[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CLINTON'S CUBA DECISION IS DOUBLETALK, CHARADE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, early this afternoon President Clinton 
turned his back on the people of Cuba with an announcement which 
revealed that he had decided to try to doubletalk his way into 
appearing to be taking a tough stand against Fidel Castro.
  But when one examines this charade, Mr. President, Mr. Clinton had in 
fact delayed the enforcement of the Libertad Act which Congress passed 
and the President immediately signed into law earlier this year when it 
would have been politically disastrous for him not to do so.
  The Associated Press reported, correctly, that today's decision by 
the President could help Clinton to buy time knowing that his refusal 
to impose sanctions on Castro would risk losing Cuban-American votes in 
Florida and New Jersey, two key States in Mr. Clinton's reelection bid.
  So, Mr. President, once again Mr. Clinton has taken a firm stand on 
both sides of an important issue. While today's announcement contains 
tough anti-Castro rhetoric, it is all talk and no substance. The truth 
is, Mr. Clinton has capitulated to Fidel Castro and his foreign 
business collaborators, who not only condone Castro's cruel 
dictatorship, but want to help it flourish.
  But the President's problem is not going away. The Libertad Act is 
Clinton-proof. The President could not muster the courage to implement 
title III today, but the threat of lawsuits still hangs over the necks 
of Castro's business partners like the blade of a guillotine. Even 
before today's decision, businesses were fleeing Cuba because of the 
threat of such lawsuits. This will continue, and the law will not be 
mitigated by the President's lack of courage.
  At a time like this, Mr. President, one is obliged to wonder: Is 
there no Teddy Roosevelt, no Winston Churchill ready to stand up for 
freedom? There was none on Pennsylvania Avenue today.

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