President Bush is bringing the battle home. Dubya issued a strong warning today that the United States will not tolerate a political transition in Cuba in which power will merely pass to Raúl Castro once his brother, Fidel dies. Bush sent a message to the Cuban people and Cuban-Americans, that the time has come for a New Cuba in which “the Cuban people will chart their own course.”
White House officials clarified that Bush was not calling out for an armed rebellion (he wasn’t?), but was merely reminding the Cuban people that they have the power to reshape their destiny. (Sounds a lot like Manifest Destiny).

Many people are calling out the “threat” untimely and sure to fail since Raúl already has a tight grip on the top position. And the U.S. embargo, which has been in place for 47 years now, is a non-deterrent because Venezuela and China have strong trading relations with Cuba.
Meanwhile, Fidel released an essay yesterday entitled “Bush threatens humanity with World War III, this time with atomic weapons.” We can’t say that phrase wouldn’t make a catchy tune.

Bush offers oddly timed attack on Cuba’s Castro brothers [The Herald Tribune]