Bush, Castro allies of a sort, prof says

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Feb. 20, 2004




U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS


Bush, Castro allies of a sort, prof says

By NANCY SAN MARTIN

[e-mail]


A Cuba expert at Harvard University suggested Thursday that there is an unspoken alliance between the Bush administration and President Fidel Castro, drawing criticism from Cuban Americans in Miami and Washington.

Citing migration accords, joint antinarcotics operations and agricultural trade as examples of Cuba-U.S. cooperation, Jorge Domínguez, a Harvard professor of government, said the relationship between the two countries has grown under Bush despite the ''high, hostile rhetoric'' often issued by both governments

''The trend has been toward greater cooperation under the Bush administration,'' Domínguez told a gathering of more than 200 at Florida International University. He added that the alliance resulted not because the two nations were fond of each other but because it suited their respective needs.

U.S. policy toward the communist-ruled island has not changed, Domínguez said, because ``Cuba is for the most part, not at all a salient issue outside of this city. It doesn't register politically outside of this city.''
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/7996951.htm

The guy is yanking someone's chain, it would seem. The article goes on to state that the well-known (to himself) Cuban "exile" blow-hard, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart got on the horn immediately to accuse this man of trying to sabotage the Republican Cuban vote.

[Osolomia]

1. tied to Democratic efforts to undermine the Bush's re-election campaign?

Cuba, U.S. work together on some crucial issues, expert says at FIU
By Madeline Baró Diaz
Miami Bureau, Sun-Sentinel
February 20 2004

Despite tough talk by both countries, the United States and Cuba quietly maintain ties and cooperate with one another, a leading Cuba expert said Thursday.

Jorge Dominguez, director of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, made the remarks Thursday during a gathering at Florida International University. He said while President Bush and Cuban leader Fidel Castro maintain a show of "fierce hostility," the countries actually work together when it comes to issues like migration, security and exports to Cuba.

... Not everyone agrees. Republican U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart issued a statement Thursday disputing Dominguez's take on U.S.-Cuba relations. He said Bush has expelled Cuban spies, indicted Cuban officials, and threatened to veto attempts to weaken the embargo and travel restrictions.

Diaz-Balart suggested Dominguez's remarks were tied to Democratic efforts to undermine the president's re-election campaign.

"Dominguez's remarks are a clearly calculated political maneuver to weaken Cuban-American support for President Bush," Diaz-Balart said in the statement.

More...
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-dcuba20feb20,0,3206770.story?coll=sfla-news-cuba

[Judi Lynn]

2. Lincoln Diaz-Balart would be LOST without the embargo

That has been his ONLY raison d'etre. If Lincoln loses the embargo, he'll be screwed.

It's terrific seeing him twist in the wind. I wish I had a deck chair and binoculars for this event. It's only going to get worse for him until THE END!

(snip)
"Dominguez's remarks are a clearly calculated political maneuver to weaken Cuban-American support for President Bush," Diaz-Balart said in the statement.
(snip)

Maybe he can get on at Disneyworld:

[Mika]

3. Did ya notice this?

The comments lit up phone lines on Spanish-language radio in Miami and drew a sharp response from Miami Republican Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart.

Gotta love Miamicubano radio.. there's always something to get their panties in a wad over.


-

'Dominguez's theory' coincides totally with Castro's campaign to discourage Cuban Americans from voting in this year's presidential election,'' Díaz-Balart said in a statement.

Yeah, no shit Sherlock.. because many are going to vote Dem this year (contrary to the popular misconception of Miamicubans being repugs only).