Probing U.S. ties to Haiti coup

[seemslikeadream]

BY RON HOWELL
STAFF WRITER

March 17, 2004

Dodd said he planned to ask the inspector-general of the U.S. Agency for International Development to investigate the International Republican Institute. Two years ago, USAID gave the institute $1.2 million to train Haitians. In the Dominican Republic, IRI then held a series of classes for 600 Haitians, who crossed the border from Haiti, said IRI spokesman Thayer Scott.

Dodd is especially concerned about the involvement in IRI of a hard-line Haitian Aristide opponent named Stanley Lucas.

Lucas had been "undermining" international efforts to get Aristide foes to moderate their positions, Dodd said, citing allegations made two years ago by Brian Dean Curran, then U.S. ambassador to Haiti.....



Dodd asked Noriega for assurances Lucas and other institute officials "had absolutely no involvement or contact with Guy Philippe or other members of the Haitian armed forces or FRAPH," a paramilitary organization.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-wohait153710685mar17,0,2222635.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-print

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. myself, I think . . "guilty as charged" . .

.
.
.

From the Posted Article:

"Dodd says he has Defense Department letters indicating the United States supplied 20,000 M-16s and other equipment to the Dominican military over the past two years. He is concerned those weapons - or weapons those guns replaced - ended up in the hands of rebels trying to topple Aristide.

"The question is: Was the Dominican Republic being used as a staging ground for weapons transfers and coup plotting?" said an aide to Dodd.

At a hearing last week of a Senate subcommittee on Western Hemisphere affairs, Dodd asked Assistant Secretary of State Roger Noriega about the M-16s, citing several Defense Department letters written in 2002 and last year. Noriega said that, as far as he knew, the guns had not been delivered to the Dominican Republic, though Dodd's aide said the letters appear to show a completed transfer."
...................................................................

Looks bad to me . .

you? :shrug:

[seemslikeadream]

2. Commentary: Can Aristide's tale be true?

By Carmen Gentile
UPI Latin America Correspondent
Published 3/16/2004 6:01 PM


...In addition to the eyewitness testimonies, there is the fact that some 50 Marines were deployed to Port-au-Prince a couple weeks before Aristide left. While officially there to protect the embassy and other U.S. interests, a force that size would also serve well to surround the Haitian leader and convince him to board the U.S. charted plane bound for Africa -- no questions asked.

Then there's the economic meddling by the United States and the European Community which in retrospect could look pretty suspicious. In recent years, both worked to block a half billion dollar loan from the Inter-Development Bank to Haiti, money Aristide sorely needed to fund promised schools and fuel a job increase.

From Aristide supporters' point of view, it looks like the United States and its allies were trying to starve Aristide out of power. Washington, of course, counters that the corruption allegations against the ex-president prompted them to prevent the funds from reaching Haitian coffers....



Is it really so implausible that a Bush administration that never really liked Aristide decided to flex its muscle in its own backyard and frog-march Aristide right out of town?

His supporters at home believe Aristide's story. So does this reporter.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040316-045000-7354r

[eablair3]

3. a little digging on this and they will nail them

I have no doubts that they not only trained these "opposition" members but that they armed them as well. You only had to look at the news video. It was obvious.

At one point, they admitted holding "joint" exercises (something called "Operation Jade") with the Dominicans along the Dominican border, but the Dominicans denied any knowledge of this.

They armed these criminals and murderers and sent them into Haiti to subvert the government in Haiti.

I don't think it would take too much to prove this. I think the whole house of cards could come tumbling down by just looking into this and investigating it. This is a key thing to investigate,imo.

[eablair3]

4. Maxine Waters on C-Span - Washington Journal Online

for all those following the Haiti story, an fyi:

http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=haiti

Rep Waters on C-span today. Available on line at the link above. Or, just go to c-span.org and do a search for "haiti" and it will pop up. It's from March 17, 2004.

