Aristide Tells AP the U.S. Forced Him Out

AP ^ | ELIOTT C. McLAUGHLIN

[Roscoe Karns]

Mar 1, 7:41 PM (ET)

ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) - Jean-Bertrand Aristide said in a telephone interview Monday that he was "forced to leave" Haiti by U.S. military forces who said they would "start shooting and killing" if he refused.

Aristide was put in contact with The Associated Press by the Rev. Jesse Jackson following a news conference, where the civil rights leader called on Congress to investigate Aristide's ouster.

When asked if he left Haiti on his own, Aristide quickly answered: "No. I was forced to leave.

"They were telling me that if I don't leave they would start shooting, and be killing in a matter of time," Aristide said during the brief interview via speaker phone. He spoke with a thick Haitian accent, his voice obscured at times by a bad connection.

When asked who the agents were, he responded: "White American, white military.

"They came at night. ... There were too many. I couldn't count them," he added.

Aristide told reporters that he signed documents relinquishing power out of fear that violence would erupt in Haiti if he didn't comply with the demands of "American security agents."

Aristide said he was in his palace in Port-au-Prince when the military force arrived. He said he thought he was being taken to the Caribbean island of Antigua, but instead he has been exiled to the Central African Republic.

Aristide described the agents as "good, warm, nice," but added that he had no rights during his 20-hour flight to Africa.

Aristide's wife, Mildred, initiated Monday's telephone call, said Shelley Davis, a special assistant to Jackson. She said the reverend and the president's family have been close for about a decade.

Jackson said Congress should investigate whether the United States, specifically the CIA, had a role in the rebellion that led to Aristide's exile.

Jackson encouraged reporters to question where the rebels in Haiti got their guns and uniforms.

"Why would we immediately support an armed overthrow and not support a constitutionally elected government?" Jackson said.

Aristide, who fled Haiti under pressure from the rebels, his political opponents, the United States and France, arrived Monday in the Central African Republic, according to the country's state radio. He has claimed that he was abducted from Haiti by U.S. troops who accompanied him to Africa.

The White House, Pentagon and State Department have denied allegations that Aristide was kidnapped by U.S. forces eager for him to resign.

[FairOpinion]

BOO-HOO!

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

(/sarcasm)

[EllaMinnow]

SHEEESH!!!

[Shermy]

Since Aristide just happened to be flown to a French client-state on the other side of the world, Is Jackson asking for investigation of the French govt?

And what's his money stake in this?

[Ronin]

The White Mice!!!

I didn't know that Col. Hammer had this contract.

[Humidston]

Ok. So the US should TAKE HIM BACK RIGHT NOW! DROP HIS BUTT OFF AND LET HIM TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF!

[Paul Atreides]

I find it interesting that, perpetual camera-hogs, Bubba and Jimmah didn't hop a plane down there, and pretend they were each still president.

[dogbyte12]

My serious guess as to what really happened is in the middle. My uneducated guess is that US military came to his palace and basically told Aristide that he was screwed. They would not be able to stop a full scale rebel assault, and that there would be a bloody fight even if they could. They told him he had a choice. Either most likely die in the violence, or pack up his crap and come with them. He chose to go with them, and then had buyer's remorse when he got out of dodge.

If this is how it happened, he needs to shut his piehole. They most likely saved his life.

[Joee]

Quit paying off Clinton!

[Simmy2.5]

Bush's fault.

All the left needs is a tape recording of these two words, and they would never have to speak for the rest of their lives.

[Monty22]

DU's hopping mad, since he was elected. Saying the USA should do this to Bush.

Anyway, these same guys would moan and groan even worse if we did nothing, cause that would show we're uncaring and racist. Just can't win with the leftists.

[William McKinley]

I think he is lying.

But if he isn't, I have one word to say.

Good.

[cyncooper]

Aristide was put in contact with The Associated Press by the Rev. Jesse Jackson following a news conference, where the civil rights leader called on Congress to investigate Aristide's ouster.

Good grief!

[jwalburg]

violence would erupt in Haiti if he didn't comply with the demands of "American security agents."

Uh, violence was ALREADY erupting in Haiti! Duh!

[cyncooper]

That seems to be the sentiment.

LOL

[Keith in Iowa]

My theory is that if we did indeed take him out at gunpoint, he'd still be in our custody, and not have access to a phone so he could whine at everyone who claims that he's called them and spewed this lie...

[Paul Atreides]

DU's hopping mad

The world's premiere online mental institution.

[Numbers Guy]

Ok. So the US should TAKE HIM BACK RIGHT NOW! DROP HIS BUTT OFF AND LET HIM TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF!

Yup. If he thinks he's Mr. Popularity, let's take him back and tell him he can resume his office if he so desires.

[PeteFromMontana]

When asked who the agents were, he responded: "White American, white military.

Barbra Streisand!

This is total crap. I assume we recorded the conversations with this idiot?

[cyncooper]

Jackson said Congress should investigate...

~snip~

Jackson encouraged reporters to question

I've got some ideas of what Congress should investigate and some areas reporters should question, too. I'll bet mine are better than Jesse's.