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| "Feet, don’t fail us now!" |
| 2004-02-25 |
| EFL: Foreigners tried to flee Haiti on Wednesday, some guarded by U.S. Marines, as looting erupted in the capital and pressure mounted for international intervention in the 3-week-old uprising against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Panic overtook the city, although there was no sign of the rebels who have overrun half of Haiti and are threatening Port-au-Prince. Regrouping, also most likely infiltrating forces around roadblocks. President Bush said the United States is encouraging the international community to provide a strong "security presence" in Haiti as Washington and its allies work for a political solution. Opposition leaders asked the international community to help ensure a "timely and orderly" departure of Aristide. "Or we’ll take the quick and messy route." And French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin urged the "immediate" dispatch of an international civilian force to restore order in its former colony. "This force would be charged with assuring the restoration of public order and support actions in the field of the international community," de Villepin said in a statement that stopped short of calling for Aristide’s resignation. "As far as President Aristide is concerned, he bears grave responsibility for the current situation," de Villepin said. "It’s his decision, it’s his responsibility. Every one sees that this is about opening a new page in the history of Haiti." When the French cut loose a dictator, you know the end is near. France also said it wants human rights observers sent to Haiti and a "long term" engagement of international aid aimed at reconstructing its economy. More potential for graft, they’ll be on board for that. Jamaica’s U.N. Ambassador Stafford O. Neil said at the United Nations that it might be possible to dispatch a small "interposition force" to keep the rebels and Aristide supporters apart. You go first. One U.N. diplomat noted the rebels can only come to Port-au-Prince by two roads, so placing such a force would be relatively easy and would buy time for a political solution. Unless they walk cross country and hit your roadblock from the rear. Roads all over Port-au-Prince were blocked by dozens of flaming barricades, shops were shuttered and hotels were barred against looters. The roadblocks were intended to stop the rebels who began the uprising Feb. 5, but militants at the barricades also used guns and stones to stop cars and loot them of handbags, luggage and cell phones. Police did not intervene. They were too busy looting. U.S. Marines, who arrived Monday, were to escort a convoy of U.N. personnel. The United Nations on Wednesday ordered all nonessential staff and family to leave. "Run away!" "The situation is bad and it’s becoming worse," said Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF coordinator for Haiti. Britain and Australia have urged their citizens to get out of Haiti, following similar warnings from the United States, France and Mexico. There are about 30,000 foreigners in Haiti, 20,000 of them Americans. 20,000??? Canada said a team of soldiers flew into Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to aid a possible evacuation of some 1,000 Canadians. They must be down to their last squad. The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints was evacuating the last of its 120 missionaries. If the Saints are leaving, it must be bad. "It is absolutely necessary for the international community to accompany the country in its quest for a mechanism that will allow for a timely and orderly departure of Jean-Bertrand Aristide," said a statement from the opposition Democratic Platform coalition. I think they want us to loan them a rope. In Washington, the top U.S. envoy for the hemisphere, Roger Noriega, told legislators that if a political solution cannot be reached, "they’ll consider many things, they’ll consider a whole gamut of options, but they do not want to go in and simply prop up Aristide," according to Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt" Bush reiterated that the U.S. Coast Guard will turn back any Haitian refugees trying to reach American shores. SEE: "Been there". |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #5 Canada said a team of soldiers flew into Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to aid a possible evacuation of some 1,000 Canadians. ...and are their arms tired. I'm here all week. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-2-25 10:07:11 PM |
| #4 Can Canada's military even afford to fly to Hati....probably could ship UPS at a lower rate.... |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-2-25 9:33:07 PM |
| #3 Shipman -- have you ever been to Haiti? The ones who made it out of Haiti are the ones with drive and ambition. The ones ruining Haiti are the ones that have no ambition beyond running the protection racket they call government. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-2-25 8:25:56 PM |
| #2 At times like this, I'm wondering if Royal Caribbean cruises are still stopping at Labadee. Of course, they always tried to gloss over the fact that it was in Haiti. But you knew, if only because there weren't any fish in the water (it'd been all fished out). Nothing spookier than a pretty coral reef with *no* fish around... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2004-2-25 5:33:30 PM |
| #1 Short and sweet. I've never met a Haitian I didn't like. I've never met a lazy Haitian. Is it arrival of the fittest or is there something in the damn water? 1/3 to France, 1/3 to Louisiana, 1/3 to Quebec, 1/3 to New Zealand, 1/3 to Macao. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-25 5:07:03 PM |