Condoleeza Rice Slips, Admits Cuba Has Elections Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit [Check out this incongruency from Condi Rice, in the PBS newshour transcripts for May 13: restraint on Israeli 'internal politics,' and not a peep about the vote against any Palestinian state, ever, or about meddling in *Cuban* internal affairs. Oddly, though, she slipped up and admitted that there are elections in Cuba and that there is one scheduled for next fall.--Peter Bell] First, Israel: RAY SUAREZ: Let's move quickly to the Middle East. The Likud Party passed a resolution over the weekend that says "No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River." Does that make everybody's job more complicated now? CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Well, we will leave the internal politics of Israel to the Israelis and to Prime Minister Sharon. I will note that Prime Minister Sharon said that he will do what he believes is right for Israel. He will not be driven by politics. Our view is quite clear. There is only one way to bring peace ultimately to the region and that is to have two states: Israel and Palestine living side by side in a secure environment. [Many in the Israeli right agree, and say that Jordan needs to have a "vacancy" sign hung on it with F-16s.] [....] RAY SUAREZ: Today the unusual spectacle of a Cuban band playing the Star Spangled Banner was played out on the runway of Jose Marti Airport in Havana. What is the status of the Carter trip to Cuba? CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Well, I myself have talked with President Carter prior to his trip. He has been a long time fighter for human rights. And it is our expectation that he will use this opportunity to talk about human rights in Cuba, to do it in a way that perhaps gives some succor and some sense of being connected to the United States to all of those people who are caught in the tyranny of Fidel Castro's regime. This is a regime that is murderous on its political prisoners, that does not allow political opposition; that has parliamentary elections coming up in the fall that really ought to be elections that are free and fair and internationally observable and recognizable. [Back to front: Cuba will be having elections. Oh, shit, I let that slip out, so let me amplify: ought to be having elections we can funnel money into, like they used to. Gee, wonder if Ray will ask me about what I'm talking about when I claim that Castro's 'murderous' to his political prisoners, given that the guy they cut loose early last week bragged about putting on weight in jail? Nah, Ray's a cream puff. Hm. better blather nicely about Carter, even if he did step on Bolton's shoe today. It's okay - who could blame us for not sharing intel with the likes of Jimmy "Red" Carter? And besides, we can depend on him for some good mealymouthing. Yark. You can see the whole interview at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june02/rice_5-13.html. Apparently rather than report on Cuba, they did the Rice interview, which was about anything that she wanted to discuss, and recycled an old piece from last summer. --PB] ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytact-05.14.02-02:05:27-27853