Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

The Department of Homeland Security is authorized to board and search any U.S.-registered vessels that are suspected of possibly being used to travel to Cuban waters. Guards could also be placed on suspect vessels and their crews removed.

Bush expands Cuba restrictions
Published 2/26/2004 8:22 PM

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush ordered the Department of Homeland Security Thursday to do whatever necessary to prevent any

The order, notification of which was sent to Congress, reinforces and expands the 1996 National Emergency proclamation of President Bill Clinton that was imposed after a Cuban jet shot down and killed two U.S.-based Cuban exiles searching for refugees.

"I have authorized these rules and regulations as a result of the Cuban government's demonstrated willingness to use reckless force, including deadly force, in the ostensible enforcement of its sovereignty," Bush said.

"I have also authorized these rules and regulations in an effort to deny resources to the repressive Cuban government that may be used by that government to support terrorist activities and carry out excessive use of force against innocent victims, including U.S. citizens and other persons residing in the United States, and threaten a disturbance of international relations."

In a document containing a dozen "Whereas" paragraphs, Bush arrayed a series infractions leading to his decision to keep in place previous restrictions and expand them, including the determination that Cuba is a state-sponsor of terrorism.
Cuba, he said, had within the past year also threatened to close the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and

Bush authorized the Department of Homeland Security to issue whatever rules and regulations were needed. It was authorized to board and search U.S.-registered vessels that were suspected of possibly being used to travel to Cuban waters.

Guards could also be placed on suspect vessels and their crews removed.

Cuban military action against U.S.-registered boats entering its waters -- especially those carrying anti-Castro activists -- in the past made it clear there was a danger of violence, he said.

U.S.-Cuban relations have been rocky at best since Fidel Castro came to power through force and immediately cemented close ties with Moscow.

Relations worsened following the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Copyright © 2001-2004 United Press International

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040226-060404-3522r