Cuba denies renewed claim of limited germ warfare capability

Posted on Mon, Oct. 06, 2003
Associated Press

HAVANA - Cuba's Foreign Ministry on Monday denied a renewed U.S. claim that the communist-run island has a limited biological warfare program, and demanded that American authorities back up claims with proof.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roger Noriega repeated the earlier claim Thursday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Cuba.

"We continue to believe that Cuba has at least a limited developmental offensive biological weapons research and development effort and has provided dual use biotechnology to other rogue states," Noriega said, a State Department official confirmed Monday.

Noriega, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, added that "this reflects the consensus on what US government experts believe about Cuba and its biological weapons capability," the State Department official said.

There was no additional State Department reaction to Cuba's Monday statement.

More...
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/6948075.htm

No reaction from spineless Dems either, afraid to open their mouths in case someone notices their true colors apparently.

force

Only an ignorant bigot would whine like you do every single time someone posts Latest Breaking News articles about US policy against Cuba on a forum such as this.

What a disgraceful blite you are on DU’s reputation and pretty much prove my point about spineless, hypocritical Dems*!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

<clips>

... Mention the name Aruca to a Cuban chosen at random from the Greater Miami telephone directory and the likely response will be "communist." On Radio Mambi (WAQI-AM 710), Armando Perez Roura regularly labels Aruca a "Castro agent," and callers to Spanish-language talk shows on Mambi, La Cubanisima (WQBA-AM 1140) and WCMQ-AM (1210) routinely castigate Aruca as a vendepatria (a traitor) or worse. WCMQ talk show host and news director Tomas Garcia Fuste says of Aruca: "I don't think he's a Castro agent. But he is pro-Castro, and he angers people here for the same reason that someone who goes to Miami Beach and speaks up for the Nazis would anger people. He has no ideology other than to make money."

Indeed, Aruca does enjoy making money, and although he denies multimillionaire status, he concedes that by transporting at least 160,000 exiles to their homeland since 1979, "I'm well off."

In classic Marxist economic or sociopolitical terms, however, Aruca is the polar opposite of a communist: He is a hard-core capitalist, a savvy dealmeister and American-schooled economist who in many ways exemplifies the type of free-enterpriser that leaders of the Cuban American National Foundation, for example, see as Cuba's salvation. Aruca describes himself as a Christian socialist, a staunch defender of free expression, a "progressive counterrevolutionary" who was once arrested and jailed for plotting against the Castro government.

"I am a total defender of freedom of enterprise -- total," he says. "One of the things I resent about the U.S. government is that it is regulating my industry. So many of my values a conservative would feel very comfortable with. I believe in a market society -- I do."

<http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/1995-11-02/feature2.html/1/index.html>

I'm hoping he wins, and won't get blown away before the embargo is lifted.

This was the first article of its kind I've seen on Aruca. I'm returning later to read the rest of it.

People should know the level to which this Miami/New York business man is bonded with his beliefs:

(snip)
Aruca's unusual access to Havana, and his outspoken conviction that all Cuban Americans should be able to enjoy the same, have made him a frequent target of attack. The offices of his Marazul Charters, Inc., have been bombed, a man associated with his broadcast was beaten and robbed at the station office, the station's windows have been smashed, and Aruca himself is often accosted verbally by people who recognize him in public. He has been threatened with death so many times that he often employs a bodyguard just to move around town. About the only question he won't answer is whether he carries a gun for personal protection.
(snip)

I hope fortune prevents his assassination. It won't be because they haven't tried!

he continues to be the only sane voice on Cuban radio in Gusanoville. I found a bio on him earlier today you might be interested in.
****************************************

Francisco G. Aruca founded Radio Progreso in 1991 as an alternative to the specific characteristics of Miami and their limiting effect on freedom of expression, diversity of opinion and objective information through the mainstream media. Our primary goal has been to bridge the cultural and bilingual gap in our diverse community. We started our first radio program “Ayer en Miami” (“Yesterday in Miami”) in Spanish in January of 1991. It immediately filled a void that existed in Spanish-language media in Miami for over 40 years. The success and usefulness of the program in Spanish prompted the launching of our English-language program, “Babel’s Guide” in June of 1999.

