MIAMI - Republican Senate candidate Bill McCollum wants to send undercover agents disguised as tourists into Cuba and wants to change U.S. policy so no one fleeing the communist country has to be returned, he said Monday.
"With agents under cover as foreign tourists, liaisons can be developed inside Cuba that can provide valuable information, prepare for a post-Castro Cuba and help undermine the Castro regime," McCollum said in an outline of his proposed Cuba policy.
Rival Mel Martinez, a former member of President Bush's Cabinet who was born in Cuba, questioned the wisdom of openly talking about covert missions.
McCollum announced his policy during a Miami news conference. The proposal also detailed a plan to end the wet foot-dry foot policy implemented by President Clinton that calls for Cubans found at sea to be returned to the communist island while those who make it to shore remain in the United States. McCollum said that Cubans found at sea could be held at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being allowed into the country or relocated to a third country.
