Condoleezza Rice Threatens Jamaica Over Aristide

Axis of Logic ^ | 26 March 2004 | Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales

[MegaSilver]

March 25th, 2004-Randall Robinson, who accompanied Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on his historic return trip back to the Caribbean, reveals that National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice is telling the Jamaican government if Aristide is not immediately expelled from the country and anything happens to American forces in Haiti, consequences would be exacted against Jamaica in full force by the U.S. [includes rush transcript. See below.]

National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice has refused to appear before the 9-11 Commission to give sworn testimony. But she has been very busy on a different front: The situation in Haiti. Rice and other officials have very publicly expressed their anger at President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's return to the Western Hemisphere on March 15, after spending 2 weeks in the Central African Republic.

The Haitian President is currently in Jamaica with his wife, Mildred, and their two young daughters. The Bush administration has characterized Aristide's return to the Caribbean as inflaming the situation in Haiti and has gone as far as to label his presence an incitement to violence. Aristide maintains that he was kidnapped as part of a US-orchestrated coup.

Just as the Aristides were settling into their temporary life in Jamaica, news broke that the 15-nation Caribbean Community-CARICOM, had sent a formal request to the government of Nigeria, asking them to host Aristide. Jamaica, CARICOM and the Nigerian government have all indicated that pressure was being put on them by Washington.

Randall Robinson, an author and founder of TransAfrica. He is a close friend of the Aristides. He was on the delegation that returned President Aristide to the Caribbean.

[MegaSilver]

Apologies for the excerpt; it claims exclusivity (though I'm not sure how, as it's over a day old AND was on another site as well).

[Asclepius]

The Haitian President is currently in Jamaica with his wife, Mildred, and their two young daughters.

Perhaps he will cut himself shaving. Or fall down in the shower. Or become one more tourist who simply disappears in Jamaica. One can dream.

[billorites]

Gag, hurl...
This is an Amy Goodman interview.

[Casloy]

Oh my, problems in Haiti.... YAWN

[Unicorn]

who's paying
I wonder how much money he stole?

[barker]

Uh, Amy and Juan, Condi gave 4 hours of testimony. It was closed because of security issues.

[TomGuy]

National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice has refused to appear before the 9-11 Commission to give sworn testimony.

I think the above statement is untrue. Rice has refused to give sworn public testimony. She did testify 4 hours in private (that fact gets lost in these kinds of shady allegations).

[livius]

This is important news. In addition, the Caribbean nations who are members of the OAS have suddenly come out supporting Aristide. Not good.

Also, I think that the collapse of Spain in the face of terrorism (but more because of the agressive attacks of its domestic left wing) is going to make the Latin American/Caribbean situation even more unstable.

[livius]

Ping to you folks. Any ideas on the Aristide situation?

[EGPWS]

March 25th, 2004-Randall Robinson, who accompanied Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on his historic return trip back to the Caribbean, reveals that National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice is telling the Jamaican government if Aristide is not immediately expelled from the country and anything happens to American forces in Haiti, consequences would be exacted against Jamaica in full force by the U.S.

National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice has refused to appear before the 9-11 Commission to give sworn testimony. But she has been very busy on a different front: The situation in Haiti. Rice and other officials have very publicly expressed their anger at President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's return to the Western Hemisphere on March 15, after spending 2 weeks in the Central African Republic.

Nice ploy by the media to, again, focus attention on Condy for political purposes.

[marron]

I don't know the specifics of our financial aid packages to Jamaica, but that is our point of leverage. We can pro-rate a reduction of that aid for every day Aristide remains in the region, we can intervene in any World Bank re-financing, or IMF refinance, and hold up any loans that are on the table until he is gone. A military response is not the only tool in our toolbag.

Venezuela offered to take him, although that seems to have been soft pedaled in the last few days. Thats a bigger problem, and less tractable, as we have less leverage against Caracas. But our attitude should be the same. We should intervene to stop any loans from going through while he's in the region.

[livius]

Venezuela is rapidly becoming a terrorist state, and I do not think we should let VZ have him - clearly, he'd then enter into the Castro-Chavez axis, and I think he'd be a significant problem.

What you say about a financial response is very important. I think that should, at the moment, be our way of dealing with the entire spectrum of OAS states. But it should be sharp and strong.

[norton]

"National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice has refused to appear before the 9-11 Commission to give sworn testimony. But she has been very busy on a different front: The situation in Haiti..."

They've been hammering this theme all day. "she can go on 60 minutes but she refuses to go before the committee...."
Leaving out, of course, the part about seeking a second session but not being willing to go on TV with it!

[Western Phil]

The Haitians are likely to take care of the Aristide problem if he goes home. He doesn't seem to have any sense. Maybe his Swiss bank account is empty.

Unfortunately our Marines are in the middle of it.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? How are they going to get around Condi being black - they don't have any legs to stand on for a "racist" charge. Poor things!

[SauronOfMordor]

I still think the US should have just let the rebels take him for a ride

[section9]

Here's the problem for Robinson, Amy Goodman, and the rest of that crowd:

Nobody gives a flying f*#k about Aristide, his corrupt regime, or the money he stole from the Haitian people.

Next burning issue on Democracy Now!: the Steaming Pile in the Middle of the Road: what Che said about Right Deviationists.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Blue Scourge]

Do to him what the Clinton's did to Vince Foster?

[Blue Scourge]

I do however find it really odd that he claims to have been "abducted" by US forces and is pissed about it. If that where the case (and it's not) we would have been doing his rear a favor...did he honestly want the rebels to get ahold of him?

[section9]

Oh, I almost forgot! The antidote for that charming pic of Amy Goodman is this:

Be Seeing You,

Chris