Cuban-American Community Pressures White House into Confrontation with Castro

Interview with William Turner, former FBI agent, conducted by Denise Manzari

As potential candidates set their sights on the 2004 U.S. presidential election, U.S.-Cuba relations hang in the balance.

Although the Bush administration has maintained a tough anti-Castro stance during the past 3 years, a group of Republican leaders in south Florida have recently signed their name to a letter demanding harsh changes to current Cuba policy.

Thirty-four elected Cuban-Americans from the Miami area, the hotbed of anti-Castro sentiment, signed the letter which asks for funds to increase the broadcast range of Radio and TV Marti. It also asks for implementation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which allows Cuban-Americans to sue in U.S. courts for property situated outside the U.S., to stop Cubans from being repatriated when picked up at sea, and to cease any further sale of food to Cuba by U.S. farmers.

Although some who signed the letter said it should not be perceived as a threat, the document claims unfulfilled promises by President Bush may result in the loss of economic and political Cuban-American support for the GOP.

William Turner is a former FBI agent and author of nine books, the most recent titled, "Rearview Mirror: Looking Back at the FBI, CIA and Other Tails." He spoke with Between the Lines' Denise Manzari, about how the upcoming 2004 presidential election may affect U.S.-Cuba relations.

"Rearview Mirror: Looking Back at the FBI, CIA, and Other Tails," is published by Penmarin Press.

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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