18662: Anonymous:Re: 18650: Keesey: Re: 18633: Saint-Vil warns CIA on Killing Spree in Haiti AGAIN!!! (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Please post anomymously

I think the Haitian community likes to believe that Haiti is of great value
to the US and Dominican Republic thus teh conclusion every time that the CIA
and related groups are sabotaging the good in Haiti.  It's like the aging
former beauty queens thinking they are still very much in demand.  There has
always been some paranoia  among the educated Haitians about both of these
countries wanting to take over Haiti (never mind that it is Haiti who once
took over the DR).  Under the old Soviet power structure Haiti still had
great value to the US.   In a way Castro is  agreat leader since he used the
sobviets to educate all Cubans. He is an enlightened dictator.  Haitian
dictators always thought of themselves only leaving the crumbs for the rest
of the country.   Now both the US and the DR would be thrilled if the Haiti
part of Hispaniola just sank into the sea of fell off the map.  Many keep
repeating that US investors are hot after the cheap labor.  Even the other
more organized and educated Caribbean nations have an extremely difficult
time competing against China and India half a world away.  Tourism would be
great to exploit as well but there is that dirt and grime for the tourist to
see!  As far as the DR is concerned, they are deathly scared that they will
become the next Miami.  They are doing all they can to improve the lot of
Dominicans.  Out of 9 million people, they have 2 million they consider very
poor and are trying to  pull out of misery.  They do not want millions from
next door defeating their efforts.

The only interest the US and the Dominican have in Haiti is to keep the
refugees away from their borders.  The CIA and related organizations are not
going to waste too much time and money on Haiti.

Let's face it if it smells like a dictator, talks like a dictator, acts like
a dictator, it is a dictator.  On Haitian roads in the 70's and 80's my
childhood brain was imprinted by the Duvalier propaganda billboards "sous
l'egide du Jn Claudisme progressiste, gravissons ensemble les chemins
montants vers la prosperite et les grandes esperances".  Today it is side by
side pictures of Toussaint and Aristide.  Or Jesus Christ looking posters of
Aristide.  What would the American people say or think if billboard scame up
with pictures of Clinton or Bush comparing themselves to Georges Washington
or Abe Lincoln?


Maybe the US can use Haiti to mend fences with France?  Back in 1991-94,
when France offered to intervene, they got a rather stern reply from the US
about not wanting the French in their back yard.  France's primary interest
in Haiti is of course "la francophonie". France is an aging starlet who once
used to rule the world.  This is part why the IRAQ fiasco got them so wired.
Now if they can't rule the world they at least want their language to
survive the English and Spanish language assaults. Bush could offer Haiti as
a peace offering, France sends a few thousand peace keeping "gendarmes" then
some "cooperants".  They also take this occasion to repay Haiti this
"reparation" by putting in solid infrastructure and a public school system
over the next 10 or 15 years.  Hey, the best  road in Haiti was built by the
French (Jacmel).  Aristide finishes his term, then the next two presidents
can be French approved and Haitian elected and Voila!  Everyone is happy
(except the intellectual nationalists but the poor majority could not care
less about those).  In 15 years, you have a generation of Haitians who have
grown up educated and in an organized country and who can choose good
leaders and be good leaders.  Democracy is born.  An election alone does not
make a democracy.

For the last 15 years the great majority of Haitians would have left the
country if they could.  Ideally there should be a Haitian solution to the
current problems.  Unfortunately if there is one thing Haitians distrust
more than foreigner it's another Haitian politician.  Haitian leaders don't
want foreign intervention just foreign money.  Well you can't have your cake
and eat it too.  History has shown that when money is sent in, it is
appropriated into private pockets.  The American thing has been tried twice
but failed.  The Americans tend to be too impatient. Maybe the socialist
French can do better?  The debt and slavery issue will not go away even
after Aristide is gone as most Haitians (even the opposition) think that the
money should be repaid to Haiti.  It will be a thorn in the French's flesh
for years to come unless they make some sort of agreement with Haiti.