Haiti Update

I've been speculating on the reasons for our administration's actions in Haiti over on the POAC forum. I suggested there that drugs were likely involved.

Today, The Progress Report is carrying an extensive look at what's going on, and seems to corroborate that idea:

Despite the rebels' sordid history, the FRAPH and its leaders have had troubling connections to the American military and intelligence services. For instance, Human Rights Watch notes that "FRAPH reportedly was founded with CIA assistance and 'Toto' Constant, its director, has repeatedly stated that he received regular CIA payments." This was corroborated by Knight Ridder which reported that Constant acknowledged he was on the CIA payroll. The current rebel leader, Guy Philippe, who is "infamous for human rights abuses," was trained by the U.S. military. And the NYT reports the rebels' "assault weapons and crisp camouflage uniforms suggest they have outside support." The Haitian Army and its National Intelligence Service, which was disbanded after Aristide returned to power but whose remnants are part of the rebellion, were agencies "created and financed by the C.I.A. that committed acts of terror and trafficked in cocaine."

Check The Progress Report for much more information.

And this from TJ at the POAC forum - a Democracy Now! article:

Instant replay of the Venezuela Coup?

Multiple sources that just spoke with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide told Democracy Now! that Aristide says he was "kidnapped" and taken by force to the Central African Republic. Congressmember Maxine Waters said she received a call from Aristide at 9am EST. "He's surrounded by military. It's like he is in jail, he said. He says he was kidnapped," said Waters. She said he had been threatened by what he called US diplomats. According to Waters, the diplomats reportedly told the Haitian president that if he did not leave Haiti, paramilitary leader Guy Philippe would storm the palace and Aristide would be killed. According to Waters, Aristide was told by the US that they were withdrawing Aristide's US security. TransAfrica founder and close Aristide family friend Randall Robinson also received a call from the Haitian president early this morning and confirmed Waters account. Robinson said that Aristide "emphatically" denied that he had resigned. "He did not resign," he said. "He was abducted by the United States in the commission of a coup." Robinson says he spoke to Aristide on a cell phone that was smuggled to the Haitian president.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters suggests that American citizens should be outraged at this coup d'etat performed by their government on a democratically elected president of a sovereign country. She says we should be calling and writing our government officials and news sources and demanding that we restore Aristede to his office.

Will we? Probably about as outraged as we were over the coup in Venezuela two years ago. Probably about as outraged as we are over the continuing funding of the opposition there which is continually attempting another.

Thanks to Bina at the POAC forum, here's a photo of Guy Phillipe (center) - the drug thug rebel in charge, and an unidentified man in an American flag bandana.




Speaking of Venezuela, there should be some news coming out today on the referendum decision. Rumor last night was that the CNE (election council) would announce that the opposition simply did not meet the legal requirements to hold a recall, but that they were waiting until today fearing increased violence over the weekend if they made the announcement yesterday.

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