Haiti

gldstwmn · #1 03-01-2004, 03:52 PM

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...5E1702,00.html

US troops 'made Aristide leave'
From correspondents in Paris
March 1, 2004

HAITIAN leader Jean Bertrand Aristide was taken away from his home by US soldiers, it was claimed today.

A man who said he was a caretaker for the now exiled president told France's RTL radio station the troops forced Aristide out.

"The American army came to take him away at two in the morning," the man said.

"The Americans forced him out with weapons.

"It was American soldiers. They came with a helicopter and they took the security guards.

"(Aristide) was not happy. He did not want to be taken away. He did not want to leave. He was not able to fight against the Americans."

The RTL journalist who carried out the interview described the man as a "frightened old man, crouched in a corner" who said he was the "caretaker of the residence".

Aristide fled Haiti today in the face of an armed revolt. The United States has ordered Marines to the Caribbean state to help restore order.

Agence France-Presse

dissention · #2 03-01-2004, 04:34 PM

I suspected that.

strandinthewind · #3 03-01-2004, 04:51 PM

There is an article about it at www.commondreams.com.

My question is who cares and why didn't they do that with SH and avoid all of the current crapola we are in

gldstwmn · #4 03-01-2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strandinthewind
There is an article about it at www.commondreams.com.

My question is who cares and why didn't they do that with SH and avoid all of the current crapola we are in

A little history: Bush I did the exact same thing 13 years ago after the US backed candidate (an official of the World Bank) was defeated in Haiti.
We just toppled a democratically elected government. I care. This administration is dangerous!
Next stop Venezuela?

gldstwmn · #5 03-01-2004, 05:30 PM

BTW, that link is www.commondreams.org

dissention · #6 03-01-2004, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strandinthewind
My question is who cares and why didn't they do that with SH and avoid all of the current crapola we are in

I care and there is no comparing Aristide and Hussein. It's ludicrous.

strandinthewind · #7 03-01-2004, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gldstwmn
A little history: Bush I did the exact same thing 13 years ago after the US backed candidate (an official of the World Bank) was defeated in Haiti.
We just toppled a democratically elected government. I care. This administration is dangerous!
Next stop Venezuela?

But - my point is the U.S. has been doing this forever. I agree this guy was not SH - I was referring to the ease at which this guy has been removed and lamenting with sarcasm that SH should have been removed this way

Interestingly, should we have sent in the full weight of the armed forces and killed hundreds of people and also suffered casualties? Or, is this way better. I think this way is better. Also, I think this guy went willingly - wouldn't you rather than face a lynch mob in your own country and it looked like this guy was headed that way

Maybe we should have done nothing and let Haiti clean itself up?

DeeGeMe · #8 03-01-2004, 06:39 PM

I'm sure the spin will be "We just cordially invited him to leave."

strandinthewind · #9 03-01-2004, 07:09 PM

ABC news just reported the Pres. asked last week in the U.S. would help him get protection, leave, etc. Again, I think this guy was begging to leave rather than be lynched.

http://abcnews.go.com/

greatdarkwing · #10 03-02-2004, 01:16 AM

OK guys, let me give you the Miami angle....first off, let me say that Miami has been CRAZY the past week with all this stuff going on in Haiti. Miami is full of Haitian refugees, and they alll practically live in a 10 mile by ten mile strip known as "little Haiti"....a "little Havana" also exists, but is much more bigger. Well, to say the least, half of the country of Haiti, and half the exiles are split on the issue. There are many who support Aristede (sp?) but many who dont support him. Haiti has been in trouble for a while now, and I predicted an uprising would happen sooner or later 2 years ago. Haiti has always been overrun by corruption and the people have suffered for it.....Taking a walk throught the streets of Haiti is quite a shocker....wooden huts, people living in feces (sp? lol)...Haiti has not been blessed with wealth.

Well, a few weeks ago, word of an uprising was spreading fast here, and the local govt was trying to prepare for it. Local leaders were begging the Haitian caught at sea policy to be revised

(This policy states that any Haitian that makes it to the U.S., Or is caught at sea is to be returned)

Of course, local govts wanted the law to be changed, like one given for Cuban refugees

(This policy is called the "Wet foot Dry foot" policy. For Cubans, if you make it to shore, you are allowed to stay)

For years, this has upest the Haitians and there have been many political struggles between the 2 communities (Frankly, I think the policy should be changed for Haitians now, given the situation)

Well, low and behold, a group of 40 Haitians hijacked a boat and brought it here, but the coastguard caught them before they reached shore. They were returned to Haiti 2 days ago...It will come to no shock to any1 that the Haitian community was outraged, and protests, similar to ones during the Elian crisis erupted.

Hopefully this gives you a better insight into all the political problems this is causing here in Miami...Feel free to ask any question and I will do my best to answer them

Side Note: I saw pictures today of Haiti, and I was DEEPLY disturbed....Haiti looks llike a garbage can any day of the week, but this was terrible....It looked like a tornado had passed through and destroyed the capital....then they showed cars with bodies falling out of them....terrible and haunting...

~Alex

gldstwmn · #11 03-02-2004, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeeGeMe
I'm sure the spin will be "We just cordially invited him to leave."

Alas, you're psychic.

dissention · #12 03-02-2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by strandinthewind
ABC news just reported the Pres. asked last week in the U.S. would help him get protection, leave, etc. Again, I think this guy was begging to leave rather than be lynched.

http://abcnews.go.com/

No, Aristide was never going to step down until his term was up. I think the way the US is handling this is just another example of us not knowing or ass from our elbow.

The neocons are trying to justify the forcing out of Aristide as a way to "change the government in Haiti." Yeah, so why can't we force out our own president at whim or have another country do it for us? This superpower bull**** has got to end.

Ali · #13 03-02-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dissention
This superpower bull**** has got to end.

It's only gonna end when everybody else stops wimping out and someone decides to finally step up to the plate (::coughSOMEONEINWESTERNEUROPEcough:: ). Until then, we're alone.

Merf · #14 03-02-2004, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ali
It's only gonna end when everybody else stops wimping out and someone decides to finally step up to the plate (::coughSOMEONEINWESTERNEUROPEcough:: ). Until then, we're alone.

Ali: just a comment on your banner, honey...

I think it's ironic that Dubya's pictures have been made into a colorbar banner, a banner that *originally* was made to support gay marriage, which of course, Dubya wants to ban.

strandinthewind · #15 03-02-2004, 01:10 PM

ABC got that info. from another country. Who knows if it is true. My question is what interest do we have in Haiti? Certainly not oil