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Bush Unveils Measures to Weaken Cuba's Castro
48 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) vowed on Friday to try to weaken Cuban leader Fidel Castro (news - web sites)'s power, and said the United States would crack down on travel to the country and make it easier for dissidents to flee.
"Clearly, the Castro regime will not change by its own choice," Bush told a gathering at the White House Rose Garden. "But Cuba must change."
Bush unveiled the initiatives as he gears up for next year's presidential race. Florida is home to many Cuban Americans who advocate tougher measures against the Castro government. Anti-Castro Cuban Americans helped hand Bush a disputed but pivotal victory in Florida in 2000 and the state could once again prove key in the 2004 election.
In May 2002, Bush said he would be willing to ease American sanctions on the communist-run country if the government took steps toward democracy such as offering "free and fair elections" and if it worked toward opening its economy to free-market changes.
"The dictator has responded with defiance and contempt and a new round of brutal oppression," Bush said.
Some business groups, Democratic lawmakers and free-trade Republicans favor loosening up sanctions such as the travel ban, saying they have been ineffective and are costing American firms potential sources of profit.
But Bush said money paid by American tourists who stay in hotels in Cuba goes to the government, with local workers paid only "a pittance."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) vowed on Friday to try to weaken Cuban leader Fidel Castro (news - web sites)'s power, and said the United States would crack down on travel to the country and make it easier for dissidents to flee.
"Clearly, the Castro regime will not change by its own choice," Bush told a gathering at the White House Rose Garden. "But Cuba must change."
Bush unveiled the initiatives as he gears up for next year's presidential race. Florida is home to many Cuban Americans who advocate tougher measures against the Castro government. Anti-Castro Cuban Americans helped hand Bush a disputed but pivotal victory in Florida in 2000 and the state could once again prove key in the 2004 election.
In May 2002, Bush said he would be willing to ease American sanctions on the communist-run country if the government took steps toward democracy such as offering "free and fair elections" and if it worked toward opening its economy to free-market changes.
"The dictator has responded with defiance and contempt and a new round of brutal oppression," Bush said.
Some business groups, Democratic lawmakers and free-trade Republicans favor loosening up sanctions such as the travel ban, saying they have been ineffective and are costing American firms potential sources of profit.
But Bush said money paid by American tourists who stay in hotels in Cuba goes to the government, with local workers paid only "a pittance."
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