Posted on 03/02/2004 6:18:50 PM PST by blam
US special forces in stand-off with Haiti rebels
By Marcus Warren in Port-au-Prince
(Filed: 03/03/2004)
America was being sucked ever deeper into Haiti's civil war last night as special forces soldiers faced their first tense stand-off with rebels occupying the capital.
US troops guarded the home of the prime minister, Yvon Neptune, after the rebel commander, Guy Philippe, told cheering supporters that he would personally arrest the protege of the ousted president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
US special forces patrolling the grounds of the presidential palace
Lorryloads of former soldiers brandishing revolvers and machine-pistols circled the villa in the hills over Port-au-Prince, as hundreds of bystanders converged on the property to watch the confrontation.
The US State Department demanded that rebel forces lay down their weapons. In Washington its spokesman, Richard Boucher, said they had no political role. "The rebels need to disband and go back to their homes," he said.
But a day after his triumphant entry into Port-au-Prince, Guy Philipe announced: "I'm not taking any pressure from anyone, only from the Haitian people." In an ill-tempered victory press conference, he declared himself "military chief", "commandant general", head of the resistance and, at one point, simply "the chief".
Since Mr Aristide's abrupt departure on Sunday, a myriad rival factions, all armed to the teeth, have taken to the streets, supposedly to restore order, but also to stake their claims to a role post-Aristide.
The US military, allied with the French and Canadians, can outgun everyone else, but it was hard to see how Washington could impose its vision for Haiti's future on the competing forces.
Marines were still guarding the presidential palace, whose main occupant, Haiti's caretaker leader, Boniface Alexandre, has not been seen in public since he assumed his post immediately after Mr Aristide's flight.
The rebels, the police and remnants of the dreaded "monsters" - thugs controlled by Mr Aristide - were scattered across the city. Squads of armed businessmen determined to protect their property and settle old scores completed the volatile mix of forces at large in Port-au-Prince.
"They're going to keep on getting shot until they stop looting," vowed a squad member.
The diplomatic and military initiative by Washington and Paris in response to the crisis has signalled a partial thaw in the icy relationship they have had since America said it would depose Saddam Hussein.
President Jacques Chirac's spokesman said President George W Bush had telephoned the French leader to hail "US-French co-operation on Haiti and thank France".
That's not what guerrillas do. They plant mines.
All Phillipe needs to do is lift his finger from the deadmans switch, and you'll get much worse than suicidal charges against the Marines.
I don't think the Haitians are going to see a Republican-imposed dictatorial CEO as any particular improvement.
I also recall back in 91 when Bush I had approval ratings in the 80% range, foolishly squandered that goodwill, and gave us 8 years of Clinton. I hope Bush II is not stupid enough to repeat that blunder.
I like this guy.
Trained by US Army Special Forces, 1988-1991.
We need a semi-stable Haiti or Cubans will take root. Clinton and the Clintonistas did not see that as a problem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.