The U.S. and France seem to think the answer is for the democratically elected president to resign.
Help to keep the peace has been promised if Aristede will work out an agreement with the opposition to "share" governmental power.
Now, excuse me, but if the opposition represents 8% of the populace (figures I've seen say 92% voted to elect Aristede president), why on earth should they be permitted to "share" power? Is Gore sharing power with Bush? Well, probably that's a bad example, since I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between the parties. But you get the message.
| "However, due to the amount of drug trafficking from Haiti to our nation, its proximity to our border, and the level of corruption and instability there, I believe that Ppresident Bush should develop a contingency plan for American intervention that includes humanitarian and military options. We cannot allow Haiti to collapse in total disorder and pose a threat to our security. In addition, the Coast Guard should increase patrols to protect the lives of Haitians fleeing that country and to protect our borders by returning them safely to Haiti," [Congressman Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, FL] said. |
I appreciate the idea of helping to stem violence in terms of a humanitarian edict, and I appreciate the fact that our country is in great part responsible for fanning the flames in Haiti, and creating the problems over which Aristede now presides, but...disorder in Haiti poses a threat to our security? We are not very secure, are we?
| "Aristide has threatened the U.S. with launching a fleet of boat people if President Bush doesn't prop up his failing government," [said] Retired Marine Corps Major Gil Macklin, a former Congressional investigator and expert on Latin American affairs. |
A fleet of boat people. They could take Miami and the next thing you know, Washington.
| "Haiti cannot avoid a bloodletting. It's just a matter of keeping the body count down", [said Macklin]. |
Well, there's your expert on Latin American affairs talking. Who are you to disagree?
| "Aside from securing our own border and our own embassy, the U.S. does not need to get involved in the current Haiti situation," said Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville [FL]. "Our National Guard and Reserves are already stretched thin. We cannot and should not absorb a potential influx of Haitian refugees in our country - and especially not in Florida where they would likely head first. The president has indicated that refugees should not come by boat to the U.S. because they will be stopped by the Coast Guard. I am in full agreement with the president's comment."
..."I certainly support President Bush on his two key decisions regarding Haiti thus far - to send in the Marines to protect the embassy and our people in Haiti and to tell the Coast Guard to intercept and return any Haitians who try to reach Florida. We don't need thousands of Haitians coming here in rickety boats," said Congressman Ric Keller, R-Orlando. |
No, Florida does not want a bunch of poor Haitians. They will take corrupt deposed leaders, however. There will be no worry for the opposition bigwigs should they need a place to go.
| Aristide said he was not calling for a military intervention, but international help to better train and equip Haiti's police. Previous requests have been ignored as countries, including the United States, accuse Aristide of politicizing the police force, ignoring corruption among officers and using the police and armed militants to crush dissent. |
In other words, the Miami model.
| Micha Gaillard, spokesman for the opposition group Democratic Convergence and one of the delegates who were due to travel to Paris, said he welcomed the French initiative, which Paris appeared to have discussed with Washington.
"It is thus a consensual, international position," he told the French daily Liberation in an interview from Port-au-Prince. |
But, of course. France and U.S. agree with Haitian elite (French descent). Consensual, international position. Case closed.
"Democratic Convergence." Democratic, such as in democratic elections? No. Such as in democratic overthrow of elected government? Ah. There you go.
Obviously, I don't know whether the accusations about Aristede being a despot are correct. From what I've been reading, he appears to simply be a poor leader - although, as I mentioned before, he hasn't the economic stability or military might or anything else to withstand the pressures of outside influence (such as that being levied by the U.S.) or the embargo on Haiti. The fact remains that he was democratically elected, taken out by a coup, restored (by the U.S. with provisos that he agreed to), and re-elected.
Hey, even we don't have an elected president.
Update 11:30 am: Progress Report on current Haiti crisis
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