21297: derrick: NYTimes.com Article: Foley: Aristide Not Combative on Ouster (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: derrickj66@yahoo.com

Very interesting remarks by Foley on Aristide's last hours in Haiti.


Foley: Aristide Not Combative on Ouster

April 13, 2004
 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS





Filed at 8:22 a.m. ET

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- Jean-Bertrand Aristide
appeared resigned but philosophical about his imminent
ouster, and surprisingly without fight, U.S. Ambassador
James Foley said in an interview in which he reflected on
the Haitian leader's last hours in office.

Foley also told The Associated Press Monday that Haiti will
remain a security risk for the United States as long as it
cannot sustain itself.

While the United States has no plans for additional
monetary aid this fiscal year, Foley said he thought it
would provide long-term support for the country that poses
a drug and illegal migration threat to the United States.

Foley said he had sad conversations with Aristide through
the night before Haiti's leader fled hastily Feb. 29.

Aristide later charged that Haiti's only democratically
elected leader in 200 years was forced from power by a U.S.
``coup d'etat'' against his Caribbean country.

``We talked all night, at least four times ...'' Foley
said. ``It was a very poignant series of conversations. I
saluted him for putting the interests of the country first.
It was a friendly conversation. I told him how very sad I
thought it was that this is happening ... It was a very sad
series of conversations.''

He said Aristide ``never challenged our position'' that
there would be a bloodbath if he did not leave as rebels
who had overrun half the country in three weeks closed in
on Port-au-Prince, the capital. Some 300 people died in the
uprising.

``What was surprising was his passivity and philosophical
resignation.''

Foley said Aristide appeared more concerned about his
security, and that his imminent departure be kept secret.

``My own feeling was that Aristide had already decided to
leave,'' Foley said. ``He didn't need convincing...''

Aristide has charged that the United States stripped him of
his security, saying the embassy told his U.S. security
agents that they had to leave the country and refused to
allow the California company that provided bodyguards,
under a contract approved by the U.S. State Department, to
send additional agents.

U.S. officials have said only that they told Aristide the
United States would not protect him if rebels attacked.
Later, U.S. officials said they could not uphold a leader
they accuse of ordering attacks on political opponents and
condoning drug-trafficking.

The United States has offered no evidence for that last
charge and Foley said he did not discuss that issue with
Aristide.

Within hours of Aristide's departure, U.S. Marines arrived
to spearhead a multinational force that now includes 3,600
peacekeepers, including French and Canadians, to stabilize
the country.

Caribbean leaders refused to contribute to the U.S.-led
force, protesting that no one responded to their urgent
plea for international troops to deploy earlier to support
Aristide. They have demanded a United Nations inquiry into
the circumstances of Aristide's departure, saying his
charges bode ill for any democratically elected leader who
might fall foul of Washington.

Some Caribbean countries are, however, considering sending
troops to Haiti once the U.S.-led force is replaced by
Brazilian-led U.N. peacekeepers in early June.

Foley indicated the end of the U.S.-led mission would not
end Washington's engagement.

``Haiti is at our doorstep,'' he said. ``Clearly, Haiti's
ills can affect the United States in negative ways. A
country that is unable to sustain itself so close to the
United States is a national security issue, as well as a
humanitarian concern.''

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is a
major drug transshipment point for Colombian cocaine to the
United States and a source of illegal migration.

The United States deployed 20,000 troops here in 1994 to
put an end to a brutal military dictatorship, halt a flood
of tens of thousands of boat people to Florida and to
restore Aristide.

Foley described Aristide's legacy as ``horrendous,'' saying
it poses major challenges for a U.S.-backed interim
government that has promised elections next year.

Key problems include armed pro-Aristide gangs and rebels
who refuse to disarm until Haiti's disbanded army is
restored.

``Clearly they are going to need assistance to stand up to
armed elements on the Aristide side and also on the rebel
side,'' Foley said.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Haiti-US.html?ex=1082861673&ei=1&en=e38e13bf55698564


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