Politics > Politics-USA > Not only has Bush neglected Latin America, he has worked to destablize it.
| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Sogobia" |
| Date: |
27 Jun 2004 04:37:20 PM |
| Object: |
Not only has Bush neglected Latin America, he has worked to destablize it. |
Posted 6/26/2004
Kerry: Bush has neglected Latin America
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrat John Kerry, seeking votes from Hispanics, told
Latino officials Saturday that President Bush has neglected Latin America
and that he would do better.
Kerry said that as president, he would assemble leaders in the Western
Hemisphere in a group intended to defend democracy and the rule of law.
"I will be a president of the United States who knows where Latin America is
and knows that we owe it respect," the Massachusetts senator told the
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. (Related
story: Hispanics feel candidates aren't talking about their issues)
Kerry criticized Bush for failing to intervene when "mob violence" drove
leaders from office in Bolivia and Argentina, and for encouraging Haiti's
former president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to flee during a deadly uprising.
Kerry also said that unlike Bush did in Venezuela, "We will not welcome a
government named by a military junta."
"Strong democratic states with transparent rules and a broad respect for the
rule of law are essential to alleviating poverty and inequality in the
region," Kerry said. "As president, I will strongly support democratic
institutions, assist democracy where it is troubled and promote democracy in
Cuba."
Kerry said he would attempt to reduce terrorist threats in the region by
coordinating customs, immigration and law enforcement among the countries.
He also said he would renegotiate the Central American Free Trade Agreement
signed by the Bush administration and include better protections for workers
and the environment.
Kerry told the crowd of more than 400 that his domestic agenda would help
Hispanic families in the United States. He said one in three Hispanics in
the United States lacks basic health care and that unemployment among
Hispanic has grown by 30% during the Bush administration.
Kerry noted that he married an immigrant and he offered greetings to his
audience in Spanish, including a translation of his campaign motto to "Let
America Be America Again."
Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, grew up in the African nation of
Mozambique.
Five House Republicans who are Hispanic said in a statement distributed by
the Bush campaign that Kerry was attacking the president to compensate for
his inability to connect with Hispanic voters.
"John Kerry has done little to nothing for Latinos during his Senate career
and his campaign is doing little to court Latino voters on the campaign
trail," the lawmakers said.
The statement was signed by Reps. Henry Bonilla of Texas, Devin Nunes of
California, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario
Diaz-Balart of Florida.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-26-kerry-latinos_x.htm
--
The U.S. restored formal relations with Iraq in November 1984, but the U.S.
had begun, several years earlier, to provide it with intelligence and
military support (in secret and contrary to this country's official
neutrality) in accordance with policy directives from President Ronald
Reagan. These were prepared pursuant to his March 1982 National Security
Study Memorandum (NSSM 4-82) asking for a review of U.S. policy toward the
Middle East.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/
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