Posted on 10/16/2004 3:22:31 PM PDT by mdittmar
Comments made by Senator John Kerry more than seven months ago may have helped trigger the recent wave of violence afflicting Haiti, according to the Brazilian commander for the UN peacekeeping troops in that Caribbean nation.
In an interview posted on the website of Agencia Brasil, the Brazilian government's official news agency, Lieutenant-General Augusto Heleno Ribeiro said comments made in March by Kerry had raised the hopes of supporters of Jean-Bertrand Aristide that the former Haitian president would be able to return to power.
"Statements made by a candidate to the presidency of the United States created false hopes among pro-Aristide supporters," Ribeiro told the agency. "His (the candidate's) statements created the expectation that instability and a change in American policy would contribute to Aristide's return."
Ribeiro was referring to statements made by Kerry to the New York Times on March 7.
The Democratic presidential candidate told the Times US President George W Bush's position on Haiti was "shortsighted" and sent "a terrible message" to the region and democracies.
Kerry said he would have sent an international force to protect Aristide as rebel forces were threatening to enter the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.
"Look, Aristide was no picnic, and did a lot of things wrong," Kerry said in the Times interview. But Washington "had understandings in the region about the right of a democratic regime to ask for help. And we contravened all of that. I think it's a terrible message to the region, democracies, and it's shortsighted."
Clashes have been frequent in Haiti since a September 30 commemoration of a 1991 uprising that deposed Aristide. He returned but left the country again in February after a bloody three-week revolt.
Accused of corruption, profiting from cocaine-smuggling and using police to suppress his opponents, he left on a US-chartered plane as ex-soldiers leading a bloody rebellion neared Port-au-Prince, the capital.
Now in South Africa, Aristide has accused the US of orchestrating his ouster and insists he remains Haiti's democratically elected leader. The US denies his charges and says he signed his resignation before he boarded the plane.
Brazil has kept 1,200 soldiers in Haiti since May as part of a multilateral UN force. According to a UN resolution in April, the multinational force should have 6,600 soldiers and 1,600 police.
Sen. Kerry's definition of Democracy: One Man, One Vote, One Time. Aristide was about as much a 'democrat' as Al Capone, or Saddam Hussein.
Someone should send it to Fox News, Rush, Hannity, Wash Times, NY Post et al.
But I thought Kerry had all this international support?
Kerry also said that he would send in the US Marines to reinstall this Communist thug--even without UN approval. Have you ever heard Kerry say he would do anything without UN approval? Very strong statement for someone like Kerry. Yep, Kerry has an uncanny ability to always side with the Communists. First he sides with the Viet Cong against our own troops fighting to keep Vietnam. He stood in the way of Reagan's military build up to protect us from the Evil Empire. He blasted Reagan's support of the Contras. He opposed Reagan's liberation of Grenada. And now this.
Kerry is a blowhard. He opens his mouth without thinking of the consequences. Look at what he has done during his run for the presidency. He says one thing, then another, then another, then another, then another, then another. The rest of the world doesn't need to worry about the U.S. military under a Kerry administration; he could do massive damage by just shooting off his pie hole.
I can't stand that (half of a) man!
"as the poor Haitians are still living in misery"
Their misery will increase ten-fold if Kerry gets elected (God forbid).
Kerry, you aren't as smart as you think you are. Only a fool would call the Aristide regime "democratic."
Fool.
Can you imagine if he gets elected? He will think he's a god,and God help us all!
And Aristide's regime was no democracy, Kerry.
FOOL!
"He will think he's a god,and God help us all!"
Yep, it would appear the serpent's message to Eve in the Garden of Eden really got his attention.
Bump
He & I are about the same age, so he, too, should remember how much trouble that can cause: we have the example of Radio Free America & the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 to learn from.
Guess he didn't pay attention.
Kerry was pandering to the Congressional Black Congress, who all ran for microphones to defend Aristide. He couldn't even recognize Aristide in a crowd.
Kerry is a stupid dork BUMP!
I wake up every day thanking God I'm not afflicted with Liberalism...Progressivism/Greenism/Socialism/Communism/Etc.
John Kerry is a Communist by every quantifiable measure you can take...anyone that wants Communism in America, John Kerry is your scmuck.
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