Aznar condemns Spain's foreign ties (with Venezuela & Cuba)

[Rose Siding]

Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar said Wednesday that his country's government was practicing ''irresponsible'' foreign policy, citing the coziness Spain is fostering with Cuba and Venezuela.

Aznar said that under his administration, Spain stood proudly with the two strongest democracies in the world, the United States and Great Britain. And now, he said, Spain stands with Cuba and Venezuela, countries he called bedfellows in exporting trouble throughout Latin America.

Aznar made his statements in a meeting with The Herald's editorial board Wednesday morning.
...
He said he finds the close alliance between Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez troubling because they seem to be causing problems in Latin American countries such as Colombia and Bolivia. He mentioned Chavez's use of oil money to cause the problems, but did not elaborate on that statement.

He said Spain and the European Union should not forge closer ties to Cuba because only Cuba will benefit, and nothing will change while Castro is in power.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11155546.htm

[oneighty]

1. Causing problems?

Fighting for democracy and civil rights and jobs for their citizens is indeed causing problems for the aggressive policies of United States Imperialists.

180

[TlalocW]

2. Aznar needs to read some history books

The USA has done nothing but export trouble to Latin America.

TlalocW

[Rose Siding]

3. Why was Anzar mtg with the Herald's ed board today?

That seems weird to me.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Gone but not forgotten, if he has anything to say about it!

Apparently he misses the limelight! Show Biz! Also the warmth and companionship of his good right-wing supporters.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. It's a good thing that they ousted that Terrorist last year.

[ret5hd]

6. maybe that attitude is why your title includes the word "former".

[Tempest]

7. Anzar who?

Isn't he the guy who lied to the people about the Madrid bombing and was thrown out on his ass for lying?

Does he really think anyone gives a rat's ass what he has to say?



>>He said he finds the close alliance between Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez troubling because they seem to be causing problems in Latin American countries such as Colombia and Bolivia.<<

Funny, Chavez is forging closer ties with Colombia and Bolivia, going as far as creating a new Latin American economic union with them.

[susu369]

11. Well, susu finds the close alliance between bu$h and Blair and Aznar

troubling because they seem to be causing problems everywhere.

[Say_What]

13. Exactly!!

and the US Sheeple fall for the bullshit. Pathetic.

[LynnTheDem]

8. USA ranked #13, UK ranked #10 in world democracies.

And Aznar ranked #Zero. The Spanish people have spoken.

[Judi Lynn]

9. He rails on against Cuba and Venezuela from the ONLY place in the States

where anyone would even listen to him: the refuge of right-wing extremists from BOTH countries, the town which was, at one time, designated "Terror Capitol of the United States" by the FBI, due to a horrendous wave of Cuban "exile" bombings, murders, etc. Smoooooth.

[Frederik]

10. So Aznar's

coziness with the neo-clown war machine wasn't irresponsible?

Zapatero should be commended for his foreign policy.

[Say_What]

12. Same RW Spin from the Oligarchs Daily --Aznar is a former Bush LapDog

and simply spinning off the US LIES that we read everyday in the press. So what else is new?

That upcoming May assembly to *promote civil society* with US-funded *dissidents* in Cuba is nothing more than ongoing attempts of Tio Sam to overthrow the Cuban government. Figures for 2005 are at approximately $4.5 MILLION to fund the dissidents. Do that shit in this country and they fine your ass and throw you in jail for 10 years. So f*ck'n hypocritical it defies imagination.

<clips>

USAID Authorizes Additional $1 Million for Cuba Transition Project

...The newly authorized funding is not a new grant; it is an amendment to an existing cooperative agreement between USAID and the University of Miami. The amendment brings the total authorized amount to $3,045,000. To date, $500,000 of the $1 million award has been obligated and made available to the University of Miami. The remaining $500,000 has yet to be obligated.

http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2005/pr050311.html

---

The USAID Program: To support a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba, USAID focuses on development of civil society through information dissemination. The objective is to increase the flow of accurate information on democracy, human rights, and free enterprise to, from, and within Cuba, as authorized by the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Cuban Liberty and Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996. Authorized assistance includes informational material, assistance to victims of political repression and their families, support for democratic and human rights groups in Cuba, and support for visits to Cuba by independent international human rights monitors.

