- I am committed to being a staunch ally in the cause of a free and democratic Cuba, where Fidel Castro's communist totalitarian dictatorship has oppressed the Cuban people for nearly five decades.
- The United States must continue to lead the world in condemning the human rights abuses inflicted on the Cuban people and isolating Castro's tyrannical regime both economically and diplomatically.
- As President, I will oppose any efforts to lift trade and travel restrictions on the Cuban dictatorship and will veto any legislation seeking to lift these restrictions until three conditions are met: scheduling of free, fair and internationally-supervised multi-party elections, freeing of all political prisoners, and legalization of all political activity and civil liberties.
For 48 years, Cuba's communist dictatorship has been a destabilizingforce in our hemisphere. Fidel Castro has supported and promotedviolent revolution as well as terrorist activity. Cuba remains on theU.S. Department of State's list of nations that sponsor terrorism.Castro's brand of tyranny is now evident in the dictatorial actions ofVenezuela's Hugo Chavez. In sum, the demise of the Castro regime wouldbe a welcomed development for our hemisphere and for the Cuban people.
United States policy toward Cuba is clear. The 1996 Cuban Libertyand Democratic Solidarity Act (Libertad Act) provides a road map forAmerica's goal of expediting a transition to democracy in Cuba andassisting the Cuban people in a post-Castro democratic transition. AsPresident, I will enforce and implement all provisions of U.S. lawgoverning policy toward Cuba including the Libertad Act. I willcontinue President Bush's policy of pursuing indictments against anyCuban officials, including Raul Castro, responsible for crimes againstU.S. citizens. I will further support efforts to bring to justice anyAmerican fugitive criminals receiving safe haven in Cuba. The Castrodictatorship is an outlaw regime. As President, my administration willtreat it as such.
Dave Welch*
Kelly Shackelford*
Rick Scarborough*