|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Feb 27, 2004 9:07:12 GMT -5
Haiti's Lawyer: U.S. Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries The US lawyer representing the government of Haiti charged today that the US government is directly involved in a military coup attempt against the country's democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Ira Kurzban, the Miami-based attorney who has served as General Counsel to the Haitian government since 1991, said that the paramilitaries fighting to overthrow Aristide are being backed by Washington. 'I believe that this is a group that is armed by, trained by, and employed by the intelligence services of the United States,' Kurzban told the national radio and TV program Democracy Now! 'This is clearly a military operation, and it's a military coup.'" www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/25/1613200>>>>>>>> Surprise, surprise. Jan
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Feb 29, 2004 16:45:06 GMT -5
Haiti's Lawyer: U.S. Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries The US lawyer representing the government of Haiti charged today that the US government is directly involved in a military coup attempt against the country's democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Ira Kurzban, the Miami-based attorney who has served as General Counsel to the Haitian government since 1991, said that the paramilitaries fighting to overthrow Aristide are being backed by Washington. 'I believe that this is a group that is armed by, trained by, and employed by the intelligence services of the United States,' Kurzban told the national radio and TV program Democracy Now! 'This is clearly a military operation, and it's a military coup.'" www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/25/1613200>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To be honest, I am really surprised by the lack of outrage regarding this situation. Aristede reportredly fled Haiti looking for asylum in Morocco. When just the other day, I listened to an interview he gave on CNN stating he would stay to the end, because he was a Democratically elected President who would not give into terrorism. Gee, did he get a call from someone after that telling him to either flea or leave in a bodybag? And why would Bush say this was a good development? If so, when is he fleeing to seek asylum for the good of this country? I am truly sick of this administration sticking it's nose in every other country's problems, and precipitiating chaos. At what point do we come to the realization that this govt's attempts to democratize people only end up destroying them, because Democracy is really NOT what they want? Don't tell me this administration is not backing the rebels that are upon the capital as we type. I also notice that Iraq is now a non issue for the media (too hot to handle getting closer to his reselection campaign no doubt), with people dying daily there still. This administration has not only preemptively attacked a defenseless nation in violation of international law and the constitution, but they have had their bloody hands in insurrections in Venezuela, now Haiti, and God knows how many other countries. The President of Georgia, Russia was at the White House the other day, and Bush was praising him and the Rose Revolution. Of course, Georgia is one of the countries along the oil pipeline route, so of course, they will get special treatment. In Germany, however, Conservative Social Democrats are gaining ground, and Helmut Schmidt imo will be next to go (I guess that is what happens when you cross a Bush and dare to speak out for waht is right.) It seems this administration only deals in REVENGE regarding its foreign policy, and it has done more to hurt this world than any administration in this country's history. So once again, the question begs to be answered: WHERE IS THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP? WHERE IS THE CENSURE? WHERE IS THE TRUTH? Jan
|
|
|
Post by earthmother on Feb 29, 2004 17:47:45 GMT -5
The Democratic leadership doesn't exist anymore, Jan. They are a bunch of spineless wimps, as we observed when most of the Dems. in Congress voted "yes" on Bush's Iraqi resolution last fall.
Listening to Kerry in the L.A. debate the other night, I was sickened by how slickly (and they called Clinton slick?) he turned that around to make it look like his "yes" vote for Iraq had been the right thing to do. Have some balls, Kerry. Stand up now and lay the blame at your own feet and those of every other Democrat in Congress. Say "We were wrong."
Oh, yes, it's Bush's fault for taking the blank check and cashing it. But who gave him the damned blank check in the first place? Hmmm?
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Feb 29, 2004 18:13:10 GMT -5
The Democratic leadership doesn't exist anymore, Jan. They are a bunch of spineless wimps, as we observed when most of the Dems. in Congress voted "yes" on Bush's Iraqi resolution last fall. Listening to Kerry in the L.A. debate the other night, I was sickened by how slickly (and they called Clinton slick?) he turned that around to make it look like his "yes" vote for Iraq had been the right thing to do. Have some balls, Kerry. Stand up now and lay the blame at your own feet and those of every other Democrat in Congress. Say "We were wrong." Oh, yes, it's Bush's fault for taking the blank check and cashing it. But who gave him the damned blank check in the first place? Hmmm? Is it not our representatives in Congress that vote the Chariman of the DNC in? Why isn't he being reprimanded then for his lack of action regarding the Bush administration as well? Sure, anyone can go on a talk show and say they are upset with what he is doing, but when you are part of the reason he has been able to access that power, it is downright hypocritical to do so. The Senate was supposedly working on a censure of Bush, and I even signed the petiition for that and called my Senators to support it, but nothing yet. Just what do the people in this country have to do before changes are made? Storm their capital city too? I surely hope not. Jan
|
|
|
Post by earthmother on Mar 1, 2004 10:06:24 GMT -5
The Bush administration is such a smooth, well-oiled machine that I don't think petitions and phone calls and threats of censure will have any effect on them. I signed that same petition from moveon.org, and I also made the phone calls to our representatives in Congress. As I understand it, hundreds of thousands of us did that. To no avail.
