Via the WSJ

John McCain will mark Cuban Independence Day today with a speech outlining his policies on both Cuba and trade with Latin America.

First on the list: slam former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and his brother, Raul.

“The Castro regime enforces strict limits against freedom of expression, of association, of assembly, of movement, of speech,” McCain says, according to prepared remarks. “It is in our national interest to…oppose those of the Castro regime.”

McCain also attacks Democratic nomination frontrunner Barack Obama. Continuing a series of recent punches on foreign policy, McCain accuses Obama of wanting to “sit down unconditionally” with Raul Castro. He also will slam the Illinois senator, who has made previous statements advocating an ease in the long-standing U.S. trade embargo on Cuba.

“These steps would send the worst possible signal to Cuba’s dictators — there is no need to undertake fundamental reforms, they can simply wait for a unilateral change in US policy,” McCain will say. “I believe we should give hope to the Cuban people, not to the Castro regime.”

In his speech, McCain places great importance not only on Cuba but all of Latin America. Advisers to the campaign have said they will make a strong push to win Latino voters this election cycle—hoping to meet or beat President Bush, who received 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004.

“For decades, in Republican and Democratic administrations alike, the United States has treated Latin America as a junior partner rather than as a neighbor, like a little brother rather than as an equal,” McCain says.