Why Haiti's Such a Mess (And Why Bill Clinton Was So Wrong to Prop Up Aristide)

History News Network ^ | Feb 10, 2004 | Michael Radu

[XHogPilot]

Haiti is edging into anarchy under Aristide's communist leadership. A coup is likely any day. Thanks X42.

[bolobaby]

Clintoon-legacy bump.

[End Times Sentinel]

not only was Aristide Clinton vehemently anti-capitalist and (ironically) anti-American, he was every bit as brutal a despot as his predecessors. To make matters worse, the Clinton administration Liberals knew beforehand of Aristide’s Clinton’s radical pedigree but chose to prop him into the dictator's chair anyway

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

not only was Aristide Clinton vehemently anti-capitalist and (ironically) anti-American, he was every bit as brutal a despot as his predecessors. To make matters worse, the Clinton administration Liberals knew beforehand of Aristide’s Clinton’s radical pedigree but chose to prop him into the dictator's chair anyway

[1Old Pro]

Clintoon blew it. I say let the U.N. fix his mess.

[2banana]

It is NOT a black or white thing. It is a socialism vs capitalism/democracy thing...

[TheSpottedOwl]

Clintoon-legacy bump.

Darn it, you beat me to it!

[Cicero]

since 1994 the Catholic Left in Haiti has destroyed what little remained after two centuries of savagery in the name of social justice and heretical liberation theology

This is about the only phrase in the whole otherwise excellent article I would agree with. Aristedes was, unfortunately, a Catholic priest, but he did indeed go in, wholeheartedly, for "heretical liberation theology" (read Communist). This movement, led by Leonardo Boff, has always been opposed by the Pope and has fortunately receded in most of Latin America. Aristedes was, in fact, defrocked from the priesthood and condemned by the Church before the clinton Putsch, which no doubt made him ore attractive to clinton. The first thing Aristedes did on gaining power was tear down the Catholic cathedral and attempt to murder the bishop for defrocking him. So I think it's fair to say that Aristedes is a CINO--Catholic in Name Only.

[bobjam]

It's only a matter of time before al-quaeda sets up in Haiti. An al-quaeda backed tyranny, with strong ties to drug trafficking, 150 miles from Miami and right next to the main shipping route from east coast ports to the Panama Canal would not be good for us at all.

America should strongly look at taking over Haiti and making it a US protectorate. With order restored under an American administration, Haiti would be an ideal location for off shore call centers and other industries.

[ZULU]

Its unfortunate that the Haitian people have had to endure the monotonous series of tyrants that have ruled that country since almost its initial inception.

We should remember that Haitian regiments in the service of the French Crown served here in the U.S. during our war for independence on our side. Haiti was also the second new world nation to throw off European domination after the United States ahd successfully achieved its own. Unlike the U.S. however, the European domination of Haiti by the despicable French was more than merely political. It was based totally on race slavery, a slavery far more oppressive and brutal than that suffered by American blacks in the anti-bellum south. This explains, but of course does not excuse, the excesses of the Haitian rebels against their brutal French overlords. As a matter of fact, I believe that the George Washington of Haiti, Toussant L'Overture (spelling) actually died miserably in a French prison after being perfidiously captured under a flag of truce.

Like the French troops who did likewise, they returned to their native country imbued with dangerous ideas - ideas of freedom and independence.

All people desire and deserve freedom and independence.

We here in America have been blessed by Divine Providence in having had an established foundation of freedom and self-rule based on institutions established in England that go back into the mists of the past.

The Jury System, Anglo-Saxon Common Law,an armed citizens' militia, the Magna Charta, the Provisions of Oxford, the House of Commons, etc. produced a long evolved sense of self-rule and concepts of freedom. These traditions and beliefs formed the foundations of political thinking of the very first Engllish settlers here.

Years of essential political isolation from direct control by the increasingly plutocratic and despotic British Crown allowed America's founders to experiment with democracy and perfect it. It is still evolving.

And so, we are fortunate in a way the French, the Germans, the Hatians, and others are not.

It takes time to develop a Democracy, time to develop a sense of the right and dignity of the individual.

[dinasour]

America should strongly look at taking over Haiti and making it a US protectorate

A lot of Haitians would love this. My wife is Haitian and I was there over the Christmas holidays.

Aristide is not at all unpopular with the ordinary people. The middle and upper classes, who are more aware of the corruption and failed socialism, are the ones who want him out now. Like everywhere, the socialist have managed to play the class warfare card to portray Aristide as the "friend of the poor" when he is anything but.

Aristide will be "term limited" in two years. As bad as things may be, Haiti really needs to learn how to change administrations without shooting up the place. Succession by coup always selects for the most brutal of candidates.

[dfwgator]

Aristide will be "term limited" in two years.

Methinks Aristide will be "term limited" like Ceaucescu was.

[dinasour]

Methinks Aristide will be "term limited" like Ceaucescu was.

That could happen, but would be unfortunate. A civil war there would force US intervention. The Coast Guard wouldn't be able to interdict a million boat people.

[Uncle Hal]

The problem is Haiti is all Bush's fault. Did you not know that? Just wait a week or 2 and the mainstream media will tell you all about it.

[backhoe]

Cross-link:

-Haiti, descending into chaos again--

And on a personal note, my brother-in-law's church just cancelled a humanitarian aid mission there.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Your suggeted solution has already been tried. The U.S. occupied and administered Haiti for twenty years between 1915 and the 1930s, and failure was the result. Unfortunately, for nation builders in both parties, the only reaction to repeated failure is to try, try again

[Austin Willard Wright]

Your suggeted solution has already been tried. The U.S. occupied and administered Haiti for twenty years between 1915 and the 1930s, and failure was the result. Unfortunately, for nation builders in both parties, the only reaction to repeated failure is to try, try again

[hosepipe]

Haiti is a Ghetto always has been... and with the same problems all Ghettos have.. Haiti needs a "PapaDoc" just as every Ghetto has their own PapaDoc's... Communism ghettoizes whatever it touches.. thats why...All communist leaders are PapDoc's.. the dictatorship of the proletariat requires a PapaDoc Duvalier whatever his name might be...

Communism is not LIKE socialism, it "IS" socialism....

[hunter112]

America should strongly look at taking over Haiti and making it a US protectorate.

That was my thought when I saw the news this morning. It would be far easier and cheaper to take care of the Haitians in their own country, after we accomplished regime change, than it would be to let all of them swim over here, then have to deal with them. I'm sure we have some formally educated Haitians here who could form a reasonable government and non-corrupt police force.

Who knows, we might be able to convice the Cuban people to overthrow their dictator, too.

[bobjam]

They used to say that in England. Now more people go to a mosque there than an Anglican Church.