WikiLeaks: Cable Depicts Faudulent Haiti Election ("U.S. Knowingly Supported Rigged Election")

[Hissyspit]

Source: The Nation

WikiLeaks Haiti: Cable Depicts Fraudulent Haiti Election
Dan Coughlin and Kim Ives
June 8, 2011

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations decided to support Haiti’s recent presidential and parliamentary elections despite believing that the country’s electoral body, “almost certainly in conjunction with President Preval,” had “emasculated the opposition” by unwisely and unjustly excluding the country’s largest party, according to a secret US Embassy cable.

The cable was obtained by WikilLeaks and made available to the Haitian newspaper Haïti Liberté, which is collaborating with The Nation on a series of reports on US and UN policy toward the country.

At a December 1, 2009, meeting, a group of international election donors, including ambassadors from Brazil, Canada, Spain and the United States, concluded that “the international community has too much invested in Haiti’s democracy to walk away from the upcoming elections, despite its imperfections,” in the words of the EU representative, according to US Ambassador Kenneth Merten’s December 2009 cable.

Haiti’s electoral body, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), banned the Fanmi Lavalas (FL) from participating in the polls on a technicality. The FL is the party of then-exiled former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was overthrown on February 29, 2004, and flown to Africa as part of a coup d’état that was supported by France, Canada, and the United States.

Read more: http://www.thenation.com/article/161216/wikileaks-haiti-cable-depicts-fraudulent-haiti-election

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WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks: US knowingly supported rigged Haitian election http://is.gd/qckQ7D

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[dixiegrrrrl]

1. I am shocked! I tell you.

So sad that this is totally unsurprising.

[xchrom]

4. +1

[OhioChick]

7. +2 n/t

[Capt Lionel Mandrake]

13. Americans Become Insensitive to Corruption

Unsurprising, I agree, and we've heard of our corruption so often now for so many years with none ever held accountable that Americans have become insensitive to it--"Everyone does it, etc." -- and don't make an issue of corruption in any large numbers. When corruption becomes "normal," any rocking of the boat appears foolish and quixotic.

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Plus, corruption is so widespread now, from the highest level of government

and all branches, down to the states, indeed in the case of banksters, worldwide.
Where do you start?
Where is the power to stop it?

[ronnie624]

71. The power will come from the GLOBAL political organization of the working class.

I hope we can accomplish it before the elites destroy us all in they're fevered pursuit of money and material possessions.

[valerief]

17. +1

[RKP5637]

27. Everyone is practicing for the 2012 election here. n/t

[Arctic Dave]

2. Haiti, the US's regional slave quarters.

It would seem HC was correct in saying the US was wanting to take them over.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

3. "U.S. Knowingly Supported Rigged Election" - Again?

They do it here, too. I suspect the skills to do so here in the US were honed in other countries first.

[dipsydoodle]

5. K&R

.

[L. Coyote]

6. Overthrowing democracy in the name of Democracy!

Same old, same old.

[bongbong]

8. Rigged?

I'm glad to hear that Haiti has joined the First World in their embrace and use of rigged elections.

[EFerrari]

15. Most Haitians sat out the obviously fake election.

It's more a case of rigged elections being "embraced" on them than the other way around.

[jwirr]

9. This is why I want the empire to collapse. However, after we no longer

run the world who will? Will they be any better than we were?

[craigmatic]

11. Probably not. China is just as bad as us.

[JackRiddler]

16. No one country will ever again run the world to the same extent. China as new overlord is a myth...

for the new cold war, little more. They won't be running about the globe posturing like infantile dickheads as the indispensable nation, the land of the free and home of the brave, chosen by history to play the necessary role of world cop and to coincidentally bully everyone into doing what it wants. Because unlike the brief and spectacular rise and the coming even more rapid decline of the United States, their own 3000-year history teaches them the futility of such world-spanning arrogance. They know it's hard enough just to hang on to their own. They'll have a lot of influence, they already do, and they'll have even greater power. But the role of superpower is becoming impossible for any one nation to pretend to have.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. Amen.

:thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

34. Excellent analysis IMO!!! Agree so much, we're on a fools errand trying to

run the world while our own country falls apart. We lack wisdom, had a good run of it all after WWII and think we're the superpower ad infinitum.

[liberation]

37. That has been said every time an empire collapses.

And yet, it is a constant in human history, as an empire wanes down... there are plenty of suitors to replace the "void." The British thought they were the last Empire, after all those Yankees were not sophisticated or able enough to control the world like they did, alas...

China will be forced to carry out imperialistic policies because once its internal demand becomes strong enough, they will need resources that are not located within their borders to supply said demand. And since profit is as much of a motivator for them, as it is for us, they won't feel like paying fair price for them.

And BTW, China has a history of expansionist and annexation/assimilation policies, and has been rather active in its sphere of influence. Just like every other large nation on earth.


You should not expect to see any different outcome, if the overall system has not changed much since the dawn of civilization. Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome is one of the reasons why we as a species are still undergoing a process that can be more aptly be described as "insanity" rather than "civilization."

[rhett o rick]

54. The next "super power" will not be a state. It will be an international corpoation. nm

[JackRiddler]

65. Just one? "It takes a cartel to burn a planet."

[rhett o rick]

77. I dont think there is such a thing as a "just one" corporation. Most have tentacle into many corps.

And they have interlocking boards of directors. I believe it will be one front corporation like Halliburton.

on edit, corrected testicle to tentacle. But either would work.

[RKP5637]

30. I doubt it. I think all govs. are corrupt. Some would be far far far worse than

the US. In essence, anymore, I think most people are corrupt. I never used to think that, but anymore it seems it's pretty bad. I've never seen people lie like they do now, it's incredible.

[liberation]

38. I don't think people are corrupt. Social systems are.

If you raise a child in an environment without corruption and where their needs were met, he or she would not develop a need to corrupt.

That being said, there would still be a small percentage of less than 5% that are inherently sociopathic individuals, regardless of environment and possibly upbringing. Some may be functional, some may be dysfunctional and develop into full blown psychopaths (what we define as evil).

The problem is that those individuals for some reason are more apt, under our current social structures/organizations/norms to climb to be in positions of power. And thus they design our society according to their projection/expectation. That is why the majority (if not all) of our social, economic, political, and religious institutions/constructs are for the most part sociopathic in nature.

The trick is to have people realize how the majority is catering to a very small minority. Which is not an easy task.

There is also the possibility that genes may be inherently selfish, but we're for all intents and purposes the first self aware species on this world. So interesting things happen in a rarified strata as ours...

[RKP5637]

45. Thank you! Very well said and very well taken! I completely agree!!! Thanks for

writing this!!!
:)

[ronnie624]

72. Very well said.

:thumbsup:

[dmosh42]

10. I thought only the U.S. had rigged elections! n/t

[fascisthunter]

12. This is another reason to doubt our foreign policies

there is a record of our own government interferring with democracy around the globe. Pretty ironic...

[blm]

23. Another situation where Sec of State Clinton influenced Obama over the wiser Foreign Relations

Chair Kerry. I hope Obama has had his fill of bending over for the Clintons - their foreign policy advice usually coincides with the interests of Poppy Bush and his pals.

[fascisthunter]

32. yeah... something is NOT right within our own party

I always like Kerry. Don't always agree with him, but I think he's a decent rep... I will vote for him again if he runs for re-election in my state.

[harmonicon]

68. Don't you think he'll be the next Secretary of State?

That is, assuming Obama is reelected. Clinton has said that she doesn't want the job for another term, and I think Kerry is the most logical choice to replace her. Of course that might make no difference, as I thought Clinton was a terrible choice, which goes to show what I know about appointments.

