18625: sajousp: Chaos rules in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: sajousp@aol.com

This story was sent to you by: Sajous

--------------------
Chaos rules in Haiti
--------------------
Chicago Tribune

February 14, 2004

As Haiti sank deeper into chaos this week, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he does not see "regime change" as the solution to the nation's woes. That seems largely to be a bow to reality. There is no obvious replacement for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who could restore order and forge peace between Haiti's bitterly divided political factions.

Powell's remarks signal that Aristide won't feel international pressure to step aside. The U.S. and Haiti's other neighbors, though, won't be able to stand idle while the situation there worsens. More than 50 people have died as Aristide's troops struggle for control of key cities and towns, particularly near the island's north coast. Food supplies soon will be needed.

With the spectre of a flood of refugees looming, firm diplomatic intervention by America will be needed in Haiti. Powell began that process Friday in Washington with a meeting between leaders from Caribbean nations, the Organization of American States and Canada.

Until now the Bush administration has tried to avoid involving itself in Haiti's worsening problems. Clinton administration officials tried that and it did not work for them, either. Without America's guiding hand, efforts by Caribbean leaders and the OAS to reconcile Haiti's feuding factions have failed.

The only course, it seems, will be to wrest a commitment from Aristide and from opposition leaders that fair, internationally monitored elections will be held and all parties will participate in good faith. Elections in recent years have been tainted by charges of irregularities and the refusal of some opposition parties to take part.

An open, honest election could be Aristide's best option. His charismatic popularity, particularly among the island's vast impoverished and illiterate majority, would make him tough to beat even now.


Copyright (c) 2004, Chicago Tribune

--------------------
Improved archives!

Searching Chicagotribune.com archives back to 1985 is cheaper and easier than ever. New prices for multiple articles can bring your cost down to as low as 30 cents an article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/archives