Bush's hawks making way to Latin America, too*** THE Bush White House can't seem to help itself. Even as it appears ready to swoop down on Iraq, it is also elevating hawks to new perches on the Latin American branch. The White House announced on Jan. 9 that it will name Otto J. Reich to the position of the National Security Council's special envoy to Latin America -- a position that was specially created for him after his recess appointment as assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere expired. The move will keep the highly controversial Reich in government and does not require Senate confirmation. Under the Reagan administration, Reich headed the Office of Public Diplomacy, which aimed to create public support in the United States for the Nicaraguan anti-Sandinista rebels, also known as the Contras. Congress later closed down the office because a comptroller's report found that the office engaged in "prohibited, covert propaganda activities" during the Iran-Contra affair. ***
Shores fires inspector for remarks on Cubans *** ''What I said was that since the parade is no more, the Cubans did not support revitalizing it,'' he said. ``But the way he rearranged my words made me look like a total bigot.'' As for Esher's belief that his rights were violated, the American Civil Liberties Union says he may have a point. 'People should be judged on their abilities to perform their job, not on what the city manager, in a startling admission, says are `unfortunate comments' to a journalist,'' said Howard L. Simon, executive director of the ACLU's Florida chapter.
While Esher's comment may have been offensive, it was made during a casual conversation to a high-profile writer about his recent column, and shouldn't be the basis for dismissal, Simon said. DeFede, who says the remarks in the column were accurate, said Esher's comments, while offensive, were not unusual in South Florida.***