Bush: Cuban Changes Fall Short

President Bush is frequently criticized for not doing more to advance the cause for Cuban freedom. I tend to feel the same way because nothing has changed in regard to Cuban policy and the "Wet Foot/Dry Foot" policy still allows Cubans to perish at sea in order to get to US land. However, he has also kept the castro regime in the forefront by making frequent speeches, awarding Dr. Biscet the Presidental Medal of Freedom, and today, holding a teleconference with dissidents in Cuba (see Gusano's earlier post. ) So, when you look at it in terms of what past presidents have done, it certainly is more significant, although obviously "significant" is relative in this case. I suppose a gesture is better than nothing, and it cannot be denied that President Bush is making an effort to make sure the regime is recognized for what it is.

Today he echoed the frequently heard sentiment of the changes in Cuba made by raúl as "cosmetic." He also called the gestures "empty" and called on the castros to make democractic change and to go about it peacefully.

"Until there is a change of heart, and a change of compassion, and a change of how the Cuban government treats its people, there is no change at all," Bush said in a speech here to officials from North and South America... "If Cuba wants to join the community of civilized nations, then Cuban rulers must begin a process of peaceful and democratic change and the first step must be the release of all political prisoners.""

Condoleeza Rice "urged the government to remove the "fear factor" from political life by reining in the secret police." I don't doubt that if this AP story is read by the average American (which sadly, it won't be) there would be some head scratching: "Secret police? in Cuba?" But that is part of the entire problem that enables the regime to continue choking the life out of Cuba- the castros have worked so long and so hard to promote their propaganda and fidel has become such a superstar that the rest of the world tends to pooh-pooh the idea of repudiation squads, tyranny and other impossible to believe scenarios carried out by the regime. So, when you look at it this way, as a small gesture, it is at least something.

Whatever you feel about it, you can read the article here

Posted by Claudia4Libertad at May 7, 2008 07:32 PM

Comments

Posted by: j2tharome at May 8, 2008 12:36 PM