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Cuban Analysts Discuss Aggressive Plans of George W. Bush

Havana, Nov 10 (AIN) The Bush administration has declared it will maintain an aggressive foreign policy during its second term and Tuesday evening’s “The Round Table” program discussed the possible consequences.

After intense bombardment of Fallujah, Iraq, US troops have now invaded the city in their effort to squash popular resistance to the occupation of the country, noted the analysts on Cuban TV and radio.

Reports from different news agencies read on the program citied the possibility of high civilian losses during the attack, dubbed by the US military as “Phantom Fury,” on the city of 300,000 inhabitants.

A cable from Xinhua news service informed of at least 10 US soldiers killed Tuesday in the operation, which includes assaults on health facilities and other civilian infrastructure.

Despite President Bush’s gloating over his 51 percent mandate, protests against his war on Iraq have been taking place in Seattle, Vermont and Los Angeles.

Press reports were also read on The Round Table about US citizens considering leaving the country due to the warmongering plans of the government.

Panelists pointed out that Bush Jr. will try to justify his policies of domestic and global terror on the need to defend “the greatness of America,” and that he believes he has a mandate from the voters to do so.

Regarding Latin America, the dangers of intensified US intervention in the affairs of Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina were discussed on the program.

The popular leaders of these countries are under attack from Washington for not being responsive to its dictates. The Round Table panelists noted that despite Bush having won reelection, over 56 million US citizens voted against him. Although it didn’t alter the outcome, charges of election fraud were numerous.

This means that Bush will have to govern over a deeply divided nation, the experts noted. The panelists went on to discuss the effective campaign strategy of Karl Rove, who has come to be known as "Bush's brain."

Rove masterminded the effort to get out the Republican vote, while John Kerry failed to achieve the needed communication with potential Democratic Party voters.

Post-election polls showed that Bush got 57 percent of the white American votes and was also supported by the majority of Catholics and Protestants.

Over 117 million citizens voted in the elections, accounting for a little over 59 percent of the registered voters, and Bush won the popular vote in 31 of the 50 US States.

Lesotho Diplomat Expresses Nation’s Solidarity With Cuba

Havana, Nov 10 (AIN) The foreign minister of the African nation of Lesotho stressed that each nation has the right to decide its own destiny and type of government, as he expressed his country’s solidarity with Cuba.

During his meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque on Wednesday in Havana, Lesotho’s Foreign Minister Kenneth Mohlabi Tsekoa pointed out the need to struggle for peace, security and brotherhood in today’s world while respecting the sovereignty of each country.

The African foreign minister added that he is pleased with Cuba- Lesotho cooperative efforts and expects to see these expand in the fields of health, computer information, communications, physical education and sports.

The African leader also met with Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer and toured the International Sports School. Cuba’s Foreign Minister thanked Lesotho for its condemnation of Washington’s blockade of the island and its support of the island’s Resolution at the UN General Assembly demanding an end to that blockade.

Earlier this week the foreign minister from Lesotho placed a floral wreath before the monument to Cuban soldiers who fell in combat in struggles for the liberation of various African countries.

The closing of the 3rd Sessions of the Cuba-Lesotho Joint Inter- governmental Cooperation Commission is scheduled for Thursday, ending the four-day official visit by the delegation from the southern African country.

Case of Cuban Five to be analyzed at Forum on Political Prisoners

Havana, Nov 10 (AIN) The Latin American Forum on Political Prisoners taking place in Venezuela will discuss the current situation of the Cuban Five, unjustly imprisoned in the US after an irregularity plagued trial.

“Bolivarian” Youth Coordinator Orlando Rincones is expected to comment on the terrorist actions carried out by the US against Cuba over the last 45 years, reports Radio Havana Cuba on its website.

Rincones noted that the hostile US policy has taken a great toll on the Cuban people, in both loss of life and damage to the economy. He said infiltrating the Miami-based terrorist groups was a way to defend the island from new aggressions.

Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and Rene Gonzalez were arrested in 1998, individually accused of a wide array of fabricated charges including conspiracy and acting as foreign agents.

However, the facts showed they were totally devoted to collecting information about terrorist actions against Cuba being plotted in southern Florida.

Although the prosecution failed to present any real evidence against them, the Cuban Five were convicted in 2001, and subsequently given harsh sentences ranging from 15 years in jail to double life imprisonment.

On March 10, 2004 defense attorneys made their appeal for a retrial to a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Atlanta. Eight months later, a ruling is still pending.

Unemployment Almost Non-Existent in Cuba

Santiago de Cuba, Nov 10 (AIN) In Cuba, young people – according to their capacity and willingness – can be useful to society, said the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Alfredo Morales Cartaza, in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday.

In a meeting with government leaders from Santiago de Cuba, participants reflected on policies being implemented across the country aimed at having all young people linked to either education or work.

Morales insisted on the need for the Ministries of Education, Labor, Planning and the Economy to work together so as to contribute to a more integral education and training.

The minister referred to the role of management authorities in including young people with technical and university training into the workforce and stressed the importance of assigning these new workers tutors until they acquire professional-level working abilities.

The Cuban official highlighted the attention given to those who finish their active military service though their being provided with options for employment.

He pointed out that former inmates and those who are about to complete their time in a correctional institution are guaranteed employment after they are released.

The labor minister added that handicapped people who are limited in the types of work they can perform are also provided with possibilities for employment and may receive a stipend.

Cuba currently has an unemployment rate of less than three percent – a level considered internationally as full employment.