Haitian Capital Descends Into Anarchy

[bpilgrim]

Members of the U.S. special forces sit in the back of a truck, form part of a convoy which delivered people to the Dominican Embassy for evacuation from Port-au-Prince, February 27, 2004. Rebels took over a key crossroads town and edged closer to the capital while supporters of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide mounted defenses Friday against a bloody rebellion that threatened to topple Haiti's government. Foreigners and Haitians have been fleeing the country for days. REUTERS/Andrew Winning


By PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Rebels seeking to oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide seized a strategic town Friday and said they will blockade the chaotic capital to "close the circle" around the embattled leader. Aristide said he would not step down.

...

Chaos increasingly engulfed the capital city. Armed thugs hijacked cars at will. Looters hit the capital's seaport, stealing almost everything thing in sight and setting ablaze a freight terminal. Crowds jammed into the airport, only to find most flights canceled.

Hundreds of people looted Port-au-Prince's seaport, scurrying out with boxes of melting chicken parts and pork loins strapped to their backs. Others streamed out with television sets, table lamps, furniture and other goods.

Smoke wafted from the smoldering ruins of a torched freight terminal. No police were in sight. The body of a dead man lay on the ground amid a layer of papers and other trash; it was unclear how he was killed.

more...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=589&e=1&u=/ap/20040228/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_uprising

peace

[Mairead]

1. "Chaos" would be better than "anarchy".

The state of having no ruler (an-arch-y) doesn't really have anything to do with chaos (orderlessness).

I know, I know, it's the conventional term. But convention is what keeps our minds enslaved.

[bpilgrim]

2. good point

:hi:

peace

[Suspicious]

5. Thank you -

I've been hearing the term "anarchy" used in reference to the situation in Haiti all day (NPR, for the most part), and it has been grating on my nerves horribly. The problem is, when I'm listening to NPR, I'm in my car - I have no one to bitch to about it, so I have to sit there and fume. (Occasionally, I do gripe out loud, if there are no other vehicles in the immediate vicinity :) )

The U.S. media has been at their most transparent with their Haiti propaganda - I've never seen anything like it.

[Wonk]

3. Rebels Close in on Haiti Capital, Chaos in Streets - Reuters

Fri Feb 27, 2004 07:23 PM ET
By Jim Loney and Alistair Scrutton

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - Rebels overran a key crossroads town and crept closer to the Haitian capital on Friday while looting and violence hit Port-au-Prince.

Bands of armed loyalists of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide roamed in trucks and cars through the chaotic capital. A body was seen at a roadside near the Cite Soleil slum, apparently hacked with machetes, and two more were found near the airport, one with hands bound.

(snip)

President Bush, asked if Aristide should resign, pointed to comments from Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday. Powell had said Aristide should "examine his position carefully," indicating U.S. support for him was wavering

more...
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4459298§ion=news

[Wonk]

4. Haiti's Lawyer: U.S. Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries

Haiti's lawyer: US Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries, Calls For UN Peacekeepers

By Amy Goodman and Jeremy Scahill
Democracynow.org

The US lawyer representing the government of Haiti charged today that the US government is directly involved in a military coup attempt against the country's democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Ira Kurzban, the Miami-based attorney who has served as General Counsel to the Haitian government since 1991, said that the paramilitaries fighting to overthrow Aristide are being backed by Washington.

"I believe that this is a group that is armed by, trained by, and employed by the intelligence services of the United States," Kurzban told the national radio and TV program Democracy Now!. "This is clearly a military operation, and it's a military coup."

(snip)

"I don't think that there's any question about the fact that the weapons that they have did not come from Haiti," says Kurzban. "They're organized as a military commando strike force that's going from city to city."

Kurzban says that among the weapons being used by the paramilitaries are: M-16's, M-60's, armor piercing weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. "They have weapons to shoot down the one helicopter that the government has," he said. "They have acted as a pretty tight-knit commando unit."

more...
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/25/1613200

[Cooley Hurd]

11. This begs the question... WHY is the US backing the rebels?

There's no oil.

