[Peace-discuss] Fwd:[ANSWER]: Statement supporting Cuba against Bush's attac

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STATEMENT SUPPORTING CUBA AGAINST BUSH'S ATTACKS - Initiated by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition -

We invite you to sign this statement in solidarity with 
the people of Cuba. To add your name, go to 
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/cuba/sign.html

STOP BUSH'S NEW AGGRESSION AGAINST CUBA

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, view 
with great concern the intensifying campaign of subversion  and aggression against Cuba, directed by the U.S. 
government.

We in the U.S. progressive and anti-war movement recognize  our obligation to expose and organize against the Bush 
administration's plans to overthrow the government of  Cuba. Under the rubric of the "war against terrorism" the  Bush administration has aggressively embarked on a 
campaign to carry out the overturn of governments that  seek to maintain independent control over their own land  and resources. At stake in Cuba are the considerable 
social and economic gains of the people made in spite of 
overwhelming opposition from the government representing  the most powerful country in the world.

On April 7, James Cason, chief of the U.S. Interests 
Section in Havana and the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, 
declared, "all of our allies agree that their policy goal 
in Cuba is, ultimately, the same as ours: the rapid and 
peaceful transition to a democratic government 
characterized by strong support for human rights and an  open market economy." He stated on the same day, "the  Administration's top priority is to promote a rapid, 
peaceful transition."

Coming from a U.S. government representative, the meaning  is clear: "transition" translates to overthrow.

In the wake of the war on Iraq, there is no corner of the  world that is safe today from U.S. aggression. This is 
especially the case for Cuba, part of whose national 
territory remains under U.S. military occupation. U.S. 
diplomats have warned Cuba, along with Iran, Syria and 
North Korea, to "learn the lessons of Iraq."

Over the past 43 years Cuba has suffered the loss of 3,478  of its citizens from numerous acts of terrorism, 
invasions, assassinations, assassination attempts, 
biological warfare and blockade. The government of one  country has perpetrated these illegal acts against Cuba:  the government of the United States.

The United States government has imposed an economic and  political blockade on the island nation for more than 40 
years, causing $70 billion damage to Cuba's economy, and  inflicting unnecessary suffering on the most vulnerable in  Cuban society. The U.S. military has continued to maintain  and expand its naval base at Guantanamo Bay, a legacy of  colonialism. Today, hundreds of people -- including 
children under the age of 16 years -- are being imprisoned  and interrogated by the U.S. at Guantanamo with no 
recourse whatsoever to due process.

Recently, a coordinated campaign of aggressions and 
foreign subversion against Cuba has been revealed, 
indicating the U.S. may be setting the stage for a renewed  confrontation with Cuba.

The trial of the 75 Cuban individuals arrested in March 
uncovered the directing role of the U.S. Interests Section  in guiding, financing, and organizing subversive actions 
against the Cuban government. The U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID) has funneled some $20  million in support to anti-government organizations in 
Cuba as a part of this counter-revolutionary campaign. 
After the popular revolution that overthrew the 
U.S.-backed dictatorship of Batista in 1959, the U.S. 
government has resorted to invasion, nuclear threats, 
biological and chemical attacks, assassination attempts 
a