Cuba criticizes U.S. spying

Posted on Wed, Aug. 23, 2006

Cuba criticizes U.S. spying

HAVANA - (AP) -- Cuba said Tuesday that the United States hopes to
destabilize the communist country and its ally Venezuela through a new
spying effort.

''They are moving forward very quickly in their destabilization plans,''
the Communist Youth daily Juventud Rebelde said.

''The war is very seriously under way in its intent to intervene, alter
and destroy the two revolutions that committed the horrible sin of
serving as example for an entire continent,'' the newspaper said.

U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said Friday that he
was creating a ''mission manager'' for Cuba and Venezuela to oversee the
American spy community's efforts to collect and analyze intelligence on
the two countries.

Cuba has not had diplomatic relations with the United States for 45 years.

Although Venezuela has relations with the United States and is an
important source of the country's petroleum, Washington has increasingly
expressed alarm about the South American nation's close ties with Cuba.

The move comes several weeks after Cuban leader Fidel Castro temporarily
ceded power to his brother, Defense Minister Raúl Castro, as he recovers
from intestinal surgery.

Negroponte selected J. Patrick Maher, a 32-year intelligence veteran who
has spent most of his career on Latin American issues, to fill the new role.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/cuba/15337757.htm