Aristide Bows to Pressure, Leaves Haiti

AP via C-SPAN

[leadpenny]

Host just said story broke on AP about 2 minutes ago.

[mewzilla]

Just 200 grand, huh?

The largest aid recipient in 1996 was Haiti, reflecting the third year of an effort to support the restoration of democracy in that country. Haiti received $122 million in aid: $24 million in development assistance, $60 million in ESF, $27.4 million in P.L. 480 Title II, and $10 million in P.L. 480 Title III.

Haven't found the amounts for the last few years. I'll bet Aristide got away with a lot more than 200 grand.

[mewzilla]

That was US aid, BTW. Wonder where it went.

[Fester Chugabrew]

I spent the summer of 1980 in Cap Hatien with some teens, putting up a new building at Providence Orphanage. It was a summer I will never forget. Since that time I've kept a closer eye on that foreign country than on most.

[leadpenny]

Actually, this is bad news...

Could be. What I'm wondering is how will we know if and when the rebels actually take over? It will still be a state of anarchy down there.

[dennisw]

He'll settle in either south Florida or NYC. Right now, he's just getting outta Dodge..........

Florida 'cause it's warmer and closer to Haiti, which he'll be trying to worm his way back into power if Kerry wins. No real Haitian endures northern winters unless it's job income and money realted. And Artistede has enough boodle to live where he wants.

[leadpenny]

Mark Halperin, ABC News Political Director, is now on C-SPAN (he was scheduled). Wasn't he a Clinton lacky?

[dennisw]

We just have to be sending huge amounts of food aid there (Haiti), my guess would be mostly in the form of rice. Which also keeps our rice farmers plenty happy.

[Beck_isright]

I guess now he can be a guest of the House of Saud like Idi Amin was.

[mewzilla]

Still is a Toon lackey :)

[Peach]

Good. President Bush always seems to get what he wants. Drives the Rats crazy. hehehehe

[adam_az]

"Is so, will Her Ankleship bake him some cookies?"

Probably. Though it's questionable as to whether he'll still have any appetite after a serving of Madeline's Brisket.

[Catspaw]

I agree with you, dennisw--but his kids are in NYC right now. He may want to touch bases with his pals in the UN. But for the climate and the Haitian community, south Florida it is.

But I haven't heard if he's landed. I did check with cable news--CNN & MSNBC are only reporting that he left, not if he's landed somewhere. Fox news was reporting on the Oscars. Last I saw of Fox's Steve Harrigan (last night) in Port-au-Prince is that he was ducking down behind a wall while bullets zinged overhead.

[KC Burke]

Clinton Legacy
Continues to Build.

[boomop1]

He will probably send Clintoon his cut of the stash.

[backhoe]

hotlink:

-Haiti, descending into chaos again--

denniw, somewhere among the links above are a couple to some aerial photographs- it is indeed shocking how denuded Haiti is.

[areafiftyone]

And the Democreeps are going to scream their famous battle cry !! IT'S BUSH'S FAULT!! ;-)

[ODDITHER]

This is just further proof, that evil dicatators think nothing of killing their subjects and enemies, but are cowardly they are the first to hide and the first to run.

[Dustoff45]

Saw vegatation everywhere. Sure, Port au Prince is overrun by people, but plants grow in that moist hot environment.

Took one trip up the mountain to see Ft. Jacque, and saw a lot of hillside planting, terracing like you would expect to see in Asia. Many people farming. It is not as depressing as it seems.

Visited a small church in the bush that meet in a hut made up of palm fronds, about 20 x 50 feet. Our local church has been helping them erect both a permament church site, as well as a school. For most youngsters, the local christian school is their only opportunity for an education.

Visited the homes of several people of that church and saw many animals, cows, pigs, donkeys tethered in the fields to graze.

It was explained that the cow was the man's bank account. Having grown up on the farm, I understood the concept. A farmer does not need cash, as much has he needs an opportunity for crops to grow and calves to mature.

Meet one amish family that have been down there for years helping the local people with agricultural methods.

[csvset]

IT'S BUSH'S FAULT!

I wonder when The 'Toon or The Hildabeast will chime in on Haiti?

I can hear The 'Toon now, "It's a real tragedy, the United States allowed this happen, after all the work my administration had done there too."

[Jim Noble]

Aristede's life expectancy was measured in hours if he stayed in Haiti. Now what?

A bloodbath of unimaginable cruelty, lasting 48 hours, followed by US intervention.

Sort of like hitting the "reset" button in a video game.