In order to understand the characteristics of Miami, you must first look at the Cuban-American community. The Spanish-language media in Miami has traditionally been dominated by a very powerful, hard-line, segment of the Cuban-American exile community, which has managed to prevent the free flow of information and ideas in relation to the Cuba issue. This extreme segment of the Cuban-American community has used, as a pretense, the thesis of affecting change in Cuba. However, as their power in Miami increased politically, economically and socially, the leaders of the hard-line exile community successfully extended what amounted to real censorship on any area that affected their interests here in Miami, such as local corruption, interracial and international relationships in this region. They depend on the image of a homogeneous Cuban-American community with regard to almost every issue that serves their narrow interests in order to ensure their continued power and influence here in Miami. While dominating the media with messages of fighting for freedom in Cuba, this extreme segment has used its power in Miami to accomplish everything EXCEPT freedom for ALL of us, Cubans and non-Cubans alike, here in Miami.

Freedom of expression in the Spanish-language media is virtually non-existent. Those who have expressed views and opinions differing from the hard-line position have done so at the high risk of physical, political, financial and/or social repercussions. They have violated one of the most important principles guaranteed by our Constitution, freedom of expression. Even today, if you analyze El Nuevo Herald, the only major Spanish-language newspaper, you will find not only that the news is presented with extreme bias and inaccuracy, but that not one single columnist writes an opinion different from the traditional exile position, portraying the false image that there is no diversity of opinion within the Cuban-American community.

Radio Progreso emerged precisely to provide an alternative source of information that was being denied to the Spanish speaking community in Miami, as well as an outlet for the expression of opinions that differed from the ones sponsored by that powerful segment of the Cuban exile community. What began mostly as a “Cuba” and “Cubans” related program developed into a program dealing also with Miami, our problems, our contradictions and our difficulties in facing up to our community’s needs in its complex political, racial and national diversity. A large measure of this is due to the enormous and undemocratic influence, and often intimidation, of the exile leadership. We also realized that this negative influence is amplified by the fact that news coverage and opinions are consciously presented in a different way in English than in Spanish.

A true policy of divided market is in existence here in Miami, particularly the role of our daily newspaper, The Miami Herald and its Spanish counterpart, El Nuevo Herald. This “bilingual scam” as we call it, has very negative consequences on our community and often caters, or panders to the hard-line exile leadership. As a way to contribute to fight the consequences of this “bilingual scam” we started our English-language program in the belief that in order to understand the differences in our communities, we must see the differences in information each is being provided with.

The attention received by both of our programs is a true measure of the void Radio Progreso has filled and hopes to continue filling.

Francisco G. Aruca is the President of Radio Progreso, Inc. and the host of both radio programs; “Ayer en Miami” and “Babel’s Guide”. Mr. Aruca was born in Cuba in 1940 and came to the United States as a political exile in 1962. He graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Economics in 1968 and obtained a Masters in Economics from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1970. He was a professor of Economics at both George Mason University and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez and was an economist for the U.S. Department of Labor from 1976-1979.

In 1979, as a consequence of his conviction that engagement, and not isolation, should be practiced in relation to Cuba, Mr. Aruca founded Marazul Tours in the New York area; a totally diversified travel operation, very well established and recognized in the area of “interest tourism”, particularly in relation to Cuba. He then established Marazul Charters, Inc. in 1985, which specialized in charter flights to Cuba, including direct flights from New York to Havana, although it also handled charters to Nicaragua from 1985-1986.

http://www.rprogreso.com/

---

His other company, Marazul Charters, has a pretty decent embargo/travel ban history timeline.

http://www.marazulcharters.com/history/

Brave guy. I used to actually listen daily; my favorite parts being when callers would call in and bitch him out. But I stopped listening once I realized that it was just the same ol' thing every day. I may have a gander at one of his shows later. :)

this past weekend should be very enlightening. Also, I think there will be plenty of good reading material when they update their website on Thursday.

http://www.rprogreso.com/

Peace!!

