Reply #40: You really have to wonder where the Bushes would be now

[Judi Lynn]

if it weren't for the usefulness of the Cuban "exiles" like Felix Rodriguez:

(snip) 1968–1973. With Richard Nixon in the White House, Antonin Scalia in charge of the White House communications office, and George H.W. Bush heading the Republican National Committee, the Republicans maintain close ties to right-wing Florida Cubans. Bebe Rebozo, a prominent Florida Cuban with intelligence ties, is a close friend of Nixon. In 1971, journalist Ken Collier calls on Nixon to investigate 1970 Florida election fraud by Republicans. Scalia persuades Nixon to remain silent, Collier alleges.

1973. The Watergate Break-In is conducted by anti-Castro Cubans and CIA agents tied to the Bay of Pigs: Rodriguez, Bernard Barker (former Cuban secret police), Frank Sturgis, E. Howard Hunt, and Eugenio Rolando Martinez. Nixon tapes reveal that the objective is to hide evidence regarding "Dallas" and "the Bay of Pigs thing." Bush assists Nixon in the coverup, and the stonewalling of the Congress.

* 1976. CIA Director George H.W. Bush stonewalls Congress regarding the aerial bombing of a Cubana Airline jet and a car bomb slaying of a Chilean diplomat. Anti-Castro Cubans are arrested, including Luis Carriles. Carriles' immediate superior is Felix Rodriguez (who boasts to have assassinated Che Guevara).

During the Bush CIA years, the loyal Rodriguez is involved with the Phoenix program, Air America, and heroin smuggling in Southeast Asia.

1982–1986. Iran-Contra. With Vice President Bush "in the loop" with CIA Director William Casey and other members of the Reagan "firewall," Felix Rodriguez coordinates the contra resupply program in El Salvador under Oliver North. In Senate testimony, Rodriguez alleges to have passed ten million dollars to the contras from the Colombian Medellin cocaine cartel. In Florida, Jeb Bush (the head of the Dade County Republican Party) operates as the Republican administration's unofficial link with Cubans, the contras and Nicaraguan exiles in Miami. During this period, Jeb aligns with Leonel Martinez, a Miami-based right-wing Cuban-American drug trafficker associated with contra dissident Eden Pastora. Jeb forges business ties with contra supporter Miguel Recarey, a right-wing Cuban, and major contributor to PACs controlled by then-Vice President Bush.

Florida-based drug-running fronts funnel US government funds as humanitarian aid to the contras. Senator John Kerry investigates Miami-based Ocean Hunter, one of many Florida-based drug-running fronts, and discovers $200,000 channeled south.

1986. Reagan appoints Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court. At his confirmation hearing, Ken and James Collier accuse Scalia of sandbagging their lawsuits against the Republican National Committee for election fraud in Florida.
(snip/...)

http://members.tripod.com/~reno4governor/index-62.html

The photo of Felix Rodriguez hanging out in the White House with Bush, after he had been involved in the Watergate break-in for Nixon is WAY, WAY TOO MUCH.