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Caribbean-Latin America
Cuba's verbal attack on top US diplomat
2005-12-21
Cuba launched a blistering verbal attack on the top U.S. diplomat in Havana on Tuesday and on dissidents it accused him of organizing to overthrow the government. A daily state-run television talk show dedicated its 90- minute broadcast to accusing U.S. mission chief Michael Parmly, who arrived in the country in September, of being the new point man for the Bush administration's declared goal of ousting President Fidel Castro from power.
Thank gawd it was only 90 minutes. Otherwise you'd need double Dr. Scholl's inserts to take the whole thing in.
On Tuesday, four journalists took turns detailing Parmly's and other U.S. diplomats' meetings with dissidents and in some cases the computers, televisions, copy machines, cameras and other items given to specific individuals. The Cuban government labels all opponents as charlatans in the employ of the United States and on Tuesday various official journalists accused them of receiving support from a foreign power, a crime under Cuban law.

Parmly succeeded James Cason, now U.S. ambassador to Paraguay, whose confrontational style and open support for dissidents was given as the reason for the imprisonment of 75 dissidents two year ago on charges of working with Washington to overthrow the government.

The journalists also criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's decision this week to form an inter-agency group to recommend measures to tighten the four-decades-old trade embargo and increase aid to dissidents in order to speed a transition to democracy in Cuba.

Lazaro Barrero, editor of the Communist Party daily, Granma, charged talk of transition was a cover for "using mercenaries to provoke a situation justifying invasion and occupation of the country."

The United States and Cuba, bitter foes since President Fidel Castro led a revolution to power in 1959, do not have diplomatic relations but maintain lower-level Interests Sections in each others capitals.
Posted by:Pappy

#12  But did they call him fat?
Posted by: Thomosh Gravinter9151   2005-12-21 22:13  

#11  tu, how about espuma humana?

Bucky, you forgot the black beans!
Posted by: Parabellum   2005-12-21 17:59  

#10  No, they dedicated the next day's show to him as well.
Posted by: Pappy   2005-12-21 13:00  

#9  Sticks and stones.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-12-21 12:47  

#8  Only 90 minutes? They must like him, then.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-12-21 10:15  

#7  "Castro"
Posted by: Frank G   2005-12-21 09:56  

#6  What's Spanish for "human scum"?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-12-21 09:43  

#5  Joe, you'd have to work at starving to death in Cuba. :> Altho chicken and rice or rice and rice gets old. I'll bet this is another Christmas decorations squabble.
Posted by: Buckminster Spemble1220   2005-12-21 09:16  

#4  I thought regime change in cuba was policy?
So wouldn't an appointed diplomat try to execute policy? I must be missing some subtlety here, that's why I'll never be a diplomat.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2005-12-21 08:07  

#3  I guess Cuba's looming threats of famine, etc. ala North Korea t'aint the cause(s)!? I'm sure Cuban mothers and families will be glad to know their children died or were eaten for the sake of Castro's = Kimmie's fat belly and better, nicer-looking missles.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2005-12-21 01:11  

#2  More:
Government television criticized Washington's top diplomat in Havana Tuesday, after he met with dissidents and charged that some communist supporters acted like Nazi "brown shirts" or Ku Klux Klan members. Former communist youth leader Randy Alonso, moderator of state television's nightly "Round Table" program, said the Dec. 10 gathering at the residence of new U.S. Interests Section chief Michael Parmly was "a new provocation against our people. To compare Cuba to the worst fascism, and the worst racism of the United States ... it is very hurtful," Alonso said.

Some Cuban officials privately expressed hopes that Parmly would be more diplomatic than his predecessor, James Cason, who spoke out frequently against the government during his three years here. "Up to December 10, Parmly wore the suit of a diplomat, but a change came during that speech," pro-government journalist Arleen Rodriguez said on the program.The nightly program broadcast across this island of 11 million people gave most Cubans their first look at the American diplomat, showing him giving a speech in a brief video clip that apparently was taken surreptitiously at the Dec. 10 gathering, held to celebrate Human Rights Day.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-12-21 01:07  

#1  Parmly, like Bolton, must be doing all the right things
Posted by: Frank G   2005-12-21 00:31  

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