US Special Forces In Stand-Off With Haiti Rebels

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3-3-2004 | Marcus Warren

[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".

[ambrose]

We have no business in that cess pool. Not under Clinton, and not under Bush either.

They want to slaughter each other from now until the end of time?

Let them.

[Arpege92]

Absolutely.....we can't help people who don't want to be helped. I say get our guys out of there and let them fight until their hearts content!

[Possenti]

We have no business in that cess pool. Not under Clinton, and not under Bush either.

Exactly. But I'm sure there's RINO's who support everything the current president does, but were against Clinton when he made the same decisions.

[VOA]

US special forces in stand-off with Haiti rebels

well, now we get to identify the Haitian rebels who want to die for their country...
provided we can call Haiti a real country.

[The Mayor]

another klinkton mess....

God Bless and Protect our guys !

[NeonKnight]

I love the job GWB has done with foreign policy, but if one single Marine dies in Haiti, I will never forgive him. We have no interests there, and I don't care enough to sacrifice American blood for it.

[ambrose]

One difference is that Clintoon imposed a bloodthirsty Marxist on Haiti...

[JimSEA]

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".

When Mr. Philipe gets out in front of his armed thugs and leads a charge on the Marines, I will take him seriously enough to send flowers to his services. As it is he seems to be ranting against the "whites" just like some of our leaders do and for the same reasons.

[SAMWolf]

Arestide is gone, pull our troops out. That whole turd world country isn't worth one American Soldier's life.

[varon]

Now, that's a nice mess you've gotten us into, Ollie ;-)

[WTSand]

Not that I would accuse Reuters but check those "Special Forces" out. Old shots of Aristides private security maybe? (Excellent sig by the way.)

[TheBattman]

Unfortunately, I agree with you (not that agreeing with you is necessarily a negative thing!).

Then again, that philosophy is not a bad one to have with some parts of the world. How much $$, support, and other aid can you give to one of these holes before we get a clue that the natives are not capable of civil government? Thus, if they refuse to act in a civil manner, let them rot. Our pockets are not bottomless, our patience is not endless, and quite frankly, we have much more pressing issues to deal with that this cesspool.

[TheBattman]

One difference is that Clintoon imposed a bloodthirsty Marxist on Haiti...

Birds of a Feather.....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Looks like he's read all of Baby Doc's old memos.

[luvbach1]

We have to stay until the situation stablizes (a highly relative term) to counter the claims (swallowed and repeated by the black caucus and others) that that the US fomented the rebellious unrest (I wonder how?) and then kidnapped a reluctant Aristide just as he was to make a noble last stand.

[archy]

well, now we get to identify the Haitian rebels who want to die for their country...

provided we can call Haiti a real country.

We may indeed. Between 1956 and 1985, the US government issued over one million entry visas to Haitians....

[RoseofTexas]

After saving Aristide's butt, he back stabbed us ROYALLY! WHY IN THE HECK ARE WE THERE ANYWAY? GET OUT, GET OUT AND LET THE FROGS handle it!! NOW!

[blam]

"We have to stay until the situation stablizes (a highly relative term) to counter the claims (swallowed and repeated by the black caucus and others) that that the US fomented the rebellious unrest (I wonder how?) and then kidnapped a reluctant Aristide just as he was to make a noble last stand."

Why has Maxine and Jesse suddenly gone quiet? Or, have I missed their ravings?

[fourdeuce82d]

"They're going to keep on getting shot until they stop looting," vowed a squad member.

I like this guy.