...Cuba. Do you belive their BS about offensive bio-weapons and the proliferation of such weapons to "terrorist" groups like the MISadministration asserts every few weeks?

It's like every thread I see you post in you don't want to have a sensible debate, you just argue the converse of what anyone says. Take your dispicable defense of the racist guy with the wife who was having labor, for example.

Of course, my comment will probably be deleted... but whatever.

I have not posted much here but Jaciento or whatever your name is,there are more than enough rightwing racist,KKK,and White supremist site here in america,where you would feel much more at home and comfortable.
I sometimes wonder why you waste so much time here,is it just to aggravate the people who helped make civil rights possible and move america forward out of the days of Jim Crow? Or is it a fact that deep down you really want to join progressives,but is reluctant to
so due to some reason or another?

I just resent the fact that some people here are apologists for Fidel Castro.

No wonder you moved to Florida!

Jiacinto, I have noticed over the last year that your posts on 'Cuba threads' are nothing more than bashing other DUers as "Castro lovers" or "Castro apologists", and are tantamount to stalking, which is against DU rules.

This is a LBN thread. If you have a relevant point to discuss - do it.

Poor Carlitos believes all the bullsh*t they feed him on Radio Mambi and Calle Ocho where violence and ignorance reign supreme. Shows up on the Cuba threads to call people names and make false accusations but is afraid to espouse his *democractic* views to the gusanos in Cafe Versailles 'cuz he knows they'll kick his ass up and down Calle Ocho.

Welcome to DU, abb9 :hi:

<clips>

Cuba calls on the United States to prove biological weapons accusations

ON October 2, 2003, Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemispheric Affairs, ratified at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, the Bush administration’s policy of increasing hostilities and aggression against Cuba. He announced a new plan of subversive activities against our country and reiterated the cynical accusations that Cuba is developing a limited program of biological weapons.

Let us not forget that Mr. Noriega was advisor to ultra reactionary senator Jesse Helms and, together with the Miami terrorist mafia, one of the coordinators of the infamous Helms Burton Act. He is now evidently following in the footsteps of Mr. Otto Reich to become the main spokesperson for the anti-Cuban policy and is also responsible for U.S. interference in Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution.

In his impudent statements, Noriega announced that the U.S. administration is going to intensify its efforts to increase subversion and propaganda against Cuba; increase international pressure against our country; check that blockade restrictions are strictly adhered to, including travel restrictions and measures against foreign business people investing in Cuba; and is threatening to take new actions against Cuban diplomats in the United States.

Cuba totally rejects these new imperial threats by Mr. Noriega and once again denounces the Bush administration plans aimed at pleasing the Cuban-American extreme rightwing that is increasing pressure and intensifying its electoral blackmail as the 2004 presidential elections approach.

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2003/octubre03/lun6/40formin-i.html

Home > News > World > Article
Cuba Says Bush Official Lied About Bioweapons
Mon October 6, 2003 07:17 PM ET
By Anthony Boadle

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba called on the United States on Monday to provide evidence to back up renewed charges that the communist-run Caribbean nation has a germ warfare program.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry said the accusations were aimed at winning President Bush support among Cuban exiles in Florida, a crucial state for his re-election bid next year.

The Bush administration, which has yet to find evidence to back its charge that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, last week charged that Cuba has a limited biological arms program.