[fascisthunter]

70. I Could Definitely See that Happening

it all depends on Obama and party leadership I suppose...

[No Elephants]

61. You believe Obama's foreign policy has been based on deferring to the Clintons?

[blm]

69. I think early on Obama BOUGHT INTO the media hype of both Clinton's competence on foreign affairs

when that 'competence' was comprised of years of abetting Poppy Bush on HIS global agenda, with a few admirable advances of his own, though not quite enough to claim the accolades received.

I think Obama has backed away from that purchase somewhat in the past 6 months.

[bvar22]

14. Anyone who still believes that the US Foreign Policy...

...is about spreading Freedom & Democracy is a damned fool.

[RKP5637]

36. Way way back I used to think that, but over the years I've realized not to

take anything at face value at all.

[PufPuf23]

18. What an embarrassment (and not so shocking either).

Alas. Alas.

Just like Honduras. Just like the pro-corporate "leftist" from the military that will be the new President of Peru. There was no true choice for common and indigenous peoples.

Just like Cobell vs Salazar settlement, the sealing wax on American Indian genocide; embraced as a "win" but was victory by erasing the ugly past by court and signature reduced to smiling photo ops, immediate $$$, happy Indian individuals that expect a check, and the complete sell out of the American Indian by their current leaders. The oldest and largest class action suit in USA history (for fraud and mis-management (by the DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs) of Indian Trust Lands and Reservation natural resources. Cobell vs Salazar settles for all time the American Indian claims against the USA for less than $0.01 on the $1.00 and less than some individual Tribes are due in a just world. Note that C vs S is only Reservations and other Indian Trust lands managed by the BIA which is quite limited already. Cobell vs Salazar is a win for the budget and current and past corruption.

I feel so defeated as a human and Believer in the USA.

I see the bad in our history. I also see the good.

The genocide, corruption, lies, and lack of allowed humane dignity, domestic and global, by the PTB is awe inspiring (in a negative way).

The existence of the faux "Hope and Change" by POTUS Obama and the neo-liberals and the GOP and Tea Party fascist idiots farther to the right (drunk on death-cult theology or love of $$$) is really defeating.

The reality is that there needs to and will be a great reduction in human population; humanities choice is how hellish or how kind and gentle or how willing the self-entitled psychopath PTB are to risk extinction or close to a reset of humanity.

I am having a bad day.

Excuse me.

[KoKo]

28. It's sad indeed and your post points it out. Thank you for your post...

and the few others who still make the effort these days.

Hope your "bad day" is better because you are NOT "alone."

Peace to You!

[PufPuf23]

33. Thank you. Glad to be noticed today.

My perception of reality limits my ability to post at DU.

I see you KoKo have been at DU since 2001. Salut.

[boppers]

21. Fucking Canada.

Spain and Brazil, too.

[PufPuf23]

31. Please explain. nt

[liberation]

39. It's pretty self explanatory if you to read the linked article in the OP.

[boppers]

40. From the OP:

"including ambassadors from Brazil, Canada, Spain and the United States"

[PufPuf23]

41. Thank you I was lazy and suffering from cognitive dissonance. nt

[No Elephants]

62. "and the United States."

[ronnie624]

73. "US and UN policy toward the Caribbean nation"

UN policy was being drive by "Washington’s obsession with keeping Aristide out of Haiti and the hemisphere"

"What emerges is an extraordinary portrait of Washington’s aggressive management of Latin America’s first sovereign nation—and its bare-knuckled tactics on behalf of US corporate interests there."

<http://www.thenation.com/article/161009/wikihaiti-nation-partners-haiti-liberte-release-secret-haiti-cables>

[Enthusiast]

22. It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter because the U.S. media will not touch it. Our C.I.A. could have organized the entire operation and the media would remain quiet about it. They don't need to be bribed, either. I suspect everyone in the media is walking on eggshells knowing their careers are over if they upset the sensibilities of the PTB. Whoever the fuck the PTB are.

