Veteran activist blasts Powell as traitor

AP | 2/27/04

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Veteran activist Randall Robinson said Friday that Secretary of State Colin Powell has become "an immoral traitor to his race" based on his policies toward Haiti and other black majority countries.

Robinson made headlines in 1994 when he staged a hunger strike to protest the Clinton administration's policy of repatriating Haitians fleeing the military dictatorship then in power.

Powell "is the most powerful and damaging black to rise to influence in the world in my lifetime," said Robinson, himself an African-American.

Robinson said Powell has participated in the deconstruction of Haiti's first democracy and "deliberately destroyed the reputation of its fairly and democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, one of the finest human beings I have ever been privileged to know."

Robinson for many years served as head of TransAfrica, a lobbying group that tried to influence American policies toward Africa and the Caribbean.

He read his statement to a reporter from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, where he now lives after deciding he no longer wanted to live in the United States. He explained his decision in a new book, "Quitting America."

Robinson, 62, was in the limelight in the mid-1980s for outspoken opposition to American policies toward South Africa, then under apartheid rule.

"Never before as now has America presented so palpable a menace to the small democracies of the black world, and it has expressed to these fledgling democracies devastating power under the guise of a black official of whom black Americans would likely dearly to have been proud," his statement said.

He released his comments after Powell openly questioned Aristide's ability to rule Haiti effectively during the remaining two years of his term.

Robinson said in an interview that he has long opposed U.S. policies toward Haiti. Because Aristide was his "own man" and could not be controlled, the United States worked against him, Robinson said. Among anti-Aristide policies in Washington was to block support for Haiti from international lending institutions.

The State Department declined immediate comment on Robinson's statement.

[sgtbono2002]

I admit I dont know much about Aristide, but why is it that American blacks want to keep him in power while Haitian blacks want him out ,also if these people feel that strongly what is keeping them here? Haiti isnt that far away and plane tickets arent that expensive.

[Dog]

They are really going over the cliff on Hati..

[anniegetyourgun]

"Never before as now has America presented so palpable a menace to the small democracies of the black world, and it has expressed to these fledgling democracies devastating power under the guise of a black official of whom black Americans would likely dearly to have been proud," his statement said.

Yeah, the U.S. is a real menace to Haiti. So even when it's not about us, it's about us?

[dead]

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, one of the finest human beings I have ever been privileged to know.

As long as somebody else is wearing the flaming tire around his neck.

[SolutionsOnly]

This sounds more like another honor than Colin can add to his resume.

[Dog]

Just once I want someone from our side to tell one of these lefists to sit down and shut the hell up...

[Conspiracy Guy]

Robinson, 62, was in the limelight in the mid-1980s for outspoken opposition to American policies toward South Africa, then under apartheid rule.

The changes in South Africa have proven to be an overwhelming success. Now Robinson is picking a winner again.

CG </ sarcasm>

[anniegetyourgun]

Seems certain blacks in America think they speak for all blacks worldwide. Those would be liberal blacks (i.e., most blacks in America). After all, libs (or all colors) believe they know what's best for everyone.

[anniegetyourgun]

or=of

[Viking2002]

More babble from the rabble.

[OldFriend]

This is the freak who assured an extra ten years of hardship for the people of Haiti when he forced slick willie to ressurect Aristede ten years ago.

[JohnHuang2]

I'd like to hear Randall Robinson's case of Haiti's link to al-Qaeda and how the island poses an imminent threat to the U.S.

[onedoug]

Who do you think is happier, Robinson or Powell?

This is important since, "Happy people do more good in the world."

[Flux Capacitor]

Why in the world is this a news story?!

-Dan

[plain talk]

where he now lives after deciding he no longer wanted to live in the United States.

Hey, there's hope. One down, umpteen million more liberals to go.

[swarthyguy]

Ah, yes, the UncleTom HouseSlave slur.

Randy, Belafonte did this last year.

[marron]

Never before as now has America presented so palpable a menace to the small democracies of the black world,

Which ones would these be?

[ought-six]

Randall Robinson is a hate-filled, bigoted racist whose very existence on this planet is an insult to blacks everywhere.

[colorado tanker]

why is it that American blacks want to keep him in power while Haitian blacks want him out

White liberals have Fidel Castro. Isn't it only fair that black liberals can have a thuggish dictator of their own?