[seemslikeadream]

5. Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces TRUTH

For Immediate Release Contact: Stuart Chapman
March 9, 2004 [phone]



Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces TRUTH
(The Responsibility to Uncover the Truth about Haiti) Act
Bill Would Establish Independent Commission




Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressional Black Caucus Haiti Task Force Co-Chair, today introduced the TRUTH (The Responsibility to Uncover the Truth about Haiti) Act today, which calls for an independent bipartisan commission to uncover the facts about the Bush Administration’s involvement in the recent coup d’etat in Haiti. The bill was co-sponsored by CBC Haiti Task Force Co-Chair John Conyers and 23 other Members.



The TRUTH Act calls for the commission to investigate, among other questions, the following: 1) Did the U.S. Government impede democracy and contribute to the overthrow of the Aristide government? 2) Under what circumstances did President Jean-Bertrand Aristide resign, and what was the role of the United States Government in bringing about his departure? 3) To what extent did the U.S. impede efforts by the international community, particularly the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, to prevent the overthrow of the democratically-elected Government of Haiti? 4) What was the role of the United States in influencing decisions regarding Haiti at the United Nations Security Council and in discussions between Haiti and other countries that were willing to assist in the preservation of the democratically-elected Government of Haiti by sending security forces to Haiti? 5) Was U.S. assistance provided or were U.S. personnel involved in supporting, directly or indirectly, the forces opposed to the government of President Aristide? 6) Was U.S. bilateral assistance channeled through nongovernmental organizations that were directly or indirectly associated with political groups actively involved in fomenting hostilities or violence toward the government of President Aristide?



Following the makeup of the WMD commission called for in H.R. 2625 legislation by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) last year, the TRUTH commission would be made up of ten members, five chosen by the Democratic congressional leadership and five by the Republican congressional leadership.



“The Bush Administration’s efforts in the overthrow of a democratically-elected government must be investigated,” said Lee. “All of the evidence brought forward thus far suggests that the Administration has, in essence, carried out a form of ‘regime change,’ a different variation than it took in Iraq, but still regime change. The American people and the international community deserve to know the truth, and this bill will offer the opportunity to investigate the long-term origins of the overthrow of the Haitian government and the impact of our failure to protect democracy.”
http://www.house.gov/lee/releases/04Mar09.htm

[eablair3]

6. what's required to have an investigation?

Do you have to pass a bill or law to have an investigation? Is it only in a bill or law that you can have an "independent bipartisan" commission?

Can't some committee in congress just decide that they are going to conduct an investigation?

I doubt that Bush is going to form a commission to investigate itself.

What are the different options for investigations and what are the requrirements for each?

[0007]

11. I doubt that Bush is going to form a commission to investigate itself."

Why not? The thief turns policeman to investigate what the thief stole, LOL!!

If we can just wake up the peanut gallery now, we'll frog march junior and his cabal to jail as war criminals

[TankLV]

7. But, but, but - that can't be true!

According to a rather prolific recent poster on another thread on this subject, Lee supports the overthrow of Aristide and his "thugs" and a restoration of "true democracy" with the current bushco* group presently ensconced!

Wow, and here we thought the poster of the other threads had an agenda that was suspect - guess we was right after all!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

10. Gee, I wonder who that might be.

[redqueen]

16. Is anyone else able to find this bill?

I searched on thomas.loc.gov with no success...

[Judi Lynn]

17. Not yet, but I did find an "organizational petition"

which might be useful to someone:

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Organizational Petition on Haiti

For organizations and institutions working for global justice

Dear friends and supporters of Haiti:

We are all deeply troubled by the daily horrors of civil unrest in cities across Haiti costing the lives of hundreds and thousands of Haitians. The overthrow of the democratically elected government of Haiti by a superpower like the U.S. is a dangerous precedent. We need to send a clear message to the Bush administration that such actions are unacceptable, and we will hold accountable those responsible for these acts of injustice.

