Proclamation 6867, 7757 regarding Cuba, continued, from the White House:
On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, a national emergency was declared to address the disturbance or threatened disturbance of international relations caused by the February 24, 1996, destruction by the Cuban government of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in international airspace north of Cuba. In July 1996 and on subsequent occasions, the Cuban government stated its intent to forcefully defend its sovereignty against any U.S.-registered vessels or aircraft that might enter Cuban territorial waters or airspace while involved in a flotilla or peaceful protest. Since these events, the Cuban government has not demonstrated that it will refrain from the future use of reckless and excessive force against U.S. vessels or aircraft that may engage in memorial activities or peaceful protest north of Cuba. On February 26, 2004, by Proclamation 7757, the scope of the national emergency was expanded in order to deny monetary and material support to the repressive Cuban government, which had taken a series of steps to destabilize relations with the United States, including threatening to abrogate the Migration Accords with the United States and to close the United States Interests Section. Further, Cuba’s most senior officials repeatedly asserted that the United States intended to invade Cuba, despite explicit denials from the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense that such action is planned. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national emergency with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the anchorage and movement of vessels set out in Proclamation 6867 as amended and expanded by Proclamation 7757.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 6, 2008.
And the point is?
More of the same correct?
The issue folks is we need substance over stylish statements. And we have seen none. If you are okay with that then thats okay for you. But I am not. What actual actions will take place that will make a change. Nada.
That is exactly the point Pototo. Notice the title of the post contains the word continued, as in no change. Cambio nada, and I am not okay with that. Not even close.
Sorry and thanks for taking an unpopular albeit correct stand.
When I saw Cuba- White House news release, I confess, a small part of me was hoping for some kind of action. Foolish me.
Maybe we’ll get lucky, maybe if McCain gets elected and castro inc. pisses him off he’ll do something. I think he’s a hot head who takes things personally, and there is the torture memory at the hands of Cuban agents he carries around. Hey, I’m just trying to be optimistic.
Bush is just full of b.s. And the community is comiendo bola. Like most of what else he has done with Cuba, he has not done anything to improve the situation there or here for that matter.
really now, Bush is full of shit? I Think you owe alot to our commander in chief he is the reason you’re not speaking Arabic and not praying to Allah on mats right now. The reason we have no child left behind, which was/is a damn good idea in the first place. The reason for our rising economy (yes I said rising, damn it!). If anything, I think Bush is the best thing that happened to us since his father. I think he did alot (he could’ve done more) to raise awareness for Cuba’s Human Rights ordeal and the ordeal with the exiled community. So in my humble opinion, no venga a joder con esa mierda.
Felix abre los ojos, vea la realidad chico – the economy sucks – mortgage crisis, energy crisis; the Iraq disaster; lack of health insurance for millions; no child left behind has turned out to be bunk; I can go on. And Cuba? I don’t believe Bush cares about the presos politicos – talks a good game and you buy in. He also hurt all our Cuban brothers and sisters with his cruel anti travel, anti family restrictions. He did nothing to change the situation in Cuba to make it better. I believe he made it worse.
Thankfully, we have not been attacked again, I will give you that. The next Commander in chief will be a woman who as a mother knows more about life and creation than the destruction of this president, or an african american who knows more and is the wisest about whether or not to go to war, or at least someone who put his ass on the line for this country in the Vietnam war, all far more qualified than the leadership we had for the last 8 years.
God help us if you’re right. There goes our dignity as a country and as a world power, if that happens. Hitlery Rotten CLITon will make sure the Feds keep collecting, while she raises your prices, and the socialism she’s got planned for this country, dios mio! why speak of that horror? and don’t get me started about troop withdrawal.
Remember Elian? Remember BTTR? all that shit happened under the Clintonian regime. tu abre los ojos y para comiendo la caca que te sirven.
Cubanit025, Please lets not disrepect the office of the president just because we are unhappy with the current occupant. I’m very disappointed in, and angry with Bush over many things, but I agree with Felix, President Bush has also done much that is good for this country. First off as he pointed out, we are not speaking arabic. That is a direct result not just of his domestic policy, but the fact that we took the battle to their territory. Iraq a mess? How do you think wars usually look? War is always messy, but loosing is not an option. Here is something else to think about, it is not the government’s job to provide health care for its citizens, and it’s the parents job to raise and educate their children. If you believe that bigger government at tax payers expense is the way to go, be prepared for economic disaster, that’s what you will get, that’s economic reality. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama has the experience to be president. Would you allow someone who’s never preformed surgery to operate on your child?
