exhibit the cult-like attitude of the paleos.
Now can we all imagine what Gore would be doing today? He would be in Cuba dropping the embargo and embracing El Loco!!!
1. They began unrestricted submarine warfare, and began sinking some American merchant ships in the process.
2. They had been trying to get Mexico to start a war with us.
Both of those actions are ample cause for war, IMHO.
And hopefully his last fundraising trip here! I'm all for brotherly love, but Jeb doesn't need much help fundraising, or with his polling numbers right now. There are other races where the Prez's political power could be much more valuable.
(I realize Dubya is doing and has done many other fundraisers, including for Simon.)
Can you tell me now when Pres. Bush gives a rousing speech directed toward freedom of Cuba and leaves out any mention of Elian, not one mention, does that not leave a huge pit in your stomach?
You stop and think. Our offence taken to their bullying is proportional to what we want from them. Consider China and and Saudi like I said before. Lots of bullying going on there by those governments but we can't bully them for 'moral' reasons. It's all about Florida votes and who our bi-partisan gmt can bully without getting slapped by the other party. Nothing more.
It surprises me though that their disgust with Castro and all the rottenness that he has done seems to be taken out largely against their homies in Cuba. There is no way that the average Cuban would not gain from gettingn rid of the embargo. I can't help but think that would be the best thing since the embargo has failed miserbly in hurting Castro. Our policy for and against other nations is all about what any one party can get away with before the other party starts to use it against them.
I agree that we sold out regarding Elian also.
You really shouldn't confuse people with facts. They don't want to hear it anyway. Thinking hurts so just let the Empire do it for them.
Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, faces re-election this year and is depending on Cuban-Americans, who vote heavily Republican.
When a Republican listens to his supporters it is always for political reasons, according to the lefty media but do they say that when a DemocRAT caters to the Teachers' Union, the Gays or Blacks. Did you ever see any criticism when Clinton/Gore/Hillary ran to the black churches for votes?
GWB is taking the correct approach regarding Cuba & I applaud him for it!
We should not trade (and enrich) our enemies. It's ludicrous.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.