You will find below a petition letter that expresses our sentiments of outrage on the act by the U.S. government to depose the leader of a sovereign state. President Jean Bertrand Aristide is the choice of the Haitian people, and only they should have the final say on electing their leader.

We ask you to sign the petition asking for immediate and unconditional re-instatement of President Aristide of Haiti. We are also demanding an investigation into the role of the Bush administration in violating international laws. We will use this letter to support current demands for Congressional investigation.

Congressmembers Barbara Lee and John Conyers, along with 24 of their colleagues, have proposed the TRUTH Act, which calls for such an investigation. (Non-profit organizations need not be concerned about violating the "advocacy on legislation" clause of their 501(c)(3). The petition does not mention this or any other specific bill before Congress.)

At this time, we are only asking for organizational endorsement of this petition. Please fill out the form below as completely as possible and clip and paste to send to: [email protected].

For more information on current conditions in Haiti, please visit: http://www.haitiaction.net.

(petition follows)

http://www.sfbayview.com/031704/urgentaction031704.shtml

[nicecakes]

19. There is no TRUTH bill on record

The closest one I found was...

H.R.3919
Title: To establish the Independent Commission on the 2004 Coup d'Etat in the Republic of Haiti.
Sponsor: Rep Lee, Barbara (introduced 3/9/2004) Cosponsors: 37
Latest Major Action: 3/9/2004 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

Is this the one with a different name? Looks dead in the water with only 37 cosponsors. Last time I checked there were more than 37 Dems still seated in the House.

[seemslikeadream]

20. I just called Lee's office

that is the bill H.R. 3919

[nicecakes]

22. Yep but they came up with a different name for it

I don't know why they changed the name. Maybe someone objected to the TRUTH acronym and title?

[seemslikeadream]

8. Rally denounces White House role in Haiti coup

Mildred Charles, executive director of the 10th Department Organization for Haitian Empowerment, a Washington-based group that represents the Haitian diaspora, demanded a congressional investigation.

“Why is the United States siding with the rebel groups instead of the democratically elected president of Haiti?” she demanded. “Where are these rebels getting their weapons and uniforms? Why did the U.S. pressure the World Bank, the IMF and USAID not to send financial assistance to Haiti in the past 10 years? This is a call to action. We want people to call their congresspeople to demand a full investigation. The United Nations should be more involved. And don’t forget, we have an election here in the U.S. Nov. 2. We want regime change here.”

Jon Samuels, an aide to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), told the crowd the Illinois lawmaker supports an investigation of the removal of Aristide. “U.S. troops went to the doorstep of Aristide’s palace and told him: ‘Thugs are coming and they are going to kill you and we won’t protect you unless you agree to leave.’ If that isn’t a coup, what is it?”

Damu Smith, a leader of Black Voices for Peace, reminded the crowd that Bush stole the 2000 election by “disenfranchising Black voters in Florida, including Haitian American voters,” in what he called an American-style coup d’etat. Now, Bush is attempting a coup in Haiti. “We have a gang of pathological liars in the White House right now. Why hasn’t the U.S. military arrested those paramilitary thugs in Haiti? Because they want them to seize power. We say, U.S. out! Aristide in!”

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/4911/1/206

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Let's not forget that it is illegial for anyone

to sell arms to Haiti, because Papa Bu$h put them under an arms and economic embargo last time they wanted to be rid of Aristide.

So for the US to arm the rebels is a blatant violation of the embargo.

[seemslikeadream]

12. Try Bush as a Global Pirate

Return Aristide to Haiti
Try Bush as a Global Pirate
Dismantle Structures of Subversion


The Bush men have the Madness Touch. Their very presence warps conventional notions of reality.

Thus, the new “prime minister” of Haiti appears as surprised as the rest of his countrymen when conveyed the title by an “eminent” rump of persons chosen by the occupying power. The man picked for the job on Tuesday, business consultant Gérard Latortue, doesn’t even arrive in Haiti from his home in Boca Raton, Florida, until Wednesday. U.S. Marines believe they have killed Haitian gunmen in battle, but seem unconcerned as to their identities. Half a world away, the constitutional head of state, elected with overwhelming popular support in a process deemed free and fair by the entire international community, is held captive by an African military dictator after being kidnapped by the world’s superpower in cahoots with the former colonial master of his country.

