Bush Showered with Criticism

By Roberto Perez Betancourt

Havana, September 16 (AIN) Criticism on the warmongering and domestic policies of George W. Bush and his abnormal behavior are on the rise inside and outside the United States, said panelists on "The Round Table" Program Thursday.

Analysts on the live program pointed out that the death toll of US GIs in Iraq has reached 1 017, while many others have been wounded. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that neither the occupying forces nor the Washington-imposed puppet regime may quail the resistance, they noted.

Meanwhile, the remarks by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, widely spread by international media outlets were also stressed. In an interview with the BBC, Annan admitted that Washington’s decision to launch a war against Iraq was illegal, since it never had the approval of the Security Council.

Resorting to fabrications, as it has been widely demonstrated, in 2003 the Bush Administration decided to arbitrarily launch the war on Iraq, while it was fully aware that it would never have an official approval from the Security Council because it violated the U.N. Charter.

During the program it was stated that half of the American soldiers who have died in Iraq were younger than 25 years of age, 50 per cent of them were married and they have left 389 orphans. It is estimated that some 30 thousand Iraqis have died in the war.

The criticism against the Administration has also gained momentum in the Senate. Many legislators are concerned with the handling of the war budget, which includes 18 billion for a supposed reconstruction of Iraq, of which 3.4 are being deviated for internal security spending.

The recent announcement by New Zealand that it will soon withdraw its troops from Iraq was also stressed on the program.

According to the analysts, three years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the strategy followed by Bush Administration has only managed to discredit the United States and radicalize the Islamic world.

In Afghanistan, insecurity prevails with daily fatal incidents involving troops, businessmen and officials. Political instability goes on, and according to observers, the elections slated for next October 9, may be suspended for a third time.

The reform underway in the intelligence community in Washington D.C. was also analyzed on "The Round Table". The reorganization foresees the subordination of 12 espionage agencies to a single command.

The purpose of this overhaul would be to mend intelligence flaws regarding terrorism, the war on Iraq, the recruiting of agents and the correction of what has been described as "technological fragility"

The expiration in the United States this week of a decade long ban on the sales of 19 types of semi automatic assault weapons was also mentioned. In spite of the fact that 68 % of Americans favored its renewal, President Bush never pushed Congress for a vote

It is estimated that over 300 million of those lethal weapons are on the hands of US citizens. With those weapons so widely spread, just in the year 2000, 16 thousand 200 persons were killed in the United States.

Commenting on this, presidential candidate John Kerry said President Bush was facilitating terrorists their work.

In recent days, President Bush has been the target of more criticism for his record in the armed services, while over 25 books published make reference to behavioral problems such as drug addiction.

The latest opinion polls point that Kerry is significantly bridging the 11 point gap reported at the end of the Republican Convention

New Miami Protest over Washington’s Anti-Cuba Measures

Havana, Sept 17 (AIN) The Miami-based Women’s Association for the Defense of the Family has called a demonstration Saturday to protest the new package of anti-Cuba measures recently adopted by President Bush.

The US measures, aimed at toppling the Cuban Revolution, include travel limitations for Cuban Americans who want to visit their relatives on the island to only once in every three years. Also included are the cut off in remittances, other actions aimed at encouraging internal subversion, as well as TV broadcasts from US aircraft.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place at the Miami Commercial Center, where there is an office for President Bush’s electoral campaign for next November presidential vote.

Protest organizers say they will voice their rejection of the new measures, especially the travel ban on Cuban Americans from seeing and helping their relatives, which is a denial of family rights.

Since President Bush adopted the anti-Cuba package of measures last June 30^{th, Miami has been the scene of several demonstrations, while many
personalities from around the world have also condemned the new US aggression against the
island.}

Vice President of Congo Condemns US Blockade of Cuba

Havana, Sept 17 (AIN) The Vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yerodia Abdoulaye, condemned Washington’s unjust and illegal measures aimed at toppling the Cuban Revolution.

During a meeting with the Cuban ambassador to the capital, Kinshasa, Hector Igaza, the Congolese Vice-President reiterated his admiration for President Fidel Castro and underscored the actions taken by the Cuban government to avoid casualties during the recent passage of hurricane Ivan through western Cuba.

Abdoulaye said that the damage inflicted on Cuba by the natural phenomenon adds to hardships caused by Washington’s over 45 year commercial, financial and economic blockade of the island. He emphasized that he was sure that Cubans will be able to counter the effects of the hurricane with their usual human sensitivity, solidarity and intelligence.

The Congolese top government figure reiterated his nation’s solidarity with Cuba and described the preventive measures adopted by the Cuban government to protect the population from hurricane Ivan as another proof of their protection of human rights.

The Congolese Vice-President said the natural phenomenon, which claimed many lives and caused huge destruction in the Caribbean area, is the result of climatic changes which are destroying the environment caused by irresponsible behavior adopted by the superpowers.

Cuban Government Minister Meets Vietnamese Prime Minister

Havana, Sept 17 (AIN) Prime Minister of Vietnam, Phan Van Khai, met Friday with visiting Cuban Government Minister Ricardo Cabrisas, who is co-presiding over the 22nd Session of the Vietnam-Cuba joint inter-governmental Commission in Hanoi.

During his talks with Van Khai, Cabrisas was accompanied by Cuban ambassador to Hanoi Jesus Aise Sotolongo and other Cuban officials taking part in the joint commission session.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister sent greetings to President Fidel Castro and the rest of Cuban government officials, recalling his visit to Havana in 2002.

The Premier of Viet Nam expressed concern over the damage inflicted on the island by hurricanes Charley and Ivan and he said he was sure that the Cuban people would overcome all difficulties.

Meanwhile, the Cuban government minister stressed the joint commission results, as both parties were able to identify current and future bilateral opportunities for cooperation.

Ricardo Cabrisas observed that some had been delayed, but they were working to speed them up to bring economic relations up to the level of the political relations currently shared by Vietanam and Cuba.

Prior to his talks with Prime Minister Van Khai, Cabrisas and his delegation met with Vietnamese Communist Party Political bureau member Truong Tan Sang, the head of the Economic Division of Communist Party Central Committee.

The Cuban delegation have now left for meetings in Pyong Yang, North Korea.