Cognitive Dissonance
U.S. Says It Is Prepared for Transition in Cuba
By ANTHONY DePALMA
New York Times
August 2, 2006
After waiting nearly half a century for Fidel Castro to relinquish power, Washington is warily monitoring the provisional transition in Havana, confident it has plans in place to assist pro-democracy groups in Cuba and to head off any mass exodus from the island.
As the 10th administration to square off against Mr. Castro, the Bush administration has made no secret of its contempt for the Cuban leader, establishing the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba in 2003 and then ratcheting up the pressure last year by creating the Office of Cuban Transition within the State Department. ...
A plan announced by the State Department two weeks ago provides $80 million over two years to help with a post-Castro transition. The United States would also send special monitors and advisers to Cuba in the weeks after a full transition began. ...
Officials aligned with Raúl Castro were appointed to the national programs of health and education. Carlos Lage Dávila, a leading member of Fidel Castro’s government, will head the national energy program, which will keep him in close contact with Venezuela, Cuba’s closest ally, and its leader, Hugo Chávez.
It was Venezuela that issued an update yesterday afternoon on Mr. Castro’s health, saying he was “progressing positively.”
The Bush administration said it viewed attempts by Venezuela or other countries to influence the transition in Cuba as unwarranted intervention. “The president is worried about people in the neighborhood who seek to destabilize neighbors using economic or other means,” Mr. Snow said. ...
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I guess attempts by the U.S. to influence the transition in Cuba using economic or other means is considered to be warranted intervention. No reasons are given.
By ANTHONY DePALMA
New York Times
August 2, 2006
After waiting nearly half a century for Fidel Castro to relinquish power, Washington is warily monitoring the provisional transition in Havana, confident it has plans in place to assist pro-democracy groups in Cuba and to head off any mass exodus from the island.
As the 10th administration to square off against Mr. Castro, the Bush administration has made no secret of its contempt for the Cuban leader, establishing the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba in 2003 and then ratcheting up the pressure last year by creating the Office of Cuban Transition within the State Department. ...
A plan announced by the State Department two weeks ago provides $80 million over two years to help with a post-Castro transition. The United States would also send special monitors and advisers to Cuba in the weeks after a full transition began. ...
Officials aligned with Raúl Castro were appointed to the national programs of health and education. Carlos Lage Dávila, a leading member of Fidel Castro’s government, will head the national energy program, which will keep him in close contact with Venezuela, Cuba’s closest ally, and its leader, Hugo Chávez.
It was Venezuela that issued an update yesterday afternoon on Mr. Castro’s health, saying he was “progressing positively.”
The Bush administration said it viewed attempts by Venezuela or other countries to influence the transition in Cuba as unwarranted intervention. “The president is worried about people in the neighborhood who seek to destabilize neighbors using economic or other means,” Mr. Snow said. ...
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I guess attempts by the U.S. to influence the transition in Cuba using economic or other means is considered to be warranted intervention. No reasons are given.