The world searches for terminology to describe the high crimes of the Bush regime in Haiti and the Central African Republic, and of course, Iraq – even as endless additional criminal contingencies take shape in the planning rooms of the Pentagon. The Bush men seem determined to methodically teach the planet that Washington is a threat to the very concept of international order – that they are Pirates.

Evidence that George Bush is leader of a rogue, pirate state accumulates daily, for the world to examine in the raw. Yet the racist cabal (and its Black operatives) seem not to understand that Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide cannot be demonized like Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. The nightmare image is seared into the global retina: the frail ex-priest and his wife, kidnapped from their home and delivered to the tender mercies of coup-making African generals.

If the Bush men are on an international consciousness raising mission, they are succeeding. Whatever perverse logic guides their actions – and we have seen such logic at work in the world, before, when small groups of men tested their “will” against the survival instincts of the planet – they are in fact summoning a future “tribunal” whose mandate must expand to match the crimes of the American perpetrators. There will be a response to this avalanche of atrocities that “are so harmful to international interests that states are entitled – and even obliged – to bring proceedings against the perpetrator, regardless of the location of the crime or the nationality of the perpetrator or victim," to borrow the words of Mary Robinson, former United Nations high commissioner for human rights.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/81/81_cover_haiti_pr.html


In addition to being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, Haiti is considered the third hungriest in the world, after Somalia and Afghanistan.

More than 70% of Haiti's children do not advance beyond the fifth grade.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks to the posters who contributed thoughts and links to this thread.

I read every word, read the exceptional links, listened to eablair3's excellent C-Span interview with Maxine Waters.

It was like stepping into a clear, clean pool of water, for a change: everything there was helpful, truthful, and and illuminating.

Posters who are in a hurry, but suspect they still may not have enough information on subjects raised at D.U. would be doing themselves a favor to slow down, take time and do the reading, look at/listen to the clips, without disengaging brain, and start sifting through and studying the information available.

Thanks for the knowledgeable links which were created from a position of actual awareness of the facts.

Five cheers for Maxine Waters, who used the opportunity provided by some nasty callers to continue exposing the deliberately buried facts of Haiti's desperate predicament.

[peacetalksforall]

24. Look up any repeats of programs by Democracy Now, in particular

last weekends programs and all this week. In one report, they said they contacted CNN about coverage of the trip to Africa to pick up Aristede and take him to Jamaica and CNN replied that they were 'standing down'. We know why.

Democracy Now. Amy Goodman. Maxine Waters. Randall Robinson. and others. Listen every day. Pacifica Radio, brought to you by your local community radio stations, if you're lucky. They have a website, too.

[seemslikeadream]

14. Tell Bush to roll back the coup in Haiti

by Cynthia McKinney

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney delivered this address March 6 at a UC Berkeley conference titled “The Role of Law & Policy: Africa, the Caribbean & the U.S.” sponsored by the African-American Law and Policy Report


If you will recall, the United States and Haiti have been in this exact same place before. Gen. Raul Cedras had stolen power in a coup against the democratically elected priest who worked in the barrios of Port-au-Prince. Haitian Americans in Florida and New York and elsewhere worked non-stop to reinstall Father Aristide to power.

The Republican Justice Department had just overseen the largest expansion of the Congressional Black Caucus since the passage of the Voting Rights Act as it forced Southern legislatures to draw districts that would allow rural Blacks finally to elect candidates of their choice. Black voters, with a massive turnout, had turned George Bush’s father out of the White House and elected Bill Clinton instead.