President Bush raising awareness of the political prisoners is a good thing, and I’m thankful for that, but that’s as far as it goes. No US president is going to do anything about Cuba, even if they personally care, because the US Cuba policy is to maintain stability. Is that acceptable, no, it stinks, it’s heartbreaking, and I think its short sighted, ignoring the threat Cuba poses to regional, if not international security. As far as travel restrictions, the castro regime is the one separating Cuban families, not the US. It’s the castros who create the conditions that drive people into exile, it is the castro’s who are responsible for the suffering.
Felix – our dignity and strength as a world power has gone into the toilet under this administration. Bush will leave us with the largest national debt in history, 100 dollar barrel of oil, 900 dollar ounce of gold price, the weakest dollar in modern times, shall I go on? The world thinks we were wrong about Iraq and we have alienated our allies with many of our policies. And there are the several hundred thousand casualities, American, Iraqi to prove that. It has financially cost us and our children and grandchildren more than you can imagine yet. BTW have you traveled outside of the U.S. into Europe or Latin America and tell someone you are an American? When I said that to someone, that I was from America, I was not received with flowers, but curses and questions on how did we elect our current President.
Yes, we have not been attacked since 9/11, but he never got that piece of excrement bin laden either.
U.S. Cuba policy is a failure. Punto-fin. And last I checked we put those travel restrictions on family visits and remittances, not the dictator. We are adding to the suffering and what is heartbreaking is that we did it on our own people. Cuban Americans hurting other Cuban Americans and Cubans. Who in their right mind could ever believe that denying people the right to see their family and support their family in as normal a way as possible would somehow help get rid of Castro? What kind of human beings or leaders are these? We do enough to keep this disgraceful policy going from our side. But that is what you get with the leadership that currently represents this community in South Florida. I will take my chances for any real change and support Martinez, Garcia, Obama, Clinton (though she is least preferable-20 plus years of Bushes and Clintons es un plato bastante fuerte)
Cuba a threat to us now? They do not have missiles or guns targeting us. Their ideas and economics can easily be challenged and dismissed. I will give any Cuban the choice between having free access to a computer and the internet or listening to more Castro speeches and propaganda. Which choice would win? The ideological socioeconomic battle can easily be waged and won.
I respectfully disagree with you about healthcare and education. Using your thinking, why don’t we just close down the Pentagon, the police, the fire department, and make everybody responsible for defending and protecting themselves? The three pillars of a functional society are health, education, and safety reflected in law and order. And actually health is most important of the three. Without your health nothing else becomes possible. Right now millions have mierda for health care, our schools are not the best they could be, kids have to mortgage their future to get a college education – forget about them getting mortgage to own a home. This is the current situation.
And you are worried about Clinton or Obama? Change is coming thankfully. I do not believe McCain will win in part because he clearly supports the war and continuing the war. America does not support the Iraq war or continuing this war. Estamos harto de guerra.
Our situation in the nation is exactly as you describe your beliefs – we are a nation that does not provide health care for all it citizens, or education for all its citizens, though we have one kick ass armed forces but that is even under enormous stress from the Iraq disaster. How are we doing as country and a society? I think our priorities are all distorted.
Clinton, Obama not experienced to be President? Hah. After the example shown by the present occupant, either would be a dramatic improvement. I feel for W as he will go into retirement and wonder and reflect on just what exactly did he accomplish over eight years. What a mess he is leaving us and his successor.
Cubanito, First I believe you are responding to my comment, not Felix’s. Our differing opinions mirror the substantive differences between the conservatives and liberals in our country. You believe that people need a nanny state, a big government as a solution to social problems. I believe, as did our Founding Fathers, that government should stay out of the way, and that free enterprising Americans are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Not only that, I believe that big government “mandatory” programs are an infringement of my rights.
You believe that the U.S. should base its foreign policy on international public opinion, and “international” law rather than a foreign policy that protects U.S. sovereignty.
As for Cuba, do you believe that engagement with the regime will somehow promote democracy on the island? All evidence says that it will not.
There is a difference between public and private services, and further distinction between national, state and local. Healthcare is ultimately individual responsibility. Now that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be some assistance for the truly poor, but that is where it gets tricky. If someone is able to afford multiple autos, a large screen TV, endless toys for their kids, etc. then they have the means to provide for their own healthcare.
Seriously, what emergency?