Cuba a Part of "Axis of Evil?" Blame Florida Politics

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

NY Newsday - May 10, 2002

EDITORIAL;

Cuba a Part of "Axis of Evil?"
Blame Florida Politics  

President George W. Bush's declaration of an "axis of evil," whatever
its political merits, has already served its purpose by pointing an
accusatory finger at three terrorism sponsors, Iraq, Iran and North
Korea.  There is no need to stretch that axis beyond all credibility
by adding Cuba, Libya and Syria - especially Cuba.

That preposterous suggestion came from John Bolton, a hawkish
undersecretary of state, in a recent speech at the Heritage
Foundation. Even if there were some linkage between the Islamic
members of the axis and Syria and Libya, Cuba's inclusion makes no
sense - unless one looks north, to South Florida and its upcoming
election.

The Bush family already owes a heavy electoral debt to anti-Castro
Cubans in Florida who may well have tipped the state's electoral
balance in the president's favor. Now his brother needs their support
to stay in the state house.

That's not a good reason for extending to Havana membership in the
axis of evil. The reason cited by Bolton is that Cuba might be
developing biological weapons for use against the United States. But
he gave no credible evidence of that. Yes, he did cite something
everyone knows: Havana has made huge investments in biotechnology,
especially genetic research and bioengineering, which has given Cuba
the most sophisticated biomedical resources in Latin America. So
what?

Ah, but that's where Bolton puts in the clincher - and stretches
credibility to the breaking point. He quotes Fidel Castro's warning
that if the U.S. "dragon" tries to gobble up the Cuban "lamb," the
U.S. would find its meal "poisoned." That could only
mean...biological weapons! But in his hour-long speeches, Castro is
given to hyperbole even more florid than phrases like ..."axis of
evil."

Bolton, of course, was preaching to the right-wing choir in his
speech to the Heritage Foundation, but words have consequences. His
boss, Secretary of State Colin Powell, ought to tell him to cool his
rhetorical jets.

Copyright 2002 Newsday, Inc.

 
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