So the stage was set on the inside and on the outside for a massive shift in U.S. policy toward Haiti, leaving the Republican antipathy for Aristide behind. This shift so infuriated at least one small group in white America that, in the Florida redistricting case, the plaintiff actually wrote that the increased strength of the Congressional Black Caucus had actually changed U.S. policy toward Haiti, and for that reason, among others, the size of the CBC had grown too large, thus the lawsuit against the district of Congresswoman Corrine Brown.
http://www.sfbayview.com/031704/rollbackthecoup031704.shtml



Secondhand clothes sent from developed nations are called "PePe" for the port town where they first arrive. Many women buy and sell these clothes to earn money.

http://www.freefromhunger.org/haiti/16.html

[Judi Lynn]

15. Good point raised in Cynthia McKinney's remarks

"What becomes of a community that rewards those who pick the fruit up but fails to protect those who shake it down?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can't help but notice how really serious, care-worn so many of the faces are, and the children often look far older than they can possibly be.

You have to look down on any administration which would even considered making life harder than it has already become as a result of the unchecked greed and power wielding from outsiders stealing their country and human rights to health and peace of mind.

[seemslikeadream]

18. Haiti Update IV: On Roots, Trees and Liberty

A child holds up a poster of ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide proir to a pro-Aristide march on Thursday March 11, 2004

By Avi Steinberg

Since Bush took office, the US has given sizeable sums of money to anti-Aristide factions and has sponsored political training for these groups in the Dominican Republic. At the same time, they cut off all aid to Aristide's ruling party. This radical imbalance of support obviously doesn't foster democracy. Much of the money given to the opposition was funneled through the International Republican Institute (IRI), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of democracy around the world. This organization aids countries' ruling parties as well as opposition parties in the stated hope that democracy is strengthened if all sides are given equal support and training. This didn't happen in the case of Haiti. Instead, the IRI was used as a vehicle to bring Aristide to his knees. Aside from the material advantage given to only one faction in Haiti, the US gave anti-Aristidists a much more significant gift: the green light to rebel. Although it seems unlikely that the US planned or even desires this conflict at the moment (let's not forget that the Bush campaign mantra is "No War in '04"), the fact is they and Clinton have laid the groundwork for

http://www.africana.com/articles/daily/bw20040317haiti.asp

[underpants]

21. Staging area for a Cuba invasion?

:shrug:

[reprehensor]

23. *bumper*

[tlcandie]

25. This is a bit off topic, BUT IMO it is related... has anyone seen the

latest book out by Frum and Perle? Titled, "An End to Evil: How to Win the War on Terror".



http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400061946/qid=1079665731/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-4893160-8703369?v=glance&s=books

I was out buying books today and saw this.. I almost bought it, but couldn't make myself contribute to their pocketbooks!!

<snip>
Some observers see the global political landscape as a complex amalgam of divergent worldviews, shades of gray that usually move in harmony but sometimes collide with violent results. David Frum and Richard Perle, authors of An End to Evil think it's a great deal simpler than that: the United States is good, those who pose a threat, current or future, are evil and must be neutralized or destroyed. Frum, the former speechwriter for George W. Bush credited with coining the term "axis of evil," and Perle, a former assistant Secretary of Defense who was still serving on the Defense Policy Board at the time this book was published, advocate an aggressive, activist approach to stomping out terrorism both within America's borders and in other countries as well. Their plan, described with forceful and urgent language, calls for the United States to overthrow the government of Iran, abandon support of a Palestinian state, blockade North Korea, use strong-arm tactics with Syria and China, disregard much of Europe as allies, and sever ties with Saudi Arabia. Domestically, the authors say, several federal agencies need to be overhauled, a national ID card system needs to be put in place, and the government and its citizens need to realize the gravity of the terrorist threat and step up the effort, as the title indicates, to end evil. Frum and Perle place blame for American ineffectiveness in the fight against terrorism on some political targets one would expect (Congressional Democrats, Bill Clinton) but also point fingers at the present-day intelligence community and even the State Department. It's a broad-ranging political opinion book--one might even use the words "screed" or "manifesto." Perhaps because it tries to cover so much ground, the individually compelling arguments don't hold together as coherently as one might hope. Still, for those who believe that the threat of terrorism is immense and that not nearly enough is being done about it, Frum and Perle offer a stirring call to arms. --Charlie Williams
<snip>

This review or editor's notes reveals what the neocons want to do with actual countries! I've seen PNAC and other links, but I've yet to see where they reveal anything more than these countries are an axis of evil. This was an eye-popper for me even though I have heard and/or read most everything regarding the ugliness of this cabal.

