BY ELAINE DE VALLE

  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld suggested Sunday that Cuba would not likely become a U.S. military target after the war with Iraq, despite a wave of repression that culminated last week with the summary trials and execution of three men who tried to hijack a ferry boat to Florida 12 days ago.

  During an interview on NBC News' Meet the Press, Rumsfeld responded to a question about Cuba from program moderator Tim Russert.

  ''There are some suggestions that theres a checklist, that if Syria, Iran, North Korea does not get rid of their weapons of mass destruction, that they could very well meet the same fate as Iraq,'' Russert said. "What about a country like Cuba, which has just executed some political prisoners, [waged a] major crackdown over the last few weeks? Would we ever consider trying to liberate the people of Cuba?''

  ''We care about the people of Cuba, who are repressed in a dictatorship,'' Rumsfeld replied. ``People are imprisoned and killed and denied rights to speak their mind, and thats sad. Its unfortunate.

  "But the American people, for the most part, are people who want to go about their business, and we recognize we cant try to make everyone in the world be like we are.''

  He added: "We hope they have the opportunity to say what they want, and practice freedom of religion and freedom of speech, freedom of assembly. But we recognize in a complicated world that there are countries that live differently. And so it isn't a matter for the United States to try to have everyone else be like us.''

  DOOR NOT CLOSED

  Rumsfeld did not totally close the door to the possibility of U.S. military action in Cuba -- indicating it might happen if Havana has or develops weapons of mass
  destruction.

  ''But if they had weapons of mass destruction, thats a different matter?'' Russert asked.

  Rumsfeld: "To the extent our country is threatened or our people are threatened, then the president and the government -- thats the first responsibility of government, is to see to the protection and security of our country.''

  While there is no specific evidence, the Bush administration said last year that it believed Cuba has ''at least a limited offensive biological warfare'' program and could be sharing its expertise with other countries that are hostile to the United States.

  Part of Fidel Castro's speech at Tehran University in Iran, in May 2001, has also been often quoted by critics as proof of ill will toward America: ``The people and the governments of Cuba and Iran can bring the United States to its knees. The U.S. regime is very weak, and we are witnessing this weakness from close up.''

  Cuban government officials could not be reached for reaction Sunday to Rumsfeld's remarks.

  DISAPPOINTMENT

  But some exiles expressed disappointment.

  Jose Rivero Sr., a self-described ''extreme conservative'' who left the island in 1962, had hoped Cuba was next. He thinks the Castro regime poses a serious threat to the United States, especially South Florida.

  ''And I am 65 years old, but I will be ready to go in front of the Marines,'' Rivero said. ``Iraq today. Cuba tomorrow.''

  Ninoska Pérez Castellón, a longtime Castro foe and veteran of Miami's Spanish-language radio, said Rumsfeld's statements were ''inconsistent'' not only with the White House stance but also with U.S. actions in the Middle East.

  ''He doesn't formulate Cuba policy,'' Pérez said of Rumsfeld. ``Considering what has just happened in Iraq, there are many parallels. Cuba is on the list of terrorist
  countries. Cuba harbors U.S. terrorists. If Mr. Rumsfeld is not aware of that, maybe he needs to talk to the people who do formulate Cuba policy.''

  Though a massive exodus of U.S.-bound Cuban migrants -- something some Cuba watchers fear may be on the horizon -- should be considered an act of war, Pérez said, most exiles don't want to see U.S. troops in Havana.

  ''Nobody has asked the United States to invade Cuba,'' she said. ``What we have asked for is the strengthening of sanctions and that the laws of the embargo are
  enforced, not ignored.''

  Other Cuban exiles and Cuban Americans welcomed the secretary's message.

  ''The moment to do something like [a U.S.-led invasion] has passed,'' said José Basulto, a Bay of Pigs veteran, founder of the Brothers to the Rescue group and a
  promoter of civil disobedience on the island.

  "At this moment, the people of Cuba are trying to come up with a solution on their own, and what we have to do is help them in every way we can.''

  Basulto said the government should strengthen Radio and TV Martí to give Cubans on the island information and encouragement. ''That's all we ask,'' he said.

  The leaders of Agenda Cuba believe that change is already coming from within, hence the crackdown, and that opposition to the government is strong and able on the island.

  ''While there are many similarities between Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro -- the possibility of biological weapons is a concern, the aid to terrorist groups over the years -- there are differences in that, with all due respect, I believe the Cuban opposition movement is in many ways much more diverse than that of Iraq's,'' said Mickey Garrote, a county librarian who also is Agenda Cuba's secretary.

  ``This is a Cuban problem, and it should be resolved among Cubans.''