It's not strategically located.

There's little-to-no wealth there.

Hell, they don't even have the best beaches.

What will we possibly gain from doing this?

[Darranar]

13. Wage slaves...

and a military base.

It is also likely part of a larger strategy in the region.

[smallprint]

15. And last but not least, the drug trade

in fact, for you tinfoil hatters out there (myself included), that might be the biggest reason of all...


from Narco News:

"Is This a Battle for Control of Narco-Trafficking?

Haiti has no luxurious resources to covet, and, as the CIA Fact Book also acknowledges, it has a very poor infrastructure, low education levels, an inadequately trained workforce, and less than eight million people… so that leads to the next obvious question: Where does the drug trade – where the big money exists – fit into this conflict?

Haiti is not a drug producer nation either, but, as Michael Ruppert wrote back in May 2000, Hispaniola, the island Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, is in “a key strategic position in between the drug producing countries of South America – especially Colombia – and the largest single importation center for illegal drugs in the United States, New York City.”

Ruppert noted in 2000 that the Dominican Republic was favored over Haiti by narco-traffickers and Washington alike. But do current attempts to topple the government of Haiti foretell a new importance for the western side of the island to cocaine transport routes, the narco-traffickers, and the bankers who launder their money?"

http://www.narconews.com/Issue32/article895.html


good article there, also links to Mike Ruppert's website

[Wonk]

17. From today's Wolf Blitzer interview with Aristide

BLITZER: So you will stay in power no matter what, is that right?

ARISTIDE: We have the responsibility to do what is right. When Democrats visit with Republicans they don't need a coup against Republicans. They work in order to go to elections and then try to win. Here when thugs, killers, terrorists want to take over a government just because they want more space to have more money for drug dealings, from drug trafficking, which is, as you saw, provoking a lot of refugees, fleeing terrorism to go to Florida, it's bad. They can lose their life. We want them to stay in Haiti so we have to protect a Democratic system which can help them to stay home instead of fleeing to go Florida.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/27/wbr.00.html

I heard it a little differently when I saw it earlier today. I heard (forgot to tape it, sorry) something more like (iirc):

...want to take over our government just because they want more space, to have more money, from drug dealings, more drug trafficking...

English is clearly not his primary language. Did anyone happen to tape it that can verify the transcript or my recollection of the interview?

[I AM SPARTACUS]

22. because the 13 families that own everything in Haiti are backing...

...the rebels. Old, old business ties to up-east money, that goes back to Standard Fruit Company days and before...and alotta money to be made today.

[Judi Lynn]

6. For a sense of perspective, you might want to look at this article

written by an Italian United Nations World Food Program worker in Haiti. It appears he decided to leave political conjecturing out of it, but the images he evokes are worth considering:

(snip) Everything that is produced is done with very primitive means. Most of the people use firewood made with the last remaining trees, sold by old women who bring it to the urban areas at weekends on the back of old donkeys.

The people in the city live in overcrowded shantytowns. They have no work. Haiti depends economically on the informal market of the Dominican Republic and the money sent by immigrants to their families left behind.

In contrast to the majority of countries in Africa that still don't know the products of our consumer society, Haiti knows them very well.

The American continent is only a few hours away by boat. The abundance that exists elsewhere can be seen by the vast quantities of plastic debris that washes up on the island's beautiful beaches.
(snip/...)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3490928.stm

A brief historical summary, in the style of the Chicago Tribune, which may have truthful orts sprinkled here and there!

America and Haiti have a long, tangled history
Washington has often invaded tiny island nation


By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
Published February 27, 2004


(snip) Protests continually erupted against the American occupation. When the Marines fired into a crowd of demonstrators in December 1929, killing 12 and wounding 23, it prompted an international protest. Five years later, the Marines withdrew, though the U.S. retained control of Haiti's economy until 1942.

