It's the "New Haiti!"

[autorank]

It's the "New Haiti!"

by Michael Collins

Haiti is not New Orleans but give the financial elite some time. They're just warming up. This is, after all, their first captive nation due to natural calamity. They didn't have to fire a shot. The people are starving, unarmed, traumatized, and incapable of resistance. All this can be theirs!

[PacerLJ35]

1. "All this can be theirs!"....All what? All the poor, unskilled people and lack of resources?

What a gem of a prize. Haiti is and always has been a money pit. The idea that the US will swoop in and reap billions off this island is laughable. If that is true, then why didn't they do that the previous times we were there?

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It is not the us. But if you want I can turn your stomach

the first to enrich themselves will be the mercs.

My hope that this will not go there are the few now definite policy declarations by IMF and WB, not normally the good guys. But if the mean the Marshall Plan idea... even Mercs will see their permits canceled. Given they have been there for a while already...

But even if those bloody money soldiers see a reduction in bidness. (I prefer ahem enforcement of their status under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and you know what that means, but that is just me)

[autorank]

5. Lots of land, well positioned ... and they've been doing it forever

"Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, through a bloody 12-year war, becoming the second
independent country in the Americas and the only nation in history born of a successful slave revolt. But world powers forced Haiti to pay a second price for entrance into the international community. They refused to recognize Haiti’s independence, while French warships remained off its coasts, threatening to invade and reinstitute slavery.

"After 21 years of resisting, Haiti capitulated to France‘s terms: in exchange for diplomatic recognition, Haiti’s government agreed to compensate French plantation owners for their loss of “property,” including the freed slaves; compensation to be paid with a loan from a designated
French bank. The debt was ten times Haiti’s total 1825 revenue and twice what the United States
paid France in 1803 for the Louisiana Purchase, which contained seventy-four times more land."
http://americas.irc-online.org/pdf/commentary/0609Haiti%27sDebt.pdf
----------
Haiti has been the victim of repeated colonialist crimes, but I don't want to go back any further than the 1970s and '80s. These were the years of the Duvalier dictatorships when the Haitian state, one of the world's most brutal, was given over $900 million in loans from foreign banks, governments and international institutions.

In 1970, Haiti's total debt had been $40m. Seventeen years later, after the removal from office of the second of the Duvaliers - the dictator known as Baby Doc - the country's debt had reached $800m.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/85777
------------

And so it goes...

[Duende azul]

23. That meme again. Let's talk about strategic value.

At least the right wing think tanks were doing that right from day one on.

Research "heritage foundation, Haiti, opportunities". Maybe you'll have to go to Google Cache because they already changed the most blatant and disgusting headlines.
And from what can be seen now, the US admin already follows up on some of the advice the nice people at heritage gave.

The Bush and Clinton and Bush II efforts to get the neocon agenda executed in Haiti will not be given up.

Remember Honduras?
So please spare me the "what could the US possibly want from this poor country?". Thanks!

[EFerrari]

31. It's been explained to the poster more than once. ETA:

Although in fairness, we are bombarded by our media every day telling us that Haiti is a money pit, that those people are poor and unskilled and that there is nothing of value there.

Three big lies which apparently are working just fine.

[PacerLJ35]

40. Please explain to me as well as the others on here what golden egg Haiti offers?

[scarletwoman]

2. All that cheap labor! Time to put it to good use!

The IMF has already swooped in with a big loan. No grass growing under THEIR feet, no sir!

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Actually that has changed to a GRANT, and all debt owed to the IMF has

been canceled as of today.

Oh and there is more, the WB is now canceling all interest for five years and are looking for a way to forgive it as well.

Even Naomi Klein said that this turns Disaster Capitalism on its head

And yes I have been posting this all day.

[scarletwoman]

8. I didn't see that. I don't have any TV, and I didn't hear anything about it on NPR.

Glad to hear it. I didn't see your posts about this, I work all day and only get online in the evenings.

sw

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Good news has been sinking all day

and RM mentioned it in passing... nobody else.

I just posted an english source down

Here you go

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6875027.html

It's been like everywhere except US press, except for RM

[autorank]

12. And the banks won't be able to own hedge funds;)

I saw it too but didn't take it for much more than the calamity to seem decent. There's a hidden lining in any generosity that wears thin with just a little time. The authors of our current calamity and the tolerance for oppression world-wide are the same folks extending the generosity here. It this a turning point or a cosmetic pause while the relocation efforts and other subtrufuges move forward? As we discussed about Zalaya (moments ago, you're ubiquitous), they giveth with one hand and stab you in the back with the other.

The cancellation of debt makes sense anyway. There's simply no way that they could carry it on the books. They'd have to do that anyway.