To me it points even more harshly what we are up against with this admin :/

EDIT: Sorry this so disturbs me that I forgot to say that it points a clear path to everything that is currently happening and more! Even some of the reviews of every day people are chilling to read. Sorry if this was inappropriate, but thought some would find it interesting. I didn't even know these two had written a book!

[metisnation]

26. another front

kosovo
haiti
afganistan
iraq
others?

[htuttle]

27. There are US troops in 120 countries

In addition to your list of 'active' fronts, I'd add:

Philippines
Columbia
Near Chad in Africa
Pakistan

[seemslikeadream]

28. Haitian Unrest: Aristide's Fall was Really a U.S.-led Coup

Common Dreams
NEWS CENTER


Published on Thursday, March 18, 2004 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)

Most of the promised aid never materialized. Aristide refused to run again in 1995, out of respect for the constitutional prohibition on presidents serving consecutive terms. His democratically elected successor, President René Préval, had little success in gaining the cooperation of the Haitian elite, in rebuilding the country or in securing international aid. In November 2000, Aristide was once again elected president, and the U.S. coup machine ground into gear.

A few weeks ago, armed rebels invaded Haiti. Their leaders had led earlier coups and coup attempts. Louis-Jodel Chamblain is a military officer from the 1991-94 regime, and a death squad leader convicted of murdering political opponents. He was living in exile in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Guy Philippe was a former police chief, trained in Ecuador by U.S. Special Forces. He fled the country after using his police position to launch an unsuccessful coup attempt in 2000. They led a well-armed force of a few hundred men garbed in military fatigues and carrying U.S.-made M-16s and grenade launchers.

As the armed rebels approached Port-au-Prince, the political opposition continued to refuse all offers of electoral solutions. The U.S. diplomats who arrived in the night delivered a dreadful message. In Aristide's words, "They told me the foreigners and Haitian terrorists alike, loaded with heavy weapons, were already in position to open fire on Port-au-Prince. And right then, the Americans precisely stated that they will kill thousands of people and it will be a bloodbath. That the attack is ready to start, and when the first bullet is fired nothing will stop them and nothing will make them wait."

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0318-03.htm


... in front of US Marines guarding a gate after a man was killed near the airport in
Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Tuesday March 9, 2004. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

[seemslikeadream]

29. HAITI IN CRISIS

Dodd asked Noriega for assurances Lucas and other institute officials "had absolutely no involvement or contact with Guy Philippe or other members of the Haitian armed forces or FRAPH," a paramilitary organization.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-wohait1537106...


Rebel leaders Louis-Jodel Chamblain (left) and Guy Philippe celebrate after news of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's departure reached northern Cap-Haitien, Haiti, Sunday.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/photos/0204/haiti/image1.html


Looters leave a market with their hands full one block from the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/photos/0204/haiti/image2.html


Haitians roam the streets in front of the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/photos/0204/haiti/image4.html

[seemslikeadream]

30. Congressional Black Caucus outside the White House

Rep. Elijah Cummins, D-Md., speaks with members of the Congressional Black Caucus outside the White House after meeting with President Bush, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell Wednesday, Feb.25, 2004. With him, left to right, are Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Donald Payne, D-N.J., John Conyers, D-Mich., and Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. In a highly unusual move, the group demanded a meeting with Bush to express their concerns that the U.S. act to preserve the democracy in Haiti. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)