Posted on 04/07/2004 5:03:44 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - In a furious press release on Tuesday, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) condemned Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent visit to Haiti, calling it a "contemptible example of this administration's handling of the crisis in Haiti that it helped to create."
Waters, a close friend and staunch defender of ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is angry that Powell "has accomplished nothing and [wasted] taxpayer dollars" by visiting the newly appointed prime minister.
Powell made a five-hour visit to Haiti on Monday, where he offered the "full support" of the United States for the country's interim leader -- and rejected the idea of having the United Nations investigate Aristide's ouster.
"I don't think any purpose would be served by such an inquiry. The facts are very well-known,'' Powell said. "It was six weeks ago that Haiti was on the verge of total security collapse. We prevented a blood bath and a coup from taking place.''
During his visit, Powell said the U.S. would give $9-million to a fund earmarked for building democracy in Haiti. That fund is managed by the Organization of American States.
Rep. Maxine Waters is not pleased. In her press release on Tuesday, she complained about Secretary Powell's refusal to "denounce the performance of Prime Minister Latortue, who was handpicked by the U.S."
Waters also complained about Powell's refusal to condemn "the blatantly illegal actions of criminals and drug dealers...who are still occupying and controlling the cities of Gonaives and Cap-Haitien."
Rep. Waters named Guy Philippe, Louis-Jodel Chamblain, and Jean Tatoune as being among those "criminals." She said they are the ones who threatened to kill Aristide and who stirred up violence in Port au Prince and other cities "where members of the Lavalas Party are found dead every day."
"It is absolutely shameful," said Waters, "for the U.S. to be aligned with these killers and, even at this late date, refuse to divest itself of this unholy alliance." She said Secretary Powell has neither "the desire nor the will to removes these killers from their role in Haiti's crisis."
Rep. Waters is deeply immersed in the politics of Haiti, a fact that has raised questions among some conservatives who wonder why she and other members of the Black Congressional Caucus have defended Aristide while his people suffered.
After Aristide was removed from Haiti (kidnapped, he said; voluntarily removed for his own protection, the U.S. said), he took temporary refuge in Africa. Against the wishes of the Bush administration, Waters flew to Africa to accompany him and his wife to Jamaica, where the Aristides are temporarily residing.
"We believe that President Aristide, in a sense, forfeited his ability to lead his people, because he did not govern democratically," National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said in a mid-March television interview.
Haiti's interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue says he has signed an agreement to hold presidential elections next year, even though Haiti's constitution says elections must be held within 90 days.
"I think all political parties agree that elections cannot be held in 90 days,'' Latortue was quoted as saying.
Rep. Waters called Latortue an "immoral" leader who is unfit to serve as prime minister.
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But, God forbid someone say anything about the black woman & her frequent trips to Cuba. She makes me sick.
Isn't that the order of the day for democrats?
I remember it well. Of course they don't care about the rules....break them, break the law...doesn't matter. It's all for THEIR greater good. The ends justify the means.
The politically correct have themselves turned a blind eye to the Black Caucus, a group of Americans that call themselves anything but American; a group who support dictatorships and the suppression of other people. Their activities in Haiti and Cuba and their demands for US taxpayer dollars in those countries are tantamount to blackmail and border on treason. The BCC needs a thorough investigation of their subversive activities in these and other countries of predominantly black citizens.
Might begin by checking on Maxine's campaign fund.
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