What does it do for the people? The occupation has begun and the takeover is a fait accompli. They'd just be billing the future entity, which is to say themselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I don't see it as an occupation

in this we differ.

I've done this disaster shtick for like real, and nobody else in the world has the capacity to do this. And we are not alone either.

Of course it COULD become one, I am hoping, truly that the UN mission manages to get the Blue Helmets in place soon and that the US can mostly pull out. SOme things will have to stay behind... like the Comfort... (and the two other Hospital Ships as well from two Latin Navies)

Some Engineers to help the locals and the NGOs repair major services.

Once they get into recovery phase, which is about now... once they stablize this, and they are... they will be able to pull forces out. There are two wars we need to run you know.

If this is done right... it may actually change some of the dynamics in Latin American\ US relations. And you know I am very familiar with them.

But to be blunt... this is a nuke that went off, without the radiation. If this was in LA, we would have similar problems... not as extensive since we are connected to a continent and shit, but we would.

To me what happened today with the IMF and why... is a signal that Chicago school is not as popular as it used to be.

Oh and as to the debt, they didn't need to do shit. They have never done this before.

[truedelphi]

33. That is very good news. Now,hopefully none of it will be

Reversed.

[Electric Monk]

7. I forget which right winger said it, back in the 70s, but they wanted Haiti to become the new Taiwan

and use all that cheap labor to make more stuff for American consumption.

Darn, usually my memory is pretty good. Maybe someone else remembers the exact quote and who said it...

[EFerrari]

16. The quote was cited on Thom Hartmann's show this week,

the third hour, maybe on Tuesday but I don't remember the exact quote, either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The New Paradigm is actually differnt

the IMF has forgiven all debt, and their loan is now a grant. The WB is looking for ways to do the same. Been posting this all day...

Oh and even Rachel Madow like covered this... and Naomi Klein did say this made Disaster Capitalism was on its head.

I am glad I apparently read the leaves right from readying all kinds of furiegn sources. We might just see a new paradigm emerge and perhaps the end of the reign of terror of the Chicago boys. I even posted the name of the Oxford Prof that IMF is consulting yesterday, Keynseian... not Chicago...

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6875027.html

[autorank]

17. How hard is it to cancel a debt you'll have to cancel anyway?

You can't carry a debt where there is zip, zero, nada chance of ever collecting. Even "they" have rules about that.

See http://tinyurl.com/ydgq2em

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. They don't have to. Tehy tried to get that done

in 1985 in Mexico, for example.

And that is the point. They are talking of something very different. The fact that CNN is not even mentioning it is telling.

[autorank]

22. They're taking uncollectable debt off the books and calling it a gift/frant/forgiveness

Doesn't matter what they call it, the debt was officially noncollectable, it had to be written off.

It's is without meaning or significance. No pain, no gift:evilgrin:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. Spring Break Partiers and Golf Course Geeks

have a new Mecca! They'll be doing them a favor!

[defendandprotect]

11. I really fear for the people of Haiti . .. and long have . . .

didn't know much about it until Aristide who was amazing --

he wrote a book which I loved -- and of course he was a Catholic priest at

the time standing against church policies -- calling it --

"A Wealthy Church -- a poor people"

as usual!!


IMO, our kharma re dropping nuclear weapons on Japan, Bikini Islands just for practice

and observation/science -- Katrina, Haiti -- genocide and enslavement in the "new land"

will one day return to our doorstep.

Who will weep for us?



A female resident of the Bikini Islands observed . . .

"Americans are really smart about really stupid things" --



Americans right now should be weeping our hearts out --


Thanks for covering the subject -- and so well!!!

:)

[autorank]

15. Thanks ... I fear for all of us but we've got it easy compared to Haiti

In reading about the people who've just abandoned Port-au-Prince and headed for the hills, I wondered what would happen to them.

Now we know:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/01/2010121173217185404.html

[autorank]

48. We need to be extra smart at smart things to catch up!

[Octafish]

13. Outstanding. A must-read.

From autorank's It's the "New Haiti!":

It represents an entire nation, a huge, strategically placed land mass just waiting for the type of rehabilitation that New Orleans only dreamed about. And to the rescuers must have big plans.

Thank you for an excellent analysis, Mr. C. People who read your work become smarter in the best of ways.

My own assessment for what awaits America's middle classes and poor: Haitian Economy is the Blueprint for Future USA.

[autorank]

18. Now, what you wrote is the must read -

Coming your way ...

Haiti is the world's Rorschach!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

20. I'd like to know if ClintonBushHaitiFund is going to have its own board

or if the two foundations with just collaborate without a single formal board. I want the program.

Nice work, Mike!

