"It would be a lot more helpful if Mr. Aristide was a statesman ... and he could do that by keeping his mouth closed," Gen. James T. Hill said Thursday during a speech at a security conference in Miami.
..Speaking before a crowd of academics, military experts and officers, Hill said international intervention was necessary in Haiti to avoid a bloodbath similar to those in some warring African nations. The two-day meeting sponsored by the U.S. Army War College and Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Center focused on security issues in the region.
"We simply can't have these failed states," he said. "If we are not careful you will have a Rwandan type of human catastrophe in the middle of the advanced world."
Florida Sun-Sentinel article
..Speaking before a crowd of academics, military experts and officers, Hill said international intervention was necessary in Haiti to avoid a bloodbath similar to those in some warring African nations. The two-day meeting sponsored by the U.S. Army War College and Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Center focused on security issues in the region.
"We simply can't have these failed states," he said. "If we are not careful you will have a Rwandan type of human catastrophe in the middle of the advanced world."
I do wonder if these military people understand anything but soldiering.
For instance, how Haiti got to be a "failed state". And, for instance, how the majority of those who have nothing to gain, and the last thing they have - their lives - to lose, are Aristide supporters.
What "advanced world" is he talking about?
So it was Aristide's fault that he was deposed by us, and now it will be his fault if more bloodshed occurs by his telling the truth.
So far, troops have received a lukewarm welcome from both Aristide supporters and opponents, who say the foreign soldiers are an occupying force that has failed to protect Haitians and disarm gangs.
And I am sure that is Aristide's fault.
Hill also criticized any plans to reconstitute Haiti's military saying efforts should focus on rebuilding Haiti's National Police.
"I see zero need to reconstitute the army. The only thing it ever did was oppress people. What you need is an organized, well-trained professional police force," he said. Haiti's military was dismantled in 1995 amid charges of human rights violations.
"I see zero need to reconstitute the army. The only thing it ever did was oppress people. What you need is an organized, well-trained professional police force," he said. Haiti's military was dismantled in 1995 amid charges of human rights violations.
How interesting that the Sun Sentinel doesn't report that it was Aristide who dismantled the army.
Previous Haiti posts
More on Haiti
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated. There may be some delay before your comment is published. It all depends on how much time M has in the day. But please comment!