(
Via) U.S.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) appeared on
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell
slamming U.S. efforts to provide Cubans with a Twitter-like social media network.
This was part of a broader, global Obama Administration program to provide connectivity to the censored citizens of closed regimes.
As
a matter of fact, Senator Leahy has been a champion of these programs
throughout the world, but apparently feels the Cuban people aren't
worthy of the same support merited by Syrian, Iranians, North Koreans
and the victims of other repressive regimes.
Here's language from Leahy's very-own 2014
State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill:
SEC.
7072. (a) Of the funds appropriated under titles 8 I and III of this
Act, not less than $44,600,000 shall be made available for programs to
promote Internet freedom globally: Provided, That such programs shall be
prioritized for countries whose governments restrict freedom of
expression on the Internet, and that are important to the national
interests of the United States: Provided further, That funds made
available pursuant to this section shall be matched, to the maximum
extent practicable, by sources other than the United States Government,
including from the private sector.
Thus,
we ask Senator Leahy:
Is Cuba not a government that restricts freedom of expression on the Internet?
Is Cuba not important to the national interests of the United States?
Or, are Cubans just second or third-class citizens less deserving of Internet freedoms?
In Leahy's false outrage on
MSNBC, he also stated:
“If
you’re going to do a covert operation like this for regime change,
assuming it ever makes any sense, it’s not something that should be done
through USAID."
Really, Senator?
So how come your very own bill states:
Funds
made available pursuant to subsection (a) shall be—made available to
the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State
and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for
programs to implement the May 2011, International Strategy for
Cyberspace and the comprehensive strategy to promote Internet freedom
and access to information in Iran, as required by section 414 of Public
Law 112–158.
Senator Leahy should be commended for his global commitment and leadership on Internet freedom. However, Senator, be consistent -- for Cubans are no less deserving of these freedoms.
And to the left (of course) that's Leahy all smiley with one of the Castro brothers, heads of the one of the most racist, repressive and brutal dictatorships in the world.
