Anyone notice there is a civil war going on in Haiti right now?

[ShaneGR]

I just find it interesting that a country so close to the US is sinking into Civil War and no one is saying anything. Normally I think Bush would bomb the crap out of them and install a chosen leader, but we don't have any soldiers left to send anywhere.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4244322/

(snip)
GONAIVES, Haiti - Haitian rebels forced police out of another northern town and blocked a main road leading to the Dominican Republic, witnesses said Saturday as aid workers warned food was running out in northern cities and towns.

In Washington, members of the Organization of American States called on all parties to ensure a peaceful and democratic outcome to the 9-day-old rebellion aimed at ousting President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. About 50 people have died in the uprising.

Emergency supplies of flour, cooking oil, and other staples are projected to run out in four days in northern areas cut off by roadblocks guarded by rebels. The insurgents have seized Gonaives, Haiti’s fourth-largest city, and burned down police stations in a dozen other towns.

Overnight, rebels attacked police in Saint Suzanne, a small town 20 miles southwest of the northern port of Cap-Haitien, according to witnesses reached by telephone.

[ixion]

1. Yeah, I've been following that

The Hatians threw out the last puppet that the US installed... I guess it won't be long before we send some 'freedom' their way. :-(

[RC]

2. Yeah, but, but, but....

they ain't no oil. How can we help them?

[ixion]

5. heh... good point, RC

I suppose that's a lucky thing for them.

[TXvote]

3. we've tried and failed in Haiti

over and over again. Bush will not touch that with a ten foot pole as long as they aren't armed and pointing missles at our mainland.

[plumbnsquare]

4. Civil War in Haiti

Is Haiti a threat to us?

[name not needed]

9. According to Bush*, they are

they have black people there. which in the bush administration makes you a canidate for regime change.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi plumbnsquare!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cat Atomic]

12. Depends on your definition of the word "us".

If by "us", you mean the people of the United States, then no.

If by "us" you mean the United States power brokers and corporate interests, then yes.

The risk would be that one country might set an example to others. Before you know it, you've got revolutions going on throughout Central and South America, and the new governments might not put U.S. corporate interests ahead of the interests of their own populations. They might be unwilling to act as Sweatshop States.

[Suspicious]

6. Different playbook...

Normally I think Bush would bomb the crap out of them and install a chosen leader, but we don't have any soldiers left to send anywhere.

Just think Nicaragua.

[KG]

7. when the refugees start to arrive on so. FL beaches

only then will this country take notice.

[waterman]

8. And then only if they arrive in 59 chevy trucks or 58 buicks

[AP]

21. It's about profits for sweat shops. Bush has taken notice.

[Product of Evolution]

10. Are the rebels rightist or leftist?

I know Aristide is well left of Duvalier (but then again, so was Chiang Kai-shek, so that's saying shit all...lol), but what about the rebels?

[AP]

20. They're led by the owner of sweat shops -- he wants to make sure there

is plenty of cheap labor for his shops.

The rebels are furthering the interests of the fascists.

[TexasMexican]

13. Yep I think its pretty unusual how we are ignoring it.

Most news cast seem to put it in there like an afterthought.

Like they will have some big story, and right before they cut to a commercial they are "oh by the way Hatian rebels have captured another town."

The thing that I think is the most saddest about this is the fact that the guy the rebels are trying to kick out is the guy that they elected president after we went in and kicked out that white dicator they used to have.

*Shrug* I guess power corrupted him aswell.

BTW can anyone tell me what that white guy's name was and what nationality he was?

[camero]

15. What I'm hearing

The CIA may have their hands in this one like the Chavez coup.

[AP]

19. NPR scheduled a (racially demeaning) series on vodoo to coincide

with the events in Haiti.

It's no coincidence, I believe.

[CastorTroy]

14. They were talking about this on Flashpoints

on Pacifica the other night. I didn't catch the whole thing but I got the drift that they were implying that the Bush admin. was underhandedly supporting the overthrow of the government.

[AP]

18. You can listen to the show on the web.

www.flashpoints.net (I believe).

[TexasMexican]

16. Whats the deal with Haiti and the Dominican Republic anyways.

While looking at a map I've always thought it would be more aesthetically pleasing if there was a max of one nation per island.

I.E. Northern Ireland should go back to Ireland, and either Haiti or the Dominican Republic should control all of Hispaniola.

So whats the deal, why are there two nations on that Island anyways?

Are the people on the Dominican side that much different than the people on the Haitian side, aside from the fact that one seems to have generally a better government.

Whats the history here?

[AP]

17. JudiLyn's on top of this over in LBN.

Check it out if you want to get informed.

As Maxine Waters said about this, "I have one word to describe what's going on: Venezuela" -- that's paraphrasing her.