Bush's Latin America Adviser to Leave (Reich)

[Snazzy]

Bush's Latin America Adviser to Leave

May 4, 4:58 PM (ET)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Otto Reich, White House special envoy for Latin America, said Tuesday he will leave to create his own consulting firm.

Reich told reporters he also plans to work on President Bush's re-election campaign.

Reich was appointed special envoy in 2003 after failing to receive Senate confirmation for his nomination as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Senators opposed to his nomination prevented the Foreign Relations Committee from holding a confirmation hearing.

....

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040504/D82C07PO0.html

(did I miss a new scandal--this guy seemed to be getting his Regan-era wish list in messing with Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, etc.?)

[peacetalksforall]

1. More proof that we're going to take Cuba soon...

Reich will be the new Ambassador.

He'd be Governor, but we can break more laws if Cuba is not a state of the U.S. and subject to the rule of law.

Grand Cayman and Bermuda and all the other offshore banking islands better prepare - Cuba will be the new banking haven - just as Miami was in the old days of drug deals and laundering.

No one can imagine the wealth of Lincoln Diaz-Belart types and all the others when this blows.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Then it's good news, and bad news!

It's WONDERFUL if he's just going a-way, and not a moment too soon.



If you're tuned in to something in the works, however, this would be absolutely tragedy in the deepest sense. Cubans have been working hard for 45 years to bring the entire country ahead to a better standard of living, rather than the wildly unbalanced, brutal, violent, utterly corrupt, racist conditions that prevailed there previously which left most of the population totally dependent upon the seasonal sugar cane work, with unemployment during the off season, and NO niceities like indoor plumbing, electricity, basic food, shelter, education, and health available for them.

They are NOT going to want this @$$#### and his porky buds swaggering in from the States and setting up court. Cubans read a lot. They know who he is. He would not be welcome there.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Why I Think Reich Is Leaving

I think Otto Reich might be packing up because he might have enough sense to know which way the US political winds are blowing and, barring massive vote fraud, they aren't blowing in Dubya's direction. I shouldn't be in the least bit surprised if Reich is going to use the interval between his DC departure and Inauguration Day to pick out comfy digs in a country without extradition treaties with either the US, Venezuela, or Cuba. Assuming that the American electorate doesn't allow itself to massively scammed yet again, Reich might be trying to get the best roost-in-exile ahead of the rest of the Runnin' Dubya Posse.

[MGKrebs]

3. That's right, keep your eyes on that guy.

He won't be far from some nasty business that needs to be taken care of.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Interesting material pointing out Congress feels differently!

Posted on Tue, May. 04, 2004

Bush administration expected to address democratization of Cuba

BY RAFAEL LORENTE

South Florida Sun-Sentinel


(snip) Otto Reich, a member of the commission who recently resigned his post at the president's National Security Council, refused to comment on the contents. But Reich said the report will include actions the U.S. government could take to support a new Cuban government only if that government asked for the help.

Congressional critics of the administration's Cuba policy sent a letter to the White House last week urging changes in policy that move in the opposite direction of many of the recommendations expected in the Cuba commission report. The letter, signed by Republicans and Democrats in the House, called for ending the travel ban to Cuba, allowing unlimited remittances and increasing contacts between the two countries.

"Opening America's doors to Cuba - and challenging Cuba to open its doors to the world - will be an act of strength and magnanimity, an expression of confidence in the power of the great ideas that animate our country and are reflected in our people wherever they go," the letter said.

Brian Alexander, a consultant on Cuba issues with the Giraldilla Consulting Group, said the White House would find it tough to please its Cuban-American constituency in South Florida because the expectations are so high.

"This over-promising on Cuba has put the administration in a tight spot," he said.

---
(snip/)

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/8589024.htm

[peacetalksforall]

6. Assinine....

Quote
""Opening America's doors to Cuba - and challenging Cuba to open its doors to the world - will be an act of strength and magnanimity, an expression of confidence in the power of the great ideas that animate our country and are reflected in our people wherever they go," the letter said."

The whole world is already doing business with Cuba - that is, the whole world that doesn't quite like the U.S. dictating their policy and relationship with Cuba (as in embrace our embargo or we'll withdraw your payola).

We're the only ones who want to isolate Cuba. Even the Pope asked us to reconsider.

The statement above is bull.

[Mika]

8. It is bullsh*t

HC, you are correct. Its only in the American mind that Cuba is isolated in any way (except for the US's embargo).


All of this is puffery to get the extremist exile campaign dollars.

They will not invade Cuba. A VAST majority of Miamicubans do not want an assault on their families homes there.


Please consider these points

The continued stand off with Cuba has more campaign dollar potential for BOTH sides of the issue in the USA.

No Castro = no anti Castro campaign platform (which is primary in Fla)

No embargo = no pro trade campaign dollars.

It works for both sides, and no political tactitions and lobbyists really want this cash cow to end.


This is a 40+ year old pattern of playing the heartstrings of the various pro and anti Cuba factions. Nothing will really be done as far as invading Cuba militarily goes. Seriously.

[UTUSN]

7. Neh, the Rats (REICH, PERLE) Are Just Being Hid Till Election's Over n/t

[Judi Lynn]

9. Critics See Bush Errors on Cuba Policy

11:04 PM PDT, May 4, 2004
Critics See Bush Errors on Cuba Policy


By GEORGE GEDDA
WASHINGTON — President Bush is positioning himself to curry favor with conservative constituents who believe his Cuba policy, for all of the anti-Castro rhetoric, hasn't added up to much.

No one doubts that Bush has tried to make life more difficult for the Cuban leader. If not for Bush's veto threats, Congress probably would have ended a ban on recreational travel to Cuba by Americans.

Indeed, Bush has moved the policy in the opposite direction, closing a loophole four months ago that many Americans were using in violation of the travel prohibition.

Bush has decried the "chokehold" that Castro maintains on the island, but some of Bush's strongest supporters among Cuban-Americans say his actions have not gone far enough.
(snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/whitehouse/wire/sns-ap-going-after-castro,1,4201380.story?coll=sns-ap-whitehouse-headlines
(Free registration required)

[Bandit]

10. Things heating up a little too much I think

All this torture stuff is Reich's MO. He see's the handwriting on the wall and is like any other rat that knows the ship is sinking.