[KoKo]

29. It DOES MATTER...! But, if some of us don't fight against it...then it doesn't. n/t

[Enthusiast]

59. I guess my position wasn't clear.

Of course it matters. But our media won't allow it to matter much as most Americans will never even hear of it. That is my point.

[HopeHoops]

24. Damn that's ironic given our own fraudulent elections - two terms for the drunken shrub!

[No Elephants]

63. Democrats controlled Congress from January 2007 though January 2011.

They even held hearings on how easily computers could be rigged. What laws did they enact re: rigged federqal elections?

[suffragette]

25. K&R

[KoKo]

26. Yep...a Nation that supports fraudulent Elections in it's own country (2000)

will, of course, support fraudulent elections all over the world in support of "Nation Building."

Should we be surprised? We've been after the Haitian People since Clinton Administration...why should anything change?

[scarletwoman]

35. Well, that was pretty obvious all along. Really, this stuff isn't even hidden, anymore.

Why bother hiding it? Hardly anyone pays attention, and those few that do are powerless to stop it -- and the corrupt forces in charge know it.

[RKP5637]

47. That, is the real battle now, isn't it. It's a sad commentary on

our future. The craziness has been growing and growing. One would think just the insanity of many hopefuls for office and those in office would shock people, but it seems to go over their heads.

They know the passiveness of Americans enables them to do as they damn well please. I'm amazed at how many Americans seemingly want a dystopian future for this country.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slay]

43. Hell we rig our own elections so why not?

i've lost all faith in our government. :(

[harun]

49. My thoughts as well. Democracy is a fairy tale we hear about in grade school.

It sure as hell isn't how our gov't works.

[defendandprotect]

44. kr

[ElsewheresDaughter]

46. President Obama invites President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon to the WH

[cstanleytech]

48. We should have invaded to force them to have honest elections because

only we have the experience on how to run elections free from corru.......................ummmmm errr nm, move along nothing to see here, move along.

[jberryhill]

50. We should impose sanctions on Haiti until they have fair elections

[johnroshan]

51. And people here in DU still believe that Wikileaks is unnecessary and just gossip!!! nt

[Pterodactyl]

52. Fix "Faudulent" in the headline.

[Hissyspit]

55. There is a one-hour limit on edits.

So I can't do it. Admins have policy of not editing posts except in extreme cases. But if they want to, it would be fine with me!

[JJW]

53. They hate us for our freedom

and fixing their elections.

[No Elephants]

64. You get my vote for thread winner.

[Odin2005]

56. Didn't we know this already?

[jberryhill]

67. Party pooper

Yes, the fact that participation by various parties was banned, and our recognition of the result, was no secret.

However, the great thing here is that if you slap "Wikileaks" on a story, then people who weren't paying attention to just about anything that happened in the last twenty years manage to catch up.

[Wabbajack_]

57. Shame

Shame shame shame

[burrowowl]

58. This is no surprise

[Hubert Flottz]

60. You mean like they do in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin?

[No Elephants]

66. All together now, sing: "And I'm proud to be an American....." At least I'm not a Republican.

[NorthCarolina]

74. Elections are rigged here in the U.S., so why wouldn't they back

the same in Haiti?

[ronnie624]

75. WikiLeaks Haiti: Let Them Live on $3 a Day

Contractors for Fruit of the Loom, Hanes and Levi’s worked in close concert with the US Embassy when they aggressively moved to block a minimum wage increase for Haitian assembly zone workers, the lowest-paid in the hemisphere, according to secret State Department cables.

<http://www.thenation.com/article/161057/wikileaks-haiti-let-them-live-3-day>

[BlueJac]

76. We always spread freedom..........

like a fucking bad joke

[Vidar]

78. Uncle Sam says, " If rigged elections are good enough for the US, they're

good enough for Haiti too."