US troops 'made Aristide leave'

Agence France-Presse ^ | March 1, 2004 | correspondents in Paris

[Batrachian]

US troops 'made Aristide leave'

From correspondents in Paris

March 1, 2004

HAITIAN leader Jean Bertrand Aristide was taken away from his home by US soldiers, it was claimed today.

A man who said he was a caretaker for the now exiled president told France's RTL radio station the troops forced Aristide out.

"The American army came to take him away at two in the morning," the man said.

"The Americans forced him out with weapons.

"It was American soldiers. They came with a helicopter and they took the security guards.

"(Aristide) was not happy. He did not want to be taken away. He did not want to leave. He was not able to fight against the Americans."

The RTL journalist who carried out the interview described the man as a "frightened old man, crouched in a corner" who said he was the "caretaker of the residence".

Aristide fled Haiti today in the face of an armed revolt. The United States has ordered Marines to the Caribbean state to help restore order.

Agence France-Presse

[Batrachian]

Probably BS considering the source, but interesting if true. The only U.S. troops there at the time where the 50 Marines sent to guard the U.S. embassy, I believe.

[Prodigal Son]

Sounds more like to me that we were saving his a$$.

[John Jorsett]

Probably we told Aristide that we wouldn't get between him and the rebels, and he chose to leave with a U.S. guard to protect him. I don't see why we'd bother forcing him to depart when the rebels would have just shot him in the head not too long from now.

[SolutionsOnly]

If true it would be a classic: Clinton put him in and Bush took him out!

But I suspect his is a not very successful attempt to make America look bad.

[ServesURight]

Debka, is that you?

[teletech]

US troops 'made Aristide leave'

Those MEANIES!

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Gunboat Diplomacy works again!

Semper Fi,

[cmsgop]

Aristide hired a Private US Company for security.

[billorites]

" the rebels would have just shot him in the head not too long from now."

And the problem is...?

[Rome2000]

This commie clown did squat for his people the entire time he was in power except arm a lot of petty thugs to intimidate the business class.

Under Aristide, conditions worsened horribly due to the flight of business and capital.

Even the baseball factory closed.

If he led responsibly,he would still be there.

[cyborg]

Yep.

[68skylark]

The only U.S. troops there at the time where the 50 Marines sent to guard the U.S. embassy.

Well I suspect we have Special Forces troops in and around Haiti. Whether they were the ones who escorted Aristide out of the country I don't know -- I doubt it.

[VaBthang4]

"The only U.S. troops there at the time where the 50 Marines sent to guard the U.S. embassy..."

If I am not mistaken those are 1st FAST [Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security] Marines out of Marine Barracks Norfolk.

Highly trained Special Ops Marines trained in Chesapeake who are required to be top-tier Rifle and Pistol shooters as well as to have scored perfect 300 PFT to even be considered for the job [As well as sign No-Marriage/Debt contracts].

50 of them are worth 1000 of any other breed.

I know... I was one of'em.

Semper Fi

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The only U.S. troops there at the time where the 50 Marines sent to guard the U.S. embassy, I believe.

You believe correctly. So fifty of our guys....no, they would have left some to guard the embassy....maybe thirty of our guys removed him. And his supporters didn't even peep?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"(Aristide) was not happy. He did not want to be taken away. He did not want to leave. He was not able to fight against the Americans."

The US troops should have gone to Haiti to protect our embassy and our interests and left Aristide alone. He should have been left to the wolves he helped create.

[Walkingfeather]

nope my guess is that this is a test of the UN. We clear out arristee and wait to see if the UN acts. I bet they dont, there will be suffering and chaos then the world will demand that WE ( the US ) do something. And Bush will say? WHY US?

[elli1]

As cmsgop pointed out, Aristede had a private US security force and that force was composed of former US military personnel according to what I read. In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if current US military gave him an escort and I'm betting that Aristede was darned glad to see them considering the wolves at the door.

[Brilliant]

If so, then the French should be delighted since they demanded Aristide's departure.

[elli1]

When I first read about the private US security force, I was a little worried about how those guys were going to get out of Haiti when push came to shove. So, it's likely that our military showed up to facilitate their exit and Aristede decided to hitch a ride.

[clintonh8r]

It's a beautiful thing that we can do this kind of stuff again, unlike during the carter and clinton occupations.