USAID requests funds under the formulated objective, “Civil Society Developed through Information Dissemination,” as described in the Data Sheet below. The program provides grant support to U.S. universities and nongovernmental organizations to further achievement of this objective. The program also encourages grantees to undertake humanitarian, information-sharing, and civil society-building activities in Cuba with private funds, subject to applicable U.S. Treasury and Commerce Department regulations. Over the past seven years, USAID has provided $30 million to 25 U.S. universities and nongovernmental organizations for this purpose.

Other Program Elements: USAID participates in all five working groups of the Presidential Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, chaired by the Secretary of State. These groups plan for U.S. Government support to a future transition government in Cuba.

Other Donors: The Roman Catholic Church provides assistance to CARITAS Cubana, one of the few independent Cuban nongovernmental organizations. In 2000, Canada, China, Russia, the European Union, Japan, and the United Nations Development Program delivered more than $90 million in economic and humanitarian aid through Cuban government organizations.

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/cbj2005/lac/cu.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. Must have got a phone call from Bush or Rice

.
.
.

THAT would explain alot . .

[ElectroPrincess]

15. I smell something in the Spanish air ... is it ...

Oh, ON EDIT: I stand corrected. <blush>

I forgot that this butt Boy for Bush-Co. is no longer Spain's Prime Minister.

My bad.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Looks as if there was a pecking order among these folks at one time!

_Bush gets to molest Berlusconi, Berlusconi gets to molest Aznar, who has nowhere to go,



and starts getting frustrated before realizing he can take shots at Cuba and Venezuela!

[LeighAnn]

16. Gee, Aznar, I guess you got booted out of office for being a liar

I'm sure what you think really matters, especially when you're parroting Condi's stump speech.

Viva Hugo Chavez!!!! He's my hero
:loveya:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Aznar = Moron = still on the US payroll.

[Judi Lynn]

19. Whoa! A Spanish political cartoonist gives some insight on Aznar

It appears he's saying Aznar didn't want to give up his position gracefully to Zapata. I didn't know this, but it's easy to see now, if he continues to swagger around, making official pronouncements about foreign policy!

[mutus_frutex]

22. Translation:

Assnar:

Mine, mine.. It's my precious, my precious.

Zapatero:

Come on, Jose Maria, let go, she isn't yours anymore..

[nolabels]

24. Makes me want to watch the Rings all over again, thanks

:D

[Judi Lynn]

26. Thanks for that! n/t

[daleo]

20. If he doesn't like it he should run for office.

Oh, yeah, his party got defeated.

[mutus_frutex]

21. He should shut the fuck up..

And look at democracy in his own country. That is what got him kicked out. He went against most of the spanish people when he went to war. And he comes to talk about democracy.

Asshole.

[DinahMoeHum]

23. Aznar can go piss up a rope.

n/t

[confludemocrat]

25. He's scum from Spain's Facist elite

Born and raised in a family that was instrumental in the killing and "disappearing" Republican Spanish among whom were people in Zapateros family

Lying is in his blood.

[Judi Lynn]

27. Thanks for the info. we're not likely to read in papers!

Very ugly, if you're not a fascist!

Makes Zapateros sound even more than ever like someone who would be very skilled in that position.

[IndianaGreen]

28. The United States is not a democracy, Aznar

and in the UK, Tony Blair is trying to get Parliament to pass a British version of the PATRIOT Act. The House of Lords threw a big monkey wrench into those plans.

Thankfully, PM Zapatero pulled Spain's troops out of Iraq, something that Aznar would have never done.

[oasis]

29. ASSnar. (eom)

[guajira]

30. As Soon as Aznar got elected, he turned against Cuba, just so he

could kiss B's arrogant butt!

However, many Cubans have emigrated to Spain or have relatives there, many Spaniards vacation in Cuba and Spanish companies have businesses in Cuba.

No wonder he lost his election, he obviously didn't care shit for his own citizens!

[struggle4progress]

31. This from the nitwit who sent Spanish troops to Iraq with Crusaders ...

... crosses on their uniforms?