(snip) "We completely and utterly reject Assistant Secretary Noriega's statement," Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque told reporters. "It is a false argument used to justify the U.S. blockade of Cuba." (snip)

(snip) Washington, which lists Cuba along with North Korea, Libya, Syria, Iran and Sudan as states that sponsor terrorism, twice accused Castro's government last year of running a biological weapons program. Bush officials making the charges failed to produce any evidence. (snip/)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3566685

The _Bush's gang is dabbling in some utterly nasty finger-pointing, considering the actual history between the two countries:

(snip) In 1971 the first documented cases of swine fever in the western hemisphere showed up in Cuba. A CIA agent later admitted that he had been instructed to deliver the virus to Cuban exiles in Panama, who carried the virus into Cuba in March of 1991. This astounding admission received scant attention in the US press. (snip)


(snip) In 1981, Fidel Castro blamed an outbreak of dengue fever in Cuba on the CIA. The fever killed 188 people, including 88 children. In 1988,a Cuban exile leader named Eduardo Arocena admitted "bringing
some germs" into Cuba in 1980. (snip)

(snip) In 1996, the Cuba government again accused the US of engaging in "biological aggression". This time it involved an outbreak of thrips palmi, an insect that kills potato crops, palm trees and other vegetation. Thrips first showed up in Cuba on December 12, 1996, following low-level flights over the island by US government spray planes. The US has been unable to quash a United Nations investigation of the incident that is now underway. (snip/)

http://www.counterpunch.org/germwar.html

Only a few in a very long list, which can be studied in any searches anyone's interested in pursuing.

Eduardo Arocena was on trial for the murder of a Cuba diplomat to the U.N. at the time he made his admission concerning bringing "some germs" into Cuba.

The U.S. gummint history of biological assaults on Cuba is horrendous.

Anyone in his right mind can recognize the unlikelyhood of a very tiny island taking on an enormous nation like the U.S. with ANY kind of agressive designs. That's just not going to happen.

The only weapon anyone has is the weapon of ignorance in the minds of lazy people who won't stir themselves to start getting educated on the facts that are easily available.

The U.S. government's not going to tell you, you have to start reading for yourself. If you don't, all you're stuck with is propaganda. The right-wing thinks their version of history is all you need to know. Why not refuse to be duped? Start reading!

He did all that damn drinking and snorting and messed up his own hemispheres, he's all over the middle east, pissed off Europe, mucked about in Africa, and he won't let up in Cuba. Who the hell is letting Georgie play with sharp scissors? You knoe he is only allowed to play with the safety scissors...

Aside from the very few posters who've been following this issue since long before DU, show me a single iota of opposition to the lies and bullshit of Bush’s Cuba policy from DUers and their favorite 2004 Dem presidential candidates or forever hold your heads in shame for the persistent silent complicity and ignorant bigotry consistently being displayed here even after all these years of world wide condemnation of the USA's economic embargo against Cuba from the UN since 1990, to Canada and Europe in response to the Helms-Burton Act in 1996, to the Pope during his visit to Cuba in 1998, to votes in the US House of Representatives since 2001, to Gorbachev speaking in Florida in 2003, etc. etc. etc.!

Year after year after year, election after election after election, Dems still have nothing but pathetic excuses for being the only people on the planet who are banned by their own government from seeing and judging the real Cuba for themselves to this bushwhacked day and internet age!

Go figure! Better yet, wake up!

but, in a modest attempt to attend to your question, a champion for Cuba was Paul Wellstone. That we now have the term Wellstoned, as in, he messed with the BFEE and he got Wellstoned explains what happened to one Dem who got too powerful.

http://www.issues2000.org/International/Paul_Wellstone_Foreign_Policy.htm

Iowa's Tom Harkin holds similar views

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/04/mil-030427-2619492e.htm
HARKIN ACT ///
It is clear to me that the best course of action now is moderation, not escalation; engagement, and not isolation.

