Political Quotes

“I believe we all want to promote a peaceful transition to democracy and economic liberalization in Cuba. Where we clearly differ is on how we get there. Despite the recent tragic loss of life in the shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft by the Cuban Air Force, I continue to believe that the Cuba legislation before us takes us further away from achieving the goal of democracy and economic reform on the island of Cuba. If anything, the conference agreement takes us even further down that wrong road than either the House- or Senate-passed versions of the bill did. It is naive, in my view, to think that this bill or any sanctions legislation we might pass will succeed in forcing Castro to step aside when all similar actions in the past over many, many years have failed. All we are likely to ensure is that the living conditions of the Cuban people are made even worse, making a mass exodus from for Miami the only attractive option. Taken to its most extreme, this bill could even provoke serious violence on the island. In some ways, this legislation is even more problematic than earlier efforts to tighten the screws on Castro. I say this because its implications go well beyond United States and Cuban relations. It now allows that our foreign allies and friends can be sued in American courts for undertaking activities totally lawful in their own countries.”