You ask if we need to take to the streets, and what I'm thinking is . . . yes. Just like in the 60s, when the Johnson and then Nixon administrations wouldn't listen to us, that was the only way, finally, to get their attention. There is so much covering up going on this administration, from the White House to the CIA to the Pentagon, that it's unlikely anything could penetrate except for (God forbid) another jetliner slamming into a government building. It would take hundreds of thousands of people being so outraged that they were willing to storm the White House and Capitol Hill, etc. Then MAYBE they'd take notice.
People have been complacent for far too long, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 1, 2004 13:30:27 GMT -5
The Bush administration is such a smooth, well-oiled machine that I don't think petitions and phone calls and threats of censure will have any effect on them. I signed that same petition from moveon.org, and I also made the phone calls to our representatives in Congress. As I understand it, hundreds of thousands of us did that. To no avail. You ask if we need to take to the streets, and what I'm thinking is . . . yes. Just like in the 60s, when the Johnson and then Nixon administrations wouldn't listen to us, that was the only way, finally, to get their attention. There is so much covering up going on this administration, from the White House to the CIA to the Pentagon, that it's unlikely anything could penetrate except for (God forbid) another jetliner slamming into a government building. It would take hundreds of thousands of people being so outraged that they were willing to storm the White House and Capitol Hill, etc. Then MAYBE they'd take notice. People have been complacent for far too long, IMO. Well, I can tell you one thing... If Al Gore isn't drafted from the floor of the convention hall, I just may go to Washington DC and protest outside DLC headquarters. Then, I will march up to the Capitol Building and ask the Democratic Senators and Reps where they were the day the electoral votes were being counred by Al Gore, and why they let him go that ALONE. The Black Caucus were the only reps who stood up for the people that day. I know if I had been there I would have signed anything to keep Bush or anyone else from assuming power the way he did, and I would have backed up my Vice President and my people. Just what the hell is wrong with these people? They are all a disgrace. Now look at what they have allowed to happen in Haiti, Venezuala, Iraq...and on and on. All these people suffering because they didn't want to make waves or hurt their own political standing. I have never seen such wimps in my life! The Patriots of the American Revolution would surely be disappointed in them as well. I know I am. Jan
|
|
|
Post by ErinB on Mar 1, 2004 13:46:19 GMT -5
I read an article before Aristide quit that said Koffi Annan and other world leaders encouraged us to stay out of the situation in Haiti. Their reason being the Ambassador was encouraging the rebels since the Aristide govt. was not in the good graces of American corporate interests there. The whole world knows... The situation in Haiti is very desperate. They need stability and this situation can quickly turn into a humanitarian crisis. And who is left to try to help pick up the pieces? Our troops. It is amazing we have enough troops left to even go to Haiti.
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 1, 2004 16:18:25 GMT -5
I read an article before Aristide quit that said Koffi Annan and other world leaders encouraged us to stay out of the situation in Haiti. Their reason being the Ambassador was encouraging the rebels since the Aristide govt. was not in the good graces of American corporate interests there. The whole world knows... The situation in Haiti is very desperate. They need stability and this situation can quickly turn into a humanitarian crisis. And who is left to try to help pick up the pieces? Our troops. It is amazing we have enough troops left to even go to Haiti. Erin, I just read they are calling up four more guard units to go to Iraq. That is where they are getting them from to go to Iraq. My friend who was sent there just wrote to his girlfriend and told her that those with him were shooting their own men, that'show unprepared and untrained they are. That's why they can spare the marines. Funny, when Bush was in the Guard however, his butt wasn't in danger. Jan
|
|
|
Post by earthmother on Mar 1, 2004 16:24:41 GMT -5
No, during the Vietnam War, they didn't need the National Guard to go overseas because there was a draft, which I'd hate to see again, although these poor soldiers in Iraq do need some relief. But the most action the National Guard saw in Bush's day was when they'd be deployed to a demonstration like on the Kent State campus, where they killed four innocent people.