Clark would send tourists to Cuba:
“The way to deal with Castro is to send Cuba American tourists, American goods and American farm products. There could be no better way to deal with this last vestigial form of Communism than to turn American business and American agriculture loose on them.”
http://www.meetclark.com/faq/index.asp?faqid=22

Kerry's policy is status quo
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/6666091.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Dean says he would review policies....
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/6618815.htm
Democratic contender Dean alters Cuba stand
On easing the embargo: 'Can't do it right now'

Dennis Kucinich has the strongest policy statement to end current Cuban Policy:
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_cuba.htm
Common sense dictates that we pursue a policy of normalizing relations with Cuba. A Kucinich Administration will work for repeal of the Helms-Burton Act and the immediate lifting of the trade embargo

Something should have been done about normalization of relations during the days of the Clinton administration, but for any number of reasons that didn't/couldn't happen. It is impossible now with the Repugglies in charge of all branches. However, men like Harkin and Kucinich can help bring the issue to the table. Even Clark's sending tourists statement is an effective suggestion to get the discussion moving towards the postive.

Why do so many DUers have so much difficulty getting that simple undeniable fact through their heads, and why is Clark the only leading Dem contender with the spine to support this majority instead of continuing to pander to the extremist right wing minority in Florida?

Just a couple of weeks ago, for the 4th year in a row, the US House of Representatives voted 227-188 to lift the travel ban against American-Americans going to Cuba and the Senate is expected to do likewise any week now.

http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2003&rollnumber=483

So why do so many Dems still cling to the ridiculous notion that normalizing relations with Cuba is "impossible now with the Repugglies in charge of all branches" when the votes in Congress and State legislatures to lift the travel ban are there, right NOW, as we speak? The only thing standing in the way is Bush and the Cuban-Americans who are free to travel and trade all they want, and the silent Dems who don't mind being treated like second class citizens by their own country for many more years to come even when a golden opportunity to put a stop to this stupidity right now is being handed to them on a silver platter!

"Clark's sending tourists statement is an effective suggestion to get the discussion moving towards the postive" indeed, however it's either now or wait until 2005 to start the legislative process all over again and let Bush and the "exiles" do whatever the hell they want in Cuba in the meantime with the silent complicity of the Dems.

Dems do have the freedom of choice, apparently most DUers have chosen to ignore reality entirely and dwell on cold war fantasy instead and blame Bush for the consequences. What a shame to say the least!

I tried to offer some input to your suggestion that no Dem candidates were supporting easing of the sanctions on Cuba. I did so, listing the candidates which to me are most interesting - want more, you search.

Then you attack. Now, what the hell is it you want? You are a tad over the top here. What is it you want folks like me in Minnesota to do? I have already written letters to Dayton (DFL) and have blasted Coleman (R) asking them to be sensible towards Cuba policy.

You are blanketedly slamming each DUer on this board, even those who support you, but you aren't that I see, offering a solution. Carlos doesn't agree with you. Rest assured that he doesn't rep the entire board. I agree with you, best I can tell, but outside of bitching its not apparent what you want.

Why? What kind of democracy is that?

what is it that you want DUers to do?

Our democracy is fucked in many ways. This is certainly one of them, but not the only time that a party has gone against a majority opinion of its constituents.

I've offered some candidates that support the easing of sanctions. I believe they should be supported. We can write letters to our elected officials. What else is it you want to do?

I know where the candidates stand that's why the question comes up.

The lack of any visible means of support from the Democratic leadership to lift the travel ban against American-Americans while the opportunity is there raises a few questions. While there's plenty of pathetic excuses no one can offer a credible explanation to WHY the "party has gone against a majority opinion of its constituents" and it doesn't bother anyone. Looks like complicity of the Dems to me if someone can't demonstrate otherwise and until then the hypocrisy reeks imho.

At the very least DUers ought to know enough about what's really happening in US policy against Cuba by now that the bigotry behind message #1 would not be tolerated.

Lobbyist Prying Open The Door To Cuba
By ANDREW MEADOWS ameadows@tampatrib.com
Published: Oct 6, 2003


TAMPA - Al Fox knows something about contentious issues.
In the 1980s, during the height of the apartheid debate, the Ybor City native was a lobbyist for South Africa. Fox was paid to convince Congress that trade sanctions weren't the best policy.

