[wardaddy]

Cedras was a far better choice than Aristedes. However, anyone who has power in Haiti will eventually have two choices. Give up power to force or keep power by force. Haiti is about as prepared to be a Democratic Republic as I am prepared to climb K-2. It's a lost country that needs to be depopulated and reforested. It's a lost cause. Most of the more dismal parts of Africa actually stand a better chance than Haiti. Haiti has little or no infrastructure other than what the marines built back in the 20s and 30s. It was largely deforested over a century ago. It has to import nearly all food except mangoes. There is little potable water, little electricity outside half a dozen major towns, little medical help, little communications infrastructure outside PaP and Cap Hatien, little education. The counry was basically an oligarchy prior to Aristedes. A handful of Lebanese, Jewish, French Mulattoes, Syrian, German,American manufacturers and some pure African Haitians run all the commerce that can employ anyone. The vast majority of Haitians live as dirtscrabble farmers or in wretched slums.

It's a lost cause.

[far sider]

WarDad. Where did you spend most of your time in Haiti? I have visited Port-au-Prince (including Cite Soliel) and Montrouis several times. I agree with you about Cedras. He seemed like a true patriot to me. I think Haiti would be in much better shape by now if the US hadn't intervened (under Bush-1, no less). When you've got Colin Powell and Sam Nunn(?) on your front porch, telling you to get out of Dodge or the missiles are gonna start flying, even Cedras couldn't stick it out. I believe this is just one of many examples of how the US has hurt Haiti, despite supposed good intentions.