Aristide Tells AP the U.S. Forced Him Out

[Snazzy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20601-2004Mar1.html

Aristide Tells AP the U.S. Forced Him Out

By ELIOTT C. McLAUGHLIN
The Associated Press
Monday, March 1, 2004; 7:24 PM

ATLANTA, Ga. - Jean-Bertrand Aristide said in a telephone interview Monday that he was "forced to leave" Haiti by U.S. military forces who said they would "start shooting and killing" if he refused.

Aristide was put in contact with The Associated Press by the Rev. Jesse Jackson following a news conference, where the civil rights leader called on Congress to investigate Aristide's ouster.

When asked if he left Haiti on his own, Aristide quickly answered: "No. I was forced to leave.

"Agents were telling me that if I don't leave they would start shooting and killing in a matter of time," Aristide said during the brief interview via speaker phone. He spoke with a thick Haitian accent and was interrupted at times by static.

....

Cat's out of the bag.

[Kagemusha]

1. You're sure he didn't mean...

If he didn't leave there would be blood in the streets from the rebel assault?

Get the story straight...

[AZCat]

2. Who are you telling to get the story straight?

It is unclear from your post who you are criticizing.
Would you please clarify?

[ret5hd]

3. Don't worry...

just lots of trolls (paid or otherwise) here tonite on this subject

[displacedtexan]

4. I noticed that, too.

Kinda obvious.

[htuttle]

5. Something struck a nerve...

...we seem to have angered The Beast this evening.

:shrug:

[Just Me]

11. The "beast" is always angered when a flashlight reveals its presence.

Ouch,...shadows and dark corners disappear under light *smile*!!!

[AZCat]

6. I know- but I try to give them three tries

When I've seen (basically) the same propaganda in three posts, I know we're up against someone who laminates their copy of the daily 'talking points'.

Prior to that, I try to remain civil.

[Kagemusha]

8. Good lord...! Trolls? Paid!?!

I don't know what I did to deserve that accusation. I have a low post total because my former account is toast, because a computer replacement resulted in my losing my old data and DU's powers that be have better things to do than help me fix it. Christ.

I meant that the people spreading the story that Aristide was pulled out of his home at gunpoint by force (rather than by blackmail, intimidation, coersion, etc etc etc) ought to see that their story is the correct one and that they're sure their facts are straight, as soon as practicable.

That's bleeping all.

[htuttle]

9. Aristide was on CNN stating that he was pulled out of his home by gunpoint

Basically, the same story that Maxine Waters, et al told. He was on the phone with Lou Dobbs and then Anderson Cooper. Says he did not resign. He told AP the same thing, which is now showing up on the newswires worldwide.

How straight do the facts need to be before they are discussed?

[AZCat]

10. It seems to me that you are splitting hairs

Why does it matter if he was literally at gunpoint? It seems clear now that the US was intimately involved- the WH claims Aristide left of his own accord and his telephone calls to Rangel, CNN, etc. dispute that. But nobody disagrees that the WH isn't talking about protecting the democratically elected leader of the country, and instead is talking about setting up a new leader. This is the real issue, IMHO.

[Kagemusha]

12. Yes, it is the real issue, so why the obsession with the kidnap thing?

I don't get it. I just don't.

Maybe it doesn't matter on DU, but in the real world, credibility matters.

[Just Me]

13. Fine. YOU define credibility!!!!

Please, foresake us all in your definition of "credibility", in this "real world". What "real world" are you living in? How is your "real world" defined? Is your world "real" or are you defining your world according to others' perceptions? Please, be specific and teach us all about "credibility" and "reality". We are very committed to ascertaining both,...I can definitely promise you that :D

<trying to edit for being in a hurry>

[Kagemusha]

17. To hell with this.

I just hope Aristide isn't claiming the kidnapping part to make it sound just a little worse for the sake of his pride. But you people are apparently so full of yourselves that you'll believe anything as long as it makes Bush look bad.