He was called a racist, a sellout and un-American, comments that made Fox bristle. He says he truly believed extracting corporate money from South Africa would only hurt blacks.

``I learned sanctions do not work. They've never worked,'' Fox says. ``Look at Libya, look at Iraq, and, of course, look at Cuba.''

Cuba - another of Fox's contentious issues.

Convinced that U.S. policy toward Cuba is wrong, the polished Washington lobbyist now is an unofficial - and he says unpaid - Cuban diplomat, visiting the island nation frequently and in Washington bending the ear of anyone who will listen. (snip/...)

http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGAM2C50GLD.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interesting to see that the Miami Mafia hurls the same insults and slurs as this Cuban-American they hurl at ordinary Americans who resent a bunch of Miami idiots controlling our right to travel and our right to know the Cuban people.

Interesting remark from the article:

He says residents of Miami- Dade County often are portrayed as pro-embargo. But he contends only several hundred influential people take that position.

The Effects of the US 'Embargo' Against Cuba
Published: Tue October 7, 2003, by Rémy HERRERA


The U.S. embargo against Cuba is condemned by an ever larger and by now overwhelming majority of member-states of the United Nations General Assembly. However, it continues to be imposed by the U.S. government's isolated but stubborn will.

In spite of the United Nations repeated injunctions, notably its resolution 56/9 of the 27th of November 2001. The purpose of this expose is to denounce this embargo in the strongest terms for the violation of law it represents, and for its total lack of legitimacy. These measures of arbitrary constraint are tantamount to a U.S. undeclared act of war against Cuba ; their devastating economic and social effects deny the people to exercise their basic human rights, and are unbearable for them. They directly subject the people to the maximum of suffering and infringe upon the physical and moral integrity of the whole population, and in the first place of the children, of the elderly and of women. In this respect, they can be seen as a crime against humanity .

More...
http://www.alternatives.ca/article876.html

will vote overwhelmingly AGAIN to condemn the embargo. Each year the number of countries voting has increased (see link). Last year 173 voted to condemn the embargo and 3 voted against. Every year Israel has voted with the US, yet they trade with Cuba. Along the way the US has coerced countries like Albania, Paraguay, Uzbekistan, and last year they twisted the arm of the Marshall Islands, for US $$$ no doubt.

It comes down to one thing: politics as usual on Calle Ocho and it's been that way since JFK's time. Both parties pander to a small group of ex-Cuban fanatics who control foreign policy to Cuba. In 1998 the Pope called the embargo immoral, Carter said it should be lifted when he went to Cuba last year, and Saturday Mikhail Gorbachev told Bush to "tear down that wall" calling it the last relic of the cold war and criticized him for denying Americans their basic right to travel.

Asleep-at-the-switch 'muriKans never question shit, go with the flow, believe everything they hear out of the mouths of bought-and-paid-for pols (who should never be taken for granted), and propagate the LIES they've been told about countries whose governments the US wants to get rid of without even looking into what the FACTS might be. Instead, they hide their heads in the sand fearful of being tagged a 'commie' or 'castro agrent' or worse what others will think of them for posting to something so contraversial. LOL Is it any surprise that George F*ckFace Bush is pResident and that the state of California might have a groper for a governor?

http://www.alternatives.ca/print876.html

2003-10-07 10:57:35

HAVANA, Oct. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Fernando Remirez said Monday that Cuba will remain a target of the United States, because of its achievements since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Washington's long-standing hostility against Havana is due to achievements made by the country after over four decades of socialist construction, Remirez said. He was speaking after a public conference on the US-imposed blockade on Cuba.

The conference was part of more than 300 activities scheduled to address the issue of the four-decades US embargo.

Remirez stressed that the hostile policies of a dozen US administrations against Cuba had resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people, and caused losses amounting to 72 billion US dollars.