|
|
|
Post by ErinB on Mar 1, 2004 16:39:12 GMT -5
I read that about the four more Guard units being deployed and for a whole year. I can't imagine being gone from my family for a whole year or more.(Who now would join the Guard?) And when troops are really needed we don't have them because we have 130,000 in IRAQ where they never should have gone in the first place. I also read that even after the Iraqi citizens take over their new government 100,000 troops will remain. Sorry Bush, the American People will NOT stand for a draft so you cannot spread your tyranny any further! (I know Bush isn't proposing a draft now, its a few dems and it doesn't have much support)..but just watch him change his tune in 2005. IF he is re-selected.
Jan, I remember when the Black Caucus stood up for Gore that day and no one else did. Its hard to believe and accept that this really happened. If the Supreme Court had waited a day later and Gore was up by 500 votes and they stopped the count what do you think the Republicans would have done? Just a rhetorical question.
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 1, 2004 16:40:28 GMT -5
No, during the Vietnam War, they didn't need the National Guard to go overseas because there was a draft, which I'd hate to see again, although these poor soldiers in Iraq do need some relief. But the most action the National Guard saw in Bush's day was when they'd be deployed to a demonstration like on the Kent State campus, where they killed four innocent people. >>>>>> I know how to bring them relief- SEND THEM ALL HOME! I want Bush and Co. to stop killing our children for their salfish escapades. I was watching the Academy Awards last night, (which I usually don't do, but I did last night because I was rooting for LOTR to win), and one man who received an award for documentary films mentioned how we went down a rabbit hole forty years ago in Vietnam, and we are doing it again. He was right. We need these people home. They aren't doing ANYTHING over there that requires them to sacrifice their lives, their futures, and their families. They are only being used as sitting ducks to keep the terrorists BUSH LET INTO IRAQ with this preemptive attack busy. They are all despicable human beings for what they have done. Jan
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 1, 2004 16:46:30 GMT -5
I read that about the four more Guard units being deployed and for a whole year. I can't imagine being gone from my family for a whole year or more.(Who now would join the Guard?) And when troops are really needed we don't have them because we have 130,000 in IRAQ where they never should have gone in the first place. I also read that even after the Iraqi citizens take over their new government 100,000 troops will remain. Sorry Bush, the American People will NOT stand for a draft so you cannot spread your tyranny any further! (I know Bush isn't proposing a draft now, its a few dems and it doesn't have much support)..but just watch him change his tune in 2005. IF he is re-selected. Jan, I remember when the Black Caucus stood up for Gore that day and no one else did. Its hard to believe and accept that this really happened. If the Supreme Court had waited a day later and Gore was up by 500 votes and they stopped the count what do you think the Republicans would have done? Just a rhetorical question. What would the Republicans have done, Erin? We know. Thay would have screamed their bloody heads off, the partisan hypocrites that they are. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I think this year, every state with a predominantly Democratic legislature and Democratic Governor should wait until the popular votes are being counted. Then, one by one these states should pass resolutions whereby they send a second set of electors to Washington DC to discard the first set, publicly announcing those second set of electors for the Democratic candidate regardless of how the popular vote turns out. That was what was done in Florida in 2000, and they got away with tainting the electoral votes! For all we know, the first sealed set was for Gore, they knew it, and that is why they did that. I say, how about we turn the tables on them and see how they like it? Jan
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 1, 2004 17:00:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by GoreSupporterNJ on Mar 2, 2004 8:00:54 GMT -5
>>> Just as an aside: Of course the Bush thug administration denies this happened. I don't believe it for a second. Aristede was just giving an interview to Wolf Blitzer on CNN last Friday, and in his own words said he was staying to the end of his term. There is no way I believe he just decdied to get up and leave his country of his own accord. I am sending this story to my Congressional representatives today and asking them to look into it. I would suggest everyone else do the same. Our Congress has to stand up to the thugs running this govt. We the people will have to be the ones to give them the push, because as incompetent as Aristede may have been, he was still the Democratically elected President of Haiti, and it should be up to the people and the govt. of THAT country to deal with any measures taken constitututionally.That is Democracy. Not forced preemptive regime change by another govt. It is outrageous, it is wrong, and it is UnAmerican. Jan
|
|