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A U.S Coup D'état in Haiti?

Democracy Now has a long story outlining former Haitian president Aristide's claims that he was forced out of the country by armed US military forces. Congress members Rangel and Waters say they have spoken to Aristide personally, and that he has confirmed as much. The White House has a typical denial in today's briefing. By typical, I mean that McClellan never really says "we did not kidnap Aristide and force him out." Here's an example:

Q Just following on Terry's point, Congresswoman Maxine Waters told us that she had spoken directly with Aristide, who claims that -- over and over again saying he was kidnapped, that the coup was completed by the Americans, they forced him out, they disabled his American security force; basically saying that he did not resign, he was forced out, America completed the coup. How would you characterize those statements?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just answered Terry's question to that effect. As I said, it's nonsense. And conspiracy theories like that do nothing to help the Haitian people realize the future that they aspire to -- which is a better future, a more free future, and a more prosperous future. We took steps to protect Mr. Aristide. We took steps to protect his family as they departed Haiti. It was Mr. Aristide's decision to resign, and he spelled out his reasons why.

Q Yes, but there were some third-party reports that were coming out of Haiti, which could be specious, as they go up the telephone chain, but this is coming directly from Aristide. What do you think he's up to here? Is he trying to save face?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't speak for Mr. Aristide, I speak for the President and this administration.

Q Are you denying -- are you denying that he was kidnapped?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I just said it's complete nonsense. (Laughter.)

Q Why don't you just say it didn't -- it's not true?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just did. I just said it's complete nonsense.

He just will not say "The United States did not kidnap Aristide. We had no forcible involvement in his leaving the country." Instead, he says "its complete nonsense." I guess this is so that he can argue the "its" someday if he has to.

This is all irrespective of how Haiti got here over the last week. Aristide was a democratically-elected president in Haiti, and a lot of people in this country think the U.S. should have supported his staying in power instead of sitting idly by--until the moment he left, when Bush finally sent in troops. Now add in the charge that Aristide and it all starts sounding really fishy. What it adds up to, I don't know, but lets see if the media keeps this alive or lets the White House drive the story.

Whiskey Bar and Daily Kos also have stories up on this.

Posted on March 1, 2004 09:53 PM

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