Patrick Leahy: “I am one who, for a number of reasons--geopolitically, strategically, and economically--have not supported the current…”

“I am one who, for a number of reasons--geopolitically, strategically, and economically--have not supported the current embargo on Cuba. I am, however--and I feel proud--as Vermonters say, I bow to nobody on the question of human rights on this floor. I met with Mr. Castro in Havana a couple years ago at a time when there was another crackdown of dissidents. I told him specifically what I felt about that in very strong words. He obviously disagreed with me, but I felt as an American in Cuba, it would be wrong for me not to express such a view. I hope he knows, no matter how one might feel about our overall relations with Cuba, no American should find justifiable the silence of those who simply wish to speak to basic human freedoms, basic human rights--the right of speech, the right of religion.”