WASHINGTON - Communist rule of Cuba should end when ailing leader Fidel
Castro dies, US President George W. Bush said as he prepared for a Latin
American tour this week.
Bush's trip is widely seen as offering a counterpoint to the populist
appeal of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose nationalisation plans
he criticized.
"I strongly believe that government-run industry is inefficient and will
lead to more poverty," Bush said when asked about Chavez's nationalisations.
"If the state tries to run the economy, it will enhance poverty and
reduce opportunity."
Bush also made clear he is keeping an eye on Cuba and its long-time leader.
Castro, 80, was forced to temporarily hand power to his brother, Defence
Minister Raul Castro, last July after stomach surgery. He mostly stayed
out of view until a surprise live radio appearance last week.
Castro's fate will be decided "by the Almighty," Bush said on Tuesday.
"I don't know how long he's going to live but nevertheless I do believe
that the system of government that he's imposed upon the people ought
not to live if that's what the people decide," he told reporters
representing the countries he will visit.
Bush took a dim view of the possibility of Raul Castro taking over
permanently.
"What I hope happens is that we together insist that transition doesn't
mean transition from one figure to another, but transition means from
one type of government to a different type of government, based upon the
will of the people," he said.
Bush leaves on Thursday for Brazil, first stop on the six-day tour that
will include visits to Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.
He takes a softer message aimed at improving his reputation and
bolstering US influence in a region where anti-American voices like
Chavez are rising.
Bush carefully avoided mentioning the fiery Venezuelan leader's name,
particularly when asked about Chavez's plans to hold a protest rally in
Argentina while he is in neighbouring Uruguay.
"My attitude is, I love freedom and the right for people to express
themselves," Bush said. "I bring a message of goodwill to Uruguay and to
the region. My trip is one that says, let's find ways to work together
for the common good."
Pushing free trade and open markets, Bush rejected the development model
championed by Chavez that calls for nationalisation of industry and
greater government intervention.
"I fully recognise that until people actually feel progress in their
pocketbook that there's going to be frustrations with forms of
government. But that doesn't mean you kind of revert to something that I
don't believe will work," he said.
While Bush is trying to make friends with more moderate leftist leaders
in Latin America, he also will check in on a strong ally in the war on
drug trafficking, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
A scandal tying allies of Uribe to paramilitary gangs has Democrats
questioning US aid and trade deals.
Washington has given $US4 ($NZ5.95) billion to "Plan Colombia" since
2000 to help fight the country's cocaine-fuelled insurgency, but
Democrats are monitoring the scandal as they review a White House
request for $US3.9 billion in new aid.
Bush said even though the proposal is a slight reduction, he will
vigorously defend it to the US Congress.
"I look forward to telling President Uribe that he can count on the
United States defending that which we sent up to Congress," Bush said.
- REUTERS
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10427676
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