Bush: The Castro brothers care only about themselves

Seated in a table surrounded by 12 Cuban American leaders at Havana Harry's in Coral Gables, President Bush laid down the line on Cuba.

"Our government has been very clear about our strategy," he said. "We will change the embargo only when the government of Cuba let's the people of Cuba express themselves freely."

He also mentioned his administration's offer to aid Cuba in reconstruction after Hurricane Ike, an offer the Cuban government rejected - showing the world, Bush said, that "the Castro brothers care only about themselves."

Several groups have asked the administration to temporarily lift the travel ban on Cuba to allow family members to travel to the island.

Bush's full remarks, courtesy of the White House:

"I have been privileged to know many around this table for nearly eight years as I've been President.  I got to know them when I was campaigning for President. My little brother introduced me to these Cuban Americans with whom I work with one goal in mind, and that is the freedom of Cuba. 

"The policies we have in place are all aimed at giving the people in Cuba a chance to worship freely and to speak freely and to go in the public square and express themselves without fear of repression. And so I want to thank you all for your friendship during these years, and my encouragement is, of course, to continue to stand strong for the dignity of the people of Cuba.

"You know, our government has been very clear about our strategy, and that is, is that we will change the embargo strategy only when the government of Cuba lets the people of Cuba express themselves freely. We will change our policy when the people running Cuba free people of conscience from the prisons. But until then we won't change, because our message is to the Cuban people, you're being repressed by a handful of elites that are holding back your great potential. And we will not put policies in place that allow them to benefit personally at the expense of the Cuban people.

"You know, recently Ike hit Cuba very hard and all Americans, whether they be Cuban Americans or otherwise, grieve deeply about the damage done to the average Cuban citizen. And so my government, under the leadership of Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, offered aid from the United States to the Cuban people. But that aid was rejected by the Castros, which should tell the people of Cuba and the people around the world that the Castro people are only interested in themselves and their power, and not to the benefit and welfare of the Cuban people.

"It's so sad that right off the shores of our great, you know, nation that believes in human rights and human dignity exists this dungeon. But someday Cuba will be free. Someday the people who are there will realize the blessing of freedom. And I want to thank the people around this table for working to see that day come. Thank you very much."

Comments

[FPToledo]

Yikes, they live next door to me. I can see Havana from little Havana; maybe I should be the VP candidate; I can cross-dress, too (just kidding). WOW, what about real issues, like illegal immigration, bad mortgages, medicare fraud; bad football teams, etc. GOD HELP US! GOD SAVE THE USA!