By 1957, dictator Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier had taken power, his brutal reign lasting until his death in 1971.

Papa Doc's feckless, luxury-loving son--Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier--was installed in his place, and civil unrest became so widespread that the U.S. intervened in 1986 and arranged for Duvalier to be exiled to France, leaving a military-led National Governing Council in his place.

Corruption, fraudulent elections, coups and violence followed. In 1990, at Washington's urging, then-President Prosper Avril stepped down. Later that year, populist priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president. But he was overthrown in 1991 in a bloody coup led by Gen. Raoul Cedras. (snip/...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402270144feb27,1,6644361.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
(Free registration required)

[Resistance]

7. BBC News homepage is displaying this picture

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Looks like looting...

That's not a good sign...

[Aidoneus]

19. well,

I thought it looks more like people gathering their shit and getting out.. they probably remember quite well what these so-called "rebels" were like the last time they ruled the country.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

23. people carrying lotsa stuff on their heads...now THAT'S a rare sight...

...in a developing country. NOT!

[Aidoneus]

24. forget it, I see the picture title now

<some numbers>.looters.<some more numbers>...

all the same, I doubt that the people are wetting themselves with glee awaiting the son of FRAPH's return.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

27. I'm with you 100%...

or as said in Haiti:

N'ap mache ansamb, san-pa-san...

[Just Me]

8. So, are our special forces high on drugs,...

,...this whole thing makes me so sick.


I am sick of this,...

SICK OF IT!!!

[Tinoire]

10. OMG. Cry the beloved country. n/t

[Suspicious]

12. The Bush Administration,

France, et al., are complicit as hell - they are guilty of nothing less than murder; not only the undermining of democracy, but the murder of innocents.

I honestly can not stand to see one more image of Powell (or any of the rest of them), smugly asserting that it is perfectly reasonable for them to sit on their asses and watch Haiti burn - subtly "urging" Aristide to step down, or there will be no help given. For the good of his people, you know?

Tell me how anyone - anyone - can miss the obvious, here.

:mad:

[Darranar]

14. The situation there is getting worse every day, it appears...

This is very sad, and must be horrible for the Haitians. :(

Our government, it appears, supports this fully. :grr:

[Suspicious]

16. Please communicate

with your states' representatives - as this op-ed requests at the end - we need to demand an investigation into U.S. covert policy:

The first democratic government of Haiti appears to be in its death throes. To add vicious insult to continuing injury, the American mainstream media continue to present Haitian affairs as the sorry result of the dismal leadership of one man, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, despite the best efforts of the United States. The headline that graced the Star Tribune's front page on Feb. 18 -- "U.S., France reluctant to intervene in Haiti" -- would be laughably absurd if the reality it obscured were not so dreadful.

snip

In 1991-1994, a groundswell of popular opposition in this country deflected the course of U.S. policy toward Haiti. It may not be too late to prevent the present coup attempt. Urge our representatives to support Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., in her efforts to end clandestine U.S. patronage for the fraudulent "democratic convergence." Demand an investigation into U.S. covert policy. Tell the White House to give genuine democracy a chance in Haiti.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4634298.html

(I'm linking to it here, because no one pays attention when they're posted in the Editorials Forum)

There is also a lot of contact information here: http://www.haitiaction.net/

If enough of us hound them (the administration and the media) on this, they just might be forced to realize that the jig is up - they're not fooling anyone.

[Cooley Hurd]

18. Lucia Newman of CNN reports "situation spiraling out of control"

Sounds exceedingly tense there...

[shance]

20. Why are we attacking their Democracy?

Aristide is a beloved leader and has brought a Democratic governorship to Haiti.

When are we going to see how we are becoming the most hated nation and that NEVER bodes well for any nation in the long run.

I dont understand why are we wanting to destroy the best thing that has happened to Haiti in years. They finally have a Democracy. What is the reason that we would threaten their freedom?

