coup d'etat
It's strange that there's no other topic on this yet. What else can the Administration do? How many more countries can they overthrow? So the US military abducts a countrie's President, sends him to Africa.. and doesn't think that he'll eventually pick up a phone and let the truth out? It's just crazy. 
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americ...aim/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americ...aim/index.html
Comments
Originally posted by Akumulator
It's strange that there's no other topic on this yet. What else can the Administration do? How many more countries can they overthrow? So the US military abducts a countries President, sends him to Africa.. and doesn't think that he'll eventually pick up a phone and let the truth out? It's just crazy.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americ...aim/index.html
Well I knew it was just a matter of time until someone posted the above. This has been flatly denied by the administration at every level, and I mean EVERY level. The only word to the contrary is the former Haitian President himself. I suppose the Bush Administration orchestrated and funded the rebellion as well? You cannot possibly believe this. The only thing more ridiculous is that we have the Congressional Black Caucus running around buying the story and going public with it. Nice job, boys and girls.
If you'd like to blame an administration, how about you blame Clinton's. He's the one who reinstalled the man after he was thrown out last time.
Coup D'Etat
Coup D'Etat
Coup D'Etat
The government can't stop a throng
Struck strong,
Let us through.
Pulverize.
New comes in.
Coup D'Etat
Give me a bomb.
A Malatov.
It's a Coup D'Etat!
General Dictator gives the Law.
Get outta line,
Next neck on the block.
Armys marching through the streets.
Next run out the suffering.
Coup D'Etat
A Push from the left
And a shout from the right.
All come out,
Let's do it tonight.
Take the President and His wife,
Deliver the ransom
Or we take their lives.
Trash their embassy.
They are our enemies!!!
The president just smokes cigars,
Anyone he does not like,
He shoots or puts behind bars.
Coup D'Etat!
Kill all...
- Circle Jerks.
All I got...
(its been beautiful in philly over the last couple days, no?)
I find Powell's 'denial' really interesting. He's basically saying, "We made all of the arrangements and did all of the work, but he went willingly."
Remember that to assume makes an ass out of you and me.
Originally posted by BuonRotto
Remember that to assume makes an ass out of you and me.
Nice word play
He became unpopular, and the rebels (mostly people that he fired of the army some years ago) seeked revenge. The rebels quickly gain territories. US, France and Canada refused to interfere in Haiti. They try to suggest a deal to Aristide : change his governement. This deal was refused.
The rebels quickly surrounded him, and he have no other choice than to flee away. He was happy that the US army was there to save his head. Now he moan that it was a diplomatic Coup d'etat. This is a new concept only shared by himself and very few peoples.
Aristide is only welcome in South Africa.
The good new is that a bad leader (read dictator) was removed. The bad new is that the next one has all the chances to be as lame.
There was three ways of dealing with this.
1: Sit tight and do nothing. Mini Rwanda in the works. Not a solution today.
2: Support Aristide. A defacto dictator that would never be able to contain the unsatisfaction of the citizents. US would rightfully have drawn huge blocks of critisism against them, both from strategic, humanitarian and ethical POWs.
3: Break with Aristide. Two versions. 3.1: Flip sides totally and support the rebels and somehow hand them Aristides ass on a platter. Not an option. Too many deaths, too messy hands and it doesn´t work when you have supported him in the past 3.2: Whisper into Aristides ear: "Hey old buddy. We can´t help you this time so perhaps its time for you to quietly get out of there while you can. And hey look over there. There is a plane we forgot all about. Gee it also have fuel enough to bring you to Africa. Wonder what to use that for?". Problem out of the way. Not real justice for the Haitians but the option with least blood spilled.
This is a black/white picture of the situation. Its much much more complicated (who is going to take over, who are the core of the rebels) but that has to wait.
Originally posted by Anders
What the doctor ordered.
There was three ways of dealing with this.
1: Sit tight and do nothing. Mini Rwanda in the works. Not a solution today.
2: Support Aristide. A defacto dictator that would never be able to contain the unsatisfaction of the citizents. US would rightfully have drawn huge blocks of critisism against them, both from strategic, humanitarian and ethical POWs.
3: Break with Aristide. Two versions. 3.1: Flip sides totally and support the rebels and somehow hand them Aristides ass on a platter. Not an option. Too many deaths, too messy hands and it doesn´t work when you have supported him in the past 3.2: Whisper into Aristides ear: "Hey old buddy. We can´t help you this time so perhaps its time for you to quietly get out of there while you can. And hey look over there. There is a plane we forgot all about. Gee it also have fuel enough to bring you to Africa. Wonder what to use that for?". Problem out of the way. Not real justice for the Haitians but the option with least blood spilled.
This is a black/white picture of the situation. Its much much more complicated (who is going to take over, who are the core of the rebels) but that has to wait.
Well said.
"Yeah....We're gonna need you to go ahead and sort of, resign. Yeah. Thanks a bunch Milton"
Originally posted by jwri004
Nice word play
(BTW, the "rolleyes" were toward the silly statement I made here, not the thread or anyone else's comments. Not sure that was clear upon review.
Originally posted by Scott
I always take the word of a de-facto dictator over my own government.
It's not a great idea to take the word of anyone in a situation like this and it's a much worse idea to take the word of the McClellan and Powell at any time.
Aristide turned out to be a terrible President who did little or nothing for his country, who had little commitment to real democratic participation in government, and who created gangs of armed thugs to protect himself and his position. In other words, he was pretty much like every President Haiti has ever had. He was perhaps a bit better than some, as he was originally elected democratically and at least gave some lip-service commitment to improving things in the country, but his ultimate actions fell far short of being acceptable.
The groups who rose up in armed rebellion against Aristide were formed from the very gangs that he created. They did not rise up in support of democracy, but because they felt that Aristide might being trying to reassert control over them and cut them out of some of the booty. If they or their chosen candidate come to power, they have every promise of being as bad, or likely, worse, than the government they replace. In other words, they are pretty much like every rebellious group Haiti has ever had.
The immediate response of getting Aristide out ? and likely saving his skin ? seems to have avoided, for now, an immediate additional bloodbath in Haiti. As for long-term solutions, nothing easy or obvious comes to mind.
Originally posted by giant
It's not a great idea to take the word of anyone in a situation like this and it's a much worse idea to take the word of the McClellan and Powell at any time.
I'll take your advice right now.
[ /jinxproof ]
And Chinney's right (and more on-topic). It's not like the good guys won or lost because there are no good guys in this situation.
Scott, there's not much I'd put past the Bushies. The only thing I trust Bush and his cronies to do is evil.
On topic, did I really here that Baby Doc is thinking of going back to Haiti?!!!::