U.S. prepares for showdown in Cuba

At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States had no independent information about Castro's health. "This is a pretty closed decision-making circle and it's very opaque as to what is actually going on," he said.

For now, Bush administration officials and members of Congress were focused on offering dissidents cash for fighting for democratic change.

Legislation sponsored by Nelson, fellow Floridian Mel Martinez, Majority Leader Bill Frist and others would authorize as much as $80 million over two years — and pay half of that almost immediately — to dissidents and nongovernmental organizations on the island.


With a snap of the fingers, our brave leaders have raised 80 million dollars with the express purpose of meddling in the affairs of a neighboring soverign state.

The last thing this world needs right now is another batch of killings. Would it help the masses of Cubans to unleash war upon their island, in a deluded attempt at coup d'etat? (revolutions come from the grassroots, by definition) Haven't we just seen in Iraq what happens when you try to impose a revolution by cutting off the head of the government. Do we really want chaos and violence that close to our border?

They can find 80 million for foreign interference, yet our schools remain unfunded, and our streets are full of potholes. Scientific research that could create new products, open new markets, and create good solid jobs is at the mercy of a haphazard network of state, local and private largess.

What in the world do they think they're doing, moving little toy soldiers around a map?



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