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Aristide Wants to Return to Assist in Haiti Recovery
VOA News ^

Posted on 01/15/2010 5:10:55 PM PST by Chet 99

Controversial former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide says he would like to return home to assist in rebuilding Haiti in the wake of this week's earthquake. The former Haitian leader lives in forced exile in South Africa.

Mr. Aristide says he and his family are ready to leave for Haiti at a moment's notice.

"As far as we are concerned, we are ready to leave today, tomorrow, at any time, to join the people of Haiti, to share in their suffering, help rebuild the country," he said. "Moving from misery to poverty with dignity."

Aristide has been in exile in South Africa since being ousted in a bloody rebellion in February 2004. He was hastily flown out of Haiti in a U.S. aircraft and said later that he had been kidnapped, an allegation the United States rejected.

Aristide did not offer any indication of when or how he could return to Haiti but said friends have offered him the means to do so.

"Friends from around the world have confirmed their willingness to organize an airplane carrying medical supplies, emergency needs and ourselves," he said.

Aristide who addressed the media at an airport hotel near the country's main airport, said that he should be at home, helping Haitians.

"Many people remain buried under tons of rubble and debris, waiting to be rescued. When we think of their suffering we feel deeply and profoundly that we should be there, in Haiti, with them, trying our best to prevent death," he said.

Aristide, a priest turned politician, became Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1990, but was overthrown in a coup the following year and went into exile in the United States.

He was restored to power with U.S. assistance in 1994, but was prohibited from standing for a consecutive second term. In 2000 he was once again elected president in a contested election, but by the time Haiti celebrated its bicentennial of independence in January 2004 there were widespread protests against his rule.

There were charges he failed the poor, turned a blind eye to drug-related corruption and authored violent assaults on his political opponents.

In South Africa, Aristide turned to academia, became an honorary research fellow at the University of South Africa, learned Zulu and earned a doctorate in African languages.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aristide; haiti; themancantblink
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1 posted on 01/15/2010 5:10:55 PM PST by Chet 99
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To: Chet 99

He has a few spare tires left over from the good old days that he’d like to use up.


2 posted on 01/15/2010 5:12:44 PM PST by ReleaseTheHounds ("The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.")
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To: Chet 99

As long as he does nothing more than dig in rubble to rescue people. I doubt that is his intention though.


3 posted on 01/15/2010 5:14:13 PM PST by posterchild (Endowed by my Creator with certain unalienable rights.)
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To: Chet 99

Yep, Rush nailed it. Another of his incisive predictions come true.


4 posted on 01/15/2010 5:15:13 PM PST by Salvey
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To: Chet 99

I called this one almost immediately.


5 posted on 01/15/2010 5:16:56 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: Chet 99

It would be like sending Bill Clinton to rebuild a whorehouse.


6 posted on 01/15/2010 5:18:50 PM PST by donhunt (America needs Obama-care like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask.)
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To: Chet 99

He didn’t do much for his country when there were no natural disasters happening, what does he think he can do now?


7 posted on 01/15/2010 5:19:10 PM PST by doc1019 (To call Obama a bumbling idiot would be an insult to bumbling idiots worldwide.)
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To: Chet 99

Any Haitian politician that hasn’t been killed in the earthquake should be tarred, feathered, and ridden out of town on the rail.

Haiti needs teachers, pastors, construction foremen, and engineers. It needs politicians like it needs another earthquake. The same goes for U.N. officials.


8 posted on 01/15/2010 5:19:47 PM PST by GAB-1955 (I write books, love my wife, serve my nation, and believe in the Resurrection.)
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To: Chet 99
Tough Times Require a Tough Response Bump!

Else Obamah will have to invade & occupy for the good of society.

9 posted on 01/15/2010 5:19:47 PM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Chet 99

I have a better idea. Let’s just give them Obama to run things down there.


10 posted on 01/15/2010 5:20:19 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Chet 99

I’d let him, if he forwarded his Swiss bank account numbers to me. Sorta like a reverse-419.


11 posted on 01/15/2010 5:21:24 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Cicero

I have a better idea. Let’s just give them Obama to run things down there.


You moved, I seconded it. I say we vote now!


12 posted on 01/15/2010 5:21:55 PM PST by Freedom56v2 ("If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait till it is free"--PJ O'rourke)
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To: Chet 99

Hard to believe this isn’t satire, but it’s real.


13 posted on 01/15/2010 5:21:55 PM PST by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: Cicero

The have enough problems. ;-)


14 posted on 01/15/2010 5:22:58 PM PST by doc1019 (To call Obama a bumbling idiot would be an insult to bumbling idiots worldwide.)
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To: Clock King

Baby Doc still lives in Paris I think?

Wonder if he has said anything.


15 posted on 01/15/2010 5:23:52 PM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (Nobody move, Nobody get hurt)
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To: Chet 99

But of course, millions of dollars of our money floating around the country.

He has mentors in the US. Marxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee among others.


16 posted on 01/15/2010 5:24:40 PM PST by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: Cicero

I’m surprised Obama hasn’t visited Haiti, it’s the one country that clearly elucidates his vision for the US.


17 posted on 01/15/2010 5:27:46 PM PST by gura (R-MO)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

18 posted on 01/15/2010 5:29:01 PM PST by gura (R-MO)
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To: Clock King

This is the plan. The lib media is playing this story for Obama. I have been warning people not to hype it. I was called heartless, non-Christian, fool, etc.

You better see the chess move that is going on because you are about to be conned again. Things are so bad that all the journalists have taken over the hotels.

Yes let’s help, provide aid, etc etc. Haiti is not a state like GA, Ohio, Colorado.

The plan:
1. Flood haitians into FL so O carries it in 2012 and ACORN gets the other swing states.
2. Use Haiti and Somalia plus a few others to destroy America. This is exactly what the left did in the UK and it was all for “compassionate” reasons.
3. He loots your retirement plan, IRA and 401-K to pay for destroying America. They are already talking about it and Argentian did this last year.
4. Put Aristide back in power.

Compassion & help yes - keep the Haitians there. Be careful because Obama WILL use your compassion to destroy your country. The left did it in the UK.


19 posted on 01/15/2010 5:30:26 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
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To: Chet 99
Just what they need! Throw that batsh*t crazy marxist a$$clown into the mix.

He may even be plotting his return to power. I suspect it involves a voodoo spell and reanimate all the quake victims as zombies to vote him back into office, and possibly Jimmy Carter to certify it.

20 posted on 01/15/2010 5:30:35 PM PST by conimbricenses
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