I think Bush is a truly awful president, so this is doubly galling for me.

DU'ers - not limited to the posters of this thread - seem determined to strengthen Bush's weak hand by going out of their way to be seen as crazies who have no evidence, only suspicion. But you know what? I realize you don't want to hear it, so I'm not going to bother saying it anymore. I'm sorry I even tried.

Have fun banging your heads against brick walls.

[Snazzy]

19. Little too much coffee?

This is what Aristide said happened. His words, qouted.

Nearly ever news source in the world is running that story right now.

It's not some wacky conspiracy theory.

[Chicago Democrat]

20. Democracy Now, DU and The Congressional Black

Caucus are responsible for uncovering this outrage and bringing it to light.

Im sorry if we are unequivocal on this topic; this is a coup d'etat by our government which lied about backing FRAPH and Robert Noriega NEOCON runnning amok and well know Haiti Hater from way back.

Its understandable that most people don't know pay attention or care about Haiti.

We do. A bunch.

Vive Aristide

[AZCat]

14. I think part of the problem is the 24-hour news cycle

I noticed this during the 2000 election. With news channels running 24 hours a day, we were used to getting information right away, and it can be addictive. People are so hungry for more of the story that they focus on any details that are released.

For most of today, the only news was of Aristide's exit from Haiti, so that is what was talked about. Now that he has been heard from, maybe we can address the illegality of the actions of the administration regardless of how Aristide actually left- because whether a gun was held to his head or not, he was- and still is- the elected leader of Haiti. For the U.S. to claim that his departure is reason enough to change leaders is almost childish.

[pinto]

15. intimidation, the implication of force, the percieved threat.......

all those things they use in court to make a case for kidnapping. but I'm not going to get hung up about it. the issue is about US support or non-support of a democracy. forgeddabout regime change, even...what are we supposed to be doing, here?

[Snazzy]

18. act of policy vs. criminal act

It's one thing that 'we' allowed this coup to happen, or, as many think here, engineered it through policy and possibly covert means. (On that I have no doubts personally).

It is another type of act by our nation with our tax dollars to go in and grab the guy and ship him off. That's criminal in numerous ways, literally, and violates our constitution.

Neither of the two classes of acts I just described are acceptable, neither represent the stated policy of our government for acting on our behalf.

The second, the kidnap, however, is much worse. It is blatant disregard for the law, both ours and internationally. It is not authorized. It is a very big deal.

Policy was to not intervene to stop the coup. You can take issue with that (and we do). Breaking the law is sending in whatever troops these were to remove Aristide.

Sure, be skeptical, but stay tuned, this is apparently a bigger story than some realize. It will not go away. There will be more details about that force for sure.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

22. So you would believe the Jessica Lynch spin meisters? n/t

[Snazzy]

7. Yahoo link now available

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&e=2&u=/ap/20040302/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_aristide_interview

[u2spirit]

16. Sec of State is a liar and a bad one at that

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/03/01/aristide.claim/index.html


Aristide also said "that he was kidnapped, that he resigned under pressure, that he had not negotiated with these countries or with the United States," Rangel told CNN. "As a matter of fact, he was very apprehensive for his life."

"The way I see it is they came to his house, uninvited," Waters said. "They had not only the force of the embassy but the Marines with them. They made it clear that he had to go now or he would be killed."

Snip

Powell said that "it might have been better for members of Congress who have heard these stories to ask us about the stories before going public with them so we don't make a difficult situation that much more difficult."

.......................

Powell is pissed at Waters and Rangel for ruining the plan. He's a jack ass.

[brads]

21. Bush & Co are being exposed!

It feels great to see Bush & Co have to squirm after watching this story since it first came out on Sunday that Aristide had "resigned" and "fled" Haiti...now the script has been flipped and the reactionaries are on the defensive. There's still alot of work to do to find out and expose what really happened but I think this could have been a major blunder on Bush's part. Let's make sure this story doesn't die...