Haitians welcome Clinton appointment as U.N. envoy

[wyldwolf]

Former President Bill Clinton became the U.N.’s first special envoy to Haiti last Tuesday, bringing an unmatched combination of local popularity and global star power to help a country devastated by political turmoil, poverty and natural disasters.

Haitians — at least those old enough to have heard of Clinton — welcomed the international attention they said he will bring to their desperate nation. Some expressed optimism that he can help alleviate poverty...

... Clinton is well-regarded in Haiti for using the threat of U.S. military force to oust a dictatorship in 1994, then sending Army troops and Marines to pave the way for the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who had been deposed in a coup. Aristide was again ousted in a 2004 rebellion and flown into exile on a U.S. plane.

Clinton’s popularity could help temper the feelings of many Haitians toward the U.N. peacekeeping force...

... Nearly 40 percent of Haitians are under 15, and many have never heard of Clinton. Yet the former president was greeted like a rock star during his last visit. Shrieking fans climbed over one another to shake his hand with nearly as much excitement as they reserved for rap star Wyclef Jean, who was also in the group.

http://www.baystatebanner.com/world18-2009-05-28

[Beacool]

1. Good

I hope that Bill can help them.

;-)

[applegrove]

2. This is great news. I'm glad they picked someone as brilliant and compassionate

as clinton.

[old mark]

3. Those poor people need all the help they can get...

He will be great there.

mark

[vaberella]

5. "Those poor people..." Oy. n/t

[old mark]

6. They have had a pretty lousy series of governments for many

decades, have a lot of poverty, etc.

OK, they are dying in the streets Hooray.....


mark

[wyldwolf]

8. yes, but they're not poor.

:)

[vaberella]

4. Not all Haitians. I fuckin' hate the idea and my family is sickened by it.

Dear God...if Haiti couldn't get any worse.

[wyldwolf]

7. yeah, we know

:eyes:

[rvablue]

9. Surprise, surprise. Wouldn't want to deviate from your hero Tweety too much! n/t

[ClarkUSA]

10. As Haitians, I'm sure you and your family have good reasons. Please explain why. I'd like to know.