Did Powell (on CNN) just deny kidnapping?

[ewagner]

I had to go answer the phone so I didn't catch all of it. But what I caught was Powell saying that he was involved all saturday night. Several telephone calls; some about added security; said negotiations about which country would allow Aristide asylum took place while the plane was in the air.

Didn't hear anything like a denial, just a sketchy timeline.

Did I miss the important parts?

[G_j]

1. didn't catch that

but I caught a bit of Democracy Now today:
just caught the basics: former congressman Ron Dellams (sp?) reports that Powell indirectly let Aristide know that he would be killed if he didn't step down, the US would do nothing to stop it. Somehow this had some connection with Travis Smiley. I wish I had caught more details.

[tom_paine]

2. I'm sure he did. He's so pathetic

They trot him out when they need to present some who is "credible" so that he can lie.

NEWSFLASH: Nobody is dumb enough to believe Colon Foul has integrity anymore. We've all ben treated to 3+ years of the Real Bootlicking, Lie-Telling, Morally banrupt Colon Foul.

If the Busheviks told him to say he was the Second Coming of Christs, then he would be dutifully repeating that lie right now.

[maggrwaggr]

3. what I heard Powell say on CNN

in a clip while they were interviewing Charlie Rangell was basically this:

Aristide was, yes, the democratically elected leader of Haiti, BUT he was doing a bad job, and wasn't running his government in a "democratic" way, so of course he should be ousted by armed rebels.

(By this standard, we should overthrow Bushco right now by any means necessary.)

I couldn't believe he said that. My jaw dropped open.

[ewagner]

4. He said something similar yesterday

Do you think he actually sees the irony in his comments?

[Brotherjohn]

10. Scott McLellan also kept repeating today that "sometimes people lose faith

... in their leaders" as justification for the U.S. in "aiding" Aristide's departure.

I don't think he saw the irony at all.

[Oilwellian]

5. He also said...

Aristide wrote a letter of resignation and American troops helped him safely out of the country. That's not denying he was forcefully removed, but it's also not saying what Aristide is claiming as being false.

[seabeyond]

6. the funny i heard from him

was saying the waters and rangals should have come and asked them prior to putting public so as to not make a problem larger, or whatever, not quoted.

let me see how often have they been asked things in admin and people dont get answers or lies

how many times over the weekend did waters adn others say the called state and they wouldnt talk to them,

and on and on and on

[TacticalPeek]

7. So far, he's luckier than the Diem brothers and others.

Either the PTB see some future use for him, or he's got some power voodoomojo, or the fixers are going soft.

Most likely: the 'martyr' thing is viewed as problematic.

[nickinSTL]

9. 'Doing a bad job'?!?

:wtf: ?

If that's the case, why are Bush and Mugabe and probably 60% or more of the world's national leaders not being thrown out of office?

Utter absurdity!

[maveric]

11. Who the F * * K gives the US the right to take leaders out of power...

because we think that they were "doing a bad job, and wasn't running his government in a democratic way". Sounds a lot like the Davis Recall. Repubs dint like how he governs and they systematically remove him.

BTW is the US running the govt. in a democratic way?

Is there no end to this arrogance?

[OneTwentyoNine]

8. I'm awaiting the announcement of Neil Bush new PRESIDENTIA

Damn it,Neil needs a country to run.Look how much he looted from a savings and loan,think what he could do with an ENTIRE country!!

David

[berry]

12. At the Pentagon briefing

Rumsfeld told reporters to go ask State Dept. He also said he knew nothing about US military involvement in "escorting" Aristide out of Haiti (which isn't exactly a denial). Then he said that the State Dept has a security division with uniforms that could be confused with regular military. Does anyone know of such a force?? Embassies are guarded by marines I thought--regular military. This bothers me.

Well, anyway, so then there's an occasion at the State Dept for reporters to question Powell. And he of course denies everything that Waters and Rangell and others are saying (implying that they are out of control or crazy). But it IS interesting that the plan seems to have been to be sure to make this look like something that was "negotiated" by State, rather than a military or intelligence action (which would look worse).

So, I am wondering. Who in the * admin were behind this? Are the neo-cons involved here too? Or just hard-line hawks who see Aristide as a "commie"? Is it mostly ideologically driven? Some people are pointing to Noriega who is powerful in State. Where is Otto Reich and how is his influence channeled to get policies he wants? No, you don't have to answer. I just need to do a lot more background reading....

[ewagner]

13. When Maxine was on CNN

she told the CNN talking head to go talk to Noriega. She told the reporter (sic) that he was the mastermind of the whole affair. Let's see if they have the guts to question Noriega......