Bush Assails Democratic Candidates' Foreign Policy Views

During his news conference, Bush appeared to draw a contrast between talking to the leaders of Cuba and Iran and having discussions with Russia and China, two countries whose repressive policies at home have drawn criticism from human rights activists and U.S. lawmakers.

Asked about the likely new president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, Bush said he hopes his successor has a relationship "with whoever's running foreign policy in Russia."

"It's in the country's interest," Bush added. "That doesn't mean we have to agree all the time."

Similarly, Bush said he is looking forward to going to the Olympics in Beijing this summer despite concerns about human rights in China. "I'm looking forward to seeing the athletic competition," he said. "But that will not preclude me from meeting with the Chinese president, expressing my deep concerns about a variety of issues, just like I do every time I meet with the president."

He was very sharp, however, in his denunciation of the new Cuban president, who took the place of Fidel Castro on Sunday. Bush made it very clear that he believes meeting with him would be a waste of time. "I'm not suggesting there's never a time to talk, but I'm suggesting now is not the time . . . to talk with Ra¿l Castro," he said. "He's nothing more than an extension of what his brother did, which is to ruin an island and imprison people because of their beliefs."

Bush's comments were another indication that he does not intend to relax U.S. trade and travel restrictions on Cuba anytime soon. That position has pleased many of his Cuban American supporters in Florida and elsewhere, but disappointed lawmakers and others who think the U.S. drive over 50 years to isolate Cuba has run its course.

Julia E. Sweig, director for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, described Bush's statement on Cuba yesterday as "classic dug-in Bush embracing a failed policy no matter what."