14542: BNN News (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: pol3223 <pol3223@yahoo.com>


Note: I am forwarding the following on behalf of the
writer, "BNN News".

------------------------------------

BNN News, January 15, 2003
WASHINGTON-  The Bush administration, stung by
criticism that it deals with some outlaw nations more
harshly than others, will now apply sanctions equally
to Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Jean-Bertrand Aristide
in Haiti.  Code-named Operation Equality Now, the
sanctions impose a no-fly zone that bars Haitian
military jets from overflying the mountains above the
Capitol, Port-au-Prince, the traditional homelands of
Haiti's Bujwa ethnic minority.  Additional measures to
protect the Bujwa, called "Smart Sanctions," target
Aristide's dangerous programs of mass consumption,
creating an effective no-drive zone in the country's
northwest, and no-read and no-drink zones in rural and
urban areas, traditional pro-Aristide strongholds.

White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer bristled when
asked whether Haiti actually deserved the same
treatment as Iraq.  "We have no specific information
that Haiti has viable weapons of mass destruction or a
military, but we have moved beyond that rationale with
Iraq too.  Otherwise, the cases are similar, so we
should treat them the same.  Saddam Hussein received
99% of the votes in his election.  Aristide doesn't
have those numbers yet, but he and his Lavalas party
win by unacceptable landslides time and again, despite
our warnings and international monitors.  Our intel
indicates it is only a matter of time if we don't step
in."  Diplomatic sources in Haiti note that Aristide
has been meeting with his operatives less than 200
miles from Guantanamo Bay, the largest known
concentration of Al Qaeda operatives.

The Smart Sanctions will add teeth to the U.S.-led
development assistance embargo against Haiti, imposed
after the OAS found irregularities in seven senate
races in Haiti's May 2000 elections.  The fact that
those sanctions fulfilled their purpose eighteen
months ago when the seven senators resigned is,
according to Fleischer, no reason to let up now.  "We
learned that lesson in the First Gulf War.  We can no
longer let collateral damage issues undermine our
commitment to regime change."

As with Iraq, the U.S. is not going it alone on Haiti.
 Administration officials proudly note that European
countries and international financial institutions
jumped on board quickly.  "Part is our common heritage
and values: our allies, especially France and Germany,
have been as brutal as necessary toward Haiti for
centuries.  The other part is shared courage: we are
all willing to see Equality Now through to a final
solution, no matter what it costs the Haitian people."

Americans are working closely with Haitians likely to
play a role in the post-Equality Now reconstruction of
Haiti.  The U.S. has long provided overt and covert
support to freedom fighters operating a parallel
government in the Bujwa homelands.  More recently, the
U.S. has begun training Haitian expatriates in a
special internedship program at its South Florida
Krome Facility.  "We are teaching Haitians how to
function within the more structured environment we
expect after the Operation," reports an INS source.
"Our graduates will have the skills, discipline and
compliance they'll need to succeed in the new Haiti,
as factory workers, voters and legislators."

Prices of mangos, especially the benchmark mango
francique, shot up on world markets yesterday, on
concerns that the sanctions would interrupt supplies.
This in turn generated fears of a ripple effect,
including adequate payments to small commodity
producers throughout the Caribbean.

Aid groups and diplomats voiced concern that the
sanctions might interfere with their activities in
Haiti, especially restrictions on "dual-use" products.
 Chlorine, for example can be misused to  circumvent
the no-drink zones, but is also essential to fighting
swimming pool algae.  Foreignors in Haiti find some
comfort in the track record of existing sanctions,
which have carefully increased the pressure on
ordinary Haitians without affecting expatriate
salaries or luxury hotel service.

Copyright 2003, Busyness Network News.  "BNN: Just As
Accurate As The Others."


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