"The Cuban people have suffered from more than four decades of actions taken by the Cuban-American mafia in the south of Florida state, and its influence on the US government to keep the unfair embargo policy," he said.

Remirez also spoke of pressure exerted by the US on the 191 member countries of the United Nations to vote against a resolution presented by Cuba, which condemns the US blockade.

More...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-10/07/content_1111794.htm

god forbid those other 3rd world countries try to do what Cuba has done. Uncle Sam couldn't have any of that now could he? That's why Cuba is the target--to keep those other uppity nations in check. Meanwhile 80% of the world's population lives in poverty. Dispicable. An editorial yesterday in allafrica.com spoke to that subject,

<clips>

THE Third World people should learn from Cuba's example in their dealings with Europe and America.

There's need to learn from Cuba's refusal to make any concessions to the European Union for the sake of aid.

The changing of a social regime in Cuba is a question for the Cubans themselves to decide - and not for the Europeans or the Americans. Cubans should decide which regime they have and not any country, even the most powerful.

It is not possible for us to resign ourselves to a world order whose highest principles and objectives embody a system that colonised, enslaved and plundered us for decades.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200310060007.html

---

Gotta run. Voting today in hopes that we don't end up with Governor Groper.

Independence for countries, from whatever aspect, is the antithesis to globalism.

{Guess who's} Speaking of globalization?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=castro+%2B+globalization




Don't ask questions!

More LIES about Cuba. Surprising? Not when the election is fast approaching and Florida will once again be key.

SICK.

Florida farmers tour Cuba, assess status of cows they donated

By Vanessa Bauzá
Havana Bureau
Posted October 8 2003

HAVANA · John Parke Wright's 15,000-acre family ranch may have been expropriated after Fidel Castro's revolution, but these days the fifth-generation Naples cattle rancher wants to beef up future trade deals and forget about the past.

On Tuesday he and several other Florida ranchers toured the Niña Bonita farm on Havana's outskirts to see how Jersey heifers and New York Holsteins imported this summer are adapting to Cuba's subtropical climate.

"I have no desire to prop up any government or any military," Wright said. "The cows here only go toward milk for people. I'm not waiting for any change."

After a four-decade gap in Florida-Cuba cattle shipments, about 450 dairy cows arrived in Havana from Port Everglades and Jacksonville in July and August. (snip/...)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/caribbean/sfl-afarmers08oct08,0,2058412.story?coll=sfla-news-caribbean

If _Bush can find a way to prohibit American agricultural producers from trading with Cuba under limited conditions, you can be sure he will. He would cut their legs out from under them in a heartbeat, if he could find a way to do it legally.

That's why it's helpful to contact your representatives and senataors to let them know Americans STILL favors dropping the travel ban and the embargo by the same or greater majority.

<clips>

Once again, this accusation has been made with scant evidence to support it, and that's shameful. There are enough grave issues staring us in the face in Cuba. Complicating matters with unsubstantiated claims only makes the U.S. government look bad and obscures efforts to make progress where it is most needed.

During a Cuba conference in Coral Gables, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, on Saturday charged that Cuba has "amassed weapons of mass destruction." Ros-Lehtinen's accusation is not new. Defectors have raised similar suspicions.

In May of last year, John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said Cuba had "a limited offensive biological warfare" capability, one that it has shared with "rogue" nations. Bolton, however, did not follow-up his statement with hard, convincing evidence.

Cuba does appear on the State Department's list of states that sponsor terrorism, but mostly because Cuba has granted safe haven to Colombian rebel groups and because it has criticized some U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The analysis accompanying the Cuba listing does not mention biological or chemical weapons.

<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editafcubawmdoct07,0,1300836.story?coll=sfla-news-editorial>

They are not reckless charges. They are part of a well engineered plan. Similiar to the plan against Iraq.
How many of the remaining Dem prez candidates will be on board? :shrug: