Bush Wants Cuban Democratic Transition Post - Castro, page 1
Pages:
ATS Members have flagged this thread 0 times
Topic started on 19-2-2008 @ 09:56 AM by Areal51

Bush Wants Cuban Democratic Transition Post - Castro


www.nytimes.com
KIGALI (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday said he hoped the retirement of Cuban leader Fidel Castro would be the beginning of democratic transition in Cuba.

"I believe that the change from Fidel Castro ought to begin a period of a democratic transition," Bush said at a news conference in Rwanda during a five-country African trip.

Castro, 81, said that he will not return to lead the country as president or commander-in-chief, retiring as head of state 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.

In Washington, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said it was unlikely that the United States would lift its trade embargo on Cuba.

"I can't imagine that happening any time soon," Negroponte told reporters at the State Department. The United States has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba for more than four decades to try to isolate Castro.

Bush said the first step for Cuba should be to free political prisoners, and the international community should work with Cubans to start building institutions necessary for democracy.

"Eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections, and I mean free and I mean fair," Bush said. "Not these kind of staged elections that the Castro brothers try to foist off as being true democracy," he said.
(visit the link for the full news article)


reply posted on 19-2-2008 @ 10:16 AM by deltaboy
reply to post by Shar_Chi



Bad comparison when you consider that Castro was "elected" for 50 years as the leader of Cuba. Not to mention arresting any political opponents that challenge his rule. Bush is already prepared to leave office with this years election coming up. So your argument is pretty bad.


reply posted on 19-2-2008 @ 10:27 AM by deltaboy
reply to post by andy1033



Yeah America is so evil that millions of people are risking their lives to get to America to be tortured and killed.

Usually they died before they could get to America. Seen it in Arizona and New Mexico. Thats how much they want to get to EVIL AMERICA.



reply posted on 19-2-2008 @ 10:50 AM by Areal51
reply to post by deltaboy



Well, maybe folks come because the US, despite its problems, is better than the country they are coming from? No one is talking about an "EVIL AMERICA". Folks have the sense to know the difference between the people and its government. Anyway, there's little doubt that the current Administration has been suspected of and even admitted to committing illegal acts. Not necessarily "evil" but definitely not all good.


reply posted on 19-2-2008 @ 11:59 AM by Areal51
reply to post by Johnmike



Originally posted by Johnmike
Originally posted by Areal51
Bush is certainly seizing the opportunity to pump out the rhetoric to help gain himself some of his lost luster.

So encouraging peaceful transition to some form of political liberty is nothing but rhetoric?


Coming from President Bush and his administration, yes. It's not only rhetoric, it's empty rhetoric. See Iraq.

Originally posted by Johnmike
Originally posted by Areal51
It's not like he forced Fidel Castro to resign, but he wants to take credit for it.

Oh? Can you demonstrate, then, where he is trying to take credit for Castro's resignation?


See:
"And we're going to help. The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty," Bush said.
Source

Originally posted by Johnmike
Originally posted by Areal51
And he dares to point fingers about staged elections!

Yes, he does? Why couldn't he?


See Florida year 2000 elections fraud:

Diebold Memos Disclose Florida 2000 E-Voting Fraud
Quietly Florida Admits 2000 Election Fraud
Florida's flawed "voter-cleansing" program

That's just the first few hits from Google. There are thousands upon thousands of articles to choose from on the issue.

Originally posted by Johnmike
Originally posted by Areal51
Does it get any better? "Free" and "fair"? Please, that is the oxymoron of all oxymorons. The Bush Administration, "free" and "fair" are glaring contradictions in terms. Add in Cuba and you get yourself a pretty good pun.

And you complain about the use of rhetoric? I don't love the guy either, but jeez.


See: The Patriot Act, The Military Commissions Act of 2006, and The Bush Administration, The National Security Agency, and the telecoms warrantless surveillance controversy.

[edit on 19-2-2008 by Areal51]
Pages:     ^^TOP^^




Newest topics getting replies, in real-time:

Santorum wants more fracking!!!
  US Political Madness, Posted 13 hours ago, 53 replies
Pass Me My Rifle
  World War Three, Posted 9 hours ago, 52 replies