[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 124 (Thursday, August 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  UNITED STATES POLICY REGARDING CUBA

  Mr. WALLOP. Mr. President, the administration's recently changed Cuba 
policy is morally unsustainable and repugnant. This is the first time 
in the history of the United States that we have criminalized those 
seeking freedom from a Communist dictatorship. America has made virtual 
prisoners of war out of those fleeing Communist oppression.
  Instead of doing everything possible to put pressure on Castro, we 
have sought to punish those fleeing from his tyranny. There has been an 
effective effort to interdict and/or impede any attempt to support and 
sustain internal opposition to Castro's regime. Instead of doing 
everything possible to work with the Cuban resistance and to try to 
expedite the fall of the Castro regime, the administration eases his 
burden by imprisoning his opposition.
  How ironic indeed that this administration talks about invading Haiti 
to restore democracy but in the case of Cuba has no apparent interest 
in even putting pressure on Castro. Instead of putting pressure on 
Castro, the Clinton policy is a response to pressure by Castro. The 
administration is responding just as Castro wants.
  We are transforming the Navy base at Guantanamo Bay from a military 
installation into a Cuban prison camp for those fleeing oppression. And 
who will pay the bill for this misguided policy? The Defense budget of 
course. And this, at the same time that the Deputy Secretary of Defense 
is telling the military services to cancel or delay their last 
remaining major modernization programs.
  I must seriously question the moral and strategic priorities that 
motivate such a policy, and call upon the President to rethink 
America's abandoned commitment to freedom.

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