Thursday, February 19, 2004

• History Repeating: Is A Coup Brewing in Haiti?

  
  
  

  The situation in the small island nation of Haiti is growing more severe by the hour. There are now fears that the democratically-elected government of Jean Bertrand Aristide could be overthrown in a violent coup d’etat. For weeks, gangs of armed groups have attacked police stations and other government outposts. More than 50 people have been killed and the violent insurgency is daily increasing its weapons supplies. Aristide’s official government forces are ill-equipped to defend against the violence. Haiti has no army and the national police are estimated at around 3,000 men. Aristide supporters have clashed regularly with the insurgents and other opponents of the Haitian president.

  In not so subtle statements, US officials have hinted that they want Aristide gone. But Secretary of State Colin Powell was forced this week to officially renounce this. But for anyone follwing Haiti over the years, it comes as no surprise that Washington may well be involved. What is particularly troubling to veteran observers in Haitian politics is the fact that some of the leaders of the armed gangs are men who were at the forefront of the campaign of terror in the early 1990s in Haiti that ultimately led to the overthrow of Aristide.

• Dean Halts Campaign But Remains On Ballot To "Send Progressive Delegates To The Convention"

  
  
  

  Former Vermont governor Howard Dean officially announced that he would no longer actively campaign for president capping one of the largest political turnarounds in memory. Just a month ago going into the Iowa caucus he was the Democratic frontrunner sitting on a record sized campaign chest and top-name endorsements.