[nolabels]

25. They destabilize the country, create Kaos, destroy the popular front...

and just about anything else they can think of. The last thing a corporate controlled foreign policy wants is independent countries up and down Pan-America exercising their sovereignty.

The corporate henchmen who have taken up quarters in the US federal government would rather have smaller countries like this get twisted up, rather than watch them make progress outside the realm of being a puppet.

They want them begging to Organizations like the world bank, IMF and the WTO. They are trying to make an example out of them, it's that simple

[Zhade]

21. Wow, that picture messed with my head.

The guy in the green shirt reminds me of my dad - he was involved in Grenada, Panama, first Gulf War, Haiti (not sure if it was in '91 or later), Gitmo in '94. Ex-AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command) out of Hurlburt AFB in Northwest Florida.

That picture made me imagine my dad in a similar situation during one of his TDYs. Make me wonder just what he's seen in all his years. 95% of it, he can't discuss.

Makes it hard to get to know your dad. He's a good guy, but I really don't know much about him as a person.

Crazy world, huh?

[Judi Lynn]

26. SA to take arms to Haiti

SA to take arms to Haiti
28/02/2004 09:07 - (SA)


Erika Gibson


Pretoria - A South African air force plane will leave for Haiti early next week to support the country's government.

The Boeing 747 is expected to leave as early as Tuesday morning after Police requested the flight.

On board the plane would be 5 000 bullets, 200 smoke grenades and 200 bullet-proof vests, according to a document in local newspaper Beeld's possession.

In South African terms, R-1 rifles are old-fashioned, but according to specialists, they are similar the French FN-rifles still being used by Haiti police.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa could neither confirm or deny reports, as Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was in Brazil and out of reach on a cellphone.
(snip/...)

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1490904,00.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sure there are some right-wing sadists getting a hell of a bang out of this situation. They've sold their souls for their hope of power, and that power is truly transitory. It separates you from the human race, as well. Congratulations.

[DoYouEverWonder]

28. Here's what it looks like in Haiti this morning

Meanwhile, W continues to ignore the situation as much as possible.

[SoCalDem]

29. Dammit.. He's in "campaign mode" ...he cannot be bothered

with a bunch on "unruly dark people"..

I have been to Haiti, and it upsets me so to see that poor place getting even poorer.. The people were so warm and open, and even though they were dirt-poor, they had a dignity about them :cry:

That country should be like the Bahamas.. There are great beaches, lots of history, and many willing workers..

Shame on the western world for not helping them improve their lives :(

[UpInArms]

30. from Boston Globe - history of GOP failure

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/02/28/decline_blamed_on_missed_chances/

excerpt:

Back in 1994, the Clinton administration deemed the US-led peacekeeping mission a success because it restored a democratically elected president and helped maintain order.

But Republicans in Congress decried the intervention as a common GOP refrain held that the United States could not afford to be the world's policeman. "There was partisan pressure in the Congress to cut short the support of Haiti and the mission," said retired Army General Wesley K. Clark, the former Democratic presidential candidate who was the head of the US Southern Command responsible for operations in Haiti in 1996 and 1997.

Dobbins added: "All Republicans were on one side and the Democrats were on the other, with minor exceptions. We had a conflicted policy toward Haiti, one in which the administration was always undercut by the opposition."

Indeed, Senator Bob Dole, the Senate majority leader at the time, who would run against Clinton in 1996, said US forces had no business in Haiti. As recently as 2000, when the United States cut off all aid to Haiti, then-candidate George W. Bush attacked the Clinton administration for keeping even a small number of troops in Haiti, saying the 1994 mission unduly risked US soldiers in an attempt at nation-building.

...more...

[DoYouEverWonder]

31. The ugly face of hypocracy

shows itself again. On one hand they say that we shouldn't do anything to help Haiti when CIA backed rebels try to bring down a democratically elected leader but it's okay to maintain an embargo on the island for over a decade.