[autorank]

21. Thanks E!

Yep, a board would be excellent for this. It's going to get interesting.

After all, it's all about "nation building" - we're so good at that;)

[Joe Chi Minh]

24. 'Dubai World is dead. It's on to Haiti!' You nailed it, there, all right, Mike.

As I'm sure you know, the French medical charity, Medecins sans Frontieres, said that the effective detention of their planes with relief supplies for the victims for days on end, would lead to epidemics and many amputations. It will be happening now.

[autorank]

47. Docs w/out borders delayed until Jan 26th

How about that. They were there right after the quake but sent to the Dominican Republic to wait
until Jan 26th ..... by the US military commander. Go figure.

:hi:

[maryf]

25. the patient elite

"One wonders if the forces of repression have waited all these years to finally get even for losing an entire nation in “the only successful slave revolt in history,” an inspiration to people everywhere."

K&R, thanks Mike!

[formercia]

26. The developers are licking their chops already

Tents are already going up in Guantanamo. If you thought the FEMA camps were bad.......

[autorank]

35. FEMA camnps

Right, that's what got Greg Palast threatened with arrest - his video of the FEMA camp, which the feds said was illegal to film since there was a security installation in the background. Well, damn, Greg pointed out, all those people living in the camp could see the security installation. Grim days ahead getting all this help from "the boys."

[PVnRT]

27. They already own it

They've owned it ever since Wilson occupied the island.

[Hubert Flottz]

28. The "What's In It For Me" gang will be all over setting up a...

Cruiseheaven in place of the Hell...

[autorank]

46. There were actually cruise ships there at one point after the quake

I couldn't believe it. Oh well, they were stuck on board with that great stomach flu you get
on those lovely journeys through post colonial wonder land.

:hi:

[malaise]

29. DUers saw this the day after the hurricane

and the first Shock Doctrine thread was sent to the dungeon

[EFerrari]

32. It's pretty hard not to see it. And it's good now to see Hartmann

and Goodman and Flanders and Randall Robinson and the Black Commentator, and The Root and Mark Danner taking it up.

You know what we should do, we should make a Mother of All Haiti stories thread like autorank made for the Bruce Ivins stories. Because this story is going to be deep and wide and long and we can learn a LOT from it in mho.

[malaise]

38. Excellent idea

We have the opportunity to follow this from start to finish.

Forgive me for the 'hurricane' :D

add

[autorank]

36. We can't forget it since many are sanguine in their belief

that's it's all roses (and no guns). I hope the maximum amount of positive aid gets through because
the people there have suffered long enough at the hands of outsiders.

[EFerrari]

30. kick

[truedelphi]

34. Any mega disaster allows for

The Big Players to do very well.

Look at the gains made in TV audience this week. People glued to their set to find out more about Haiti.

Look at the rise in contributions to the various charities. How much will the Red Cross pull in? While the more legit orgs like Partners in Health scramble for money.

What about the children? Last night, Anderson Cooper had a "tug at yourheart" segment about a woman who adopted a 4 yr oold child from a collapsed orphjanage. The kid got a very good home - but it made me wonder - is it really that easy to pull a kid out of that nation? No safeguards?

Remember the missing children after Katrina? Mike Malloy told how the nation of Saudi Arabia had a ruling that kept child predators from being prosecuted. then, his next story was about kids from Katrina who were rounded up by Florida military or police at the Florida school that they had been sent to. Where were they taken? No one would answer the questions the teachers who had been working the kids posed to local authorities...

[autorank]

37. Yes - Bigops!

Like psyops but better.

You make a good point about the adoption. I hope it was real and that there are some safeguards. But you wonder.

The best publicity was on Monday when US and other medical workers were complaining bitterly on CNN about the delays in supplies. There was this running segment interspersed regarding Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD doing neurosurgery on a Navy ship in the harbor. That's great for the patient, the guy is a practicing surgeon but what was the point.

The military is highly competent at logistics but they do what they're ordered to do. Who ordered security measures first while people were desperate for food? And why base that on "looting" when all the people are doing is getting food and water so they don't die?

[BeHereNow]

39. They paved paradise...

and put up some swank hotels.

Those poor people.
We're next.
Just ask the people in New Orleans.

BHN

[autorank]

41. Here now

There soon
but their goal is
EVERYWHERE

[maryf]

42. Haiti seems to be already on the inside pages...

very few pieces here on the greatest page...bump to keep the truth alive here...

[autorank]

43. It will be back

A couple of weeks down the road, we'll know more.

I didn't pay much attention to it but I think there was some preemptive attacks on bloggers for commenting on the rescue effort. I didn't pay a lot of attention to it but thought :wtf: is this about. Now I know.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[autorank]

45. kick

:kick: