*Ø* Blogmanac | Bottom line: "Bush is an asshole," Chavez

[Commentary Mine: Jeffrey Sachs guested on Charlie Rose Show on PBS and strongly fought for the contention that Aristide was kidnapped by the U.S. Naturally, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti strongly fought against that contention.

Following Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley reported that he had expected his Monday night show to be an interview with President Aristide of Haiti. However, prior to his leaving for Haiti on Saturday afternoon, he received a phone call from the U.S. State Department, telling him that "it" was "coming down" on Saturday night or Sunday and that the subject of his interview would not be available due to "assassination or something" and that it would be better if he cancelled his trip. You do the math.

The archives of both shows on PBS are worth checking out. You can listen to shows you missed. Some of the guest speakers are well worth re-visiting!

By the way, Jeffrey Sachs in an example of a Harvard graduate. It's hard to imagine Bush as being in the same "caste," isn't it? LOL! Jeffrey actually attended classes and did the work--that's the difference! -v]


HAITI COUP UPDATE ROUNDUP FROM WILLIAM BOWLES

MARCHING INTO HAITI ONE MORE TIME
The "News Dissector Weblog"
http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-news/dissector.html

AFTERMATH
Aristide backers blame US for ouster
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff
http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-news/us_blamed.html

Aristide Tells U.S. Contacts He Was Abducted
http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-news/abducted.html

Randall Robinson discusses his telephone conversation with Aristide
http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-news/randall.html


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Aristide Kidnapped by U.S. Forces?
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Monday 1 March 2004

"Beyond the mountains, more mountains."
- old Haitian proverb

The front pages of major American newspapers and the talking heads on the news channels would have you believe that the resignation of Jean-Bertrand Aristide from his presidency in Haiti was voluntary. Questions have been raised, however, about the manner in which his departure unfolded. In short, there is mounting evidence to suggest that Aristide was removed involuntarily from power by American forces.

Randall Robinson, founder of TransAfrica and a close friend to Aristide, was interviewed on CNN by Wolf Blitzer on Monday afternoon about the events unfolding in Haiti. Robinson, who is one of the few people to actually speak with Aristide since yesterday, said, "We have undertaken a coup against a democratically elected government in Haiti." Congressman Charles Rangel, who also spoke to Aristide, said later on CNN, "He was kidnapped. He resigned under pressure. He and his wife had no idea where he was going. He was very apprehensive for his life."

For the last several weeks, rebel forces have waged war against the government of Aristide. Hundreds of Haitians have been killed, many of whom were supporters of Aristide. As the rebel forces drew closer to the capital, the status of Aristide's leadership became more uncertain. An attempt to craft a power-sharing agreement between Aristide and the rebels failed when the rebels refused any terms that kept Aristide in office. The endgame began when Secretary of State Colin Powell, who had previously been espousing a hands-off policy regarding American intervention, told Aristide that the security being provided him by America would be removed. Such an action would have left Aristide completely exposed to the surging rebel forces.

CONTINUE


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President Aristide: 'I Was Kidnapped',
'Tell The World It Is A Coup'
Democracy Now!

Monday 01 March 2004

Multiple sources that just spoke with Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide told Democracy Now! that Aristide says he was "kidnapped" and taken by force to the Central African Republic. Congressmember Maxine Waters said she received a call from Aristide at 9am EST. "He's surrounded by military. It's like he is in jail, he said. He says he was kidnapped," said Waters. She said he had been threatened by what he called US diplomats. According to Waters, the diplomats reportedly told the Haitian president that if he did not leave Haiti, paramilitary leader Guy Philippe would storm the palace and Aristide would be killed. According to Waters, Aristide was told by the US that they were withdrawing Aristide's US security.

TransAfrica founder and close Aristide family friend Randall Robinson also received a call from the Haitian president early this morning and confirmed Waters account. Robinson said that Aristide "emphatically" denied that he had resigned. "He did not resign," he said. "He was abducted by the United States in the commission of a coup." Robinson says he spoke to Aristide on a cell phone that was smuggled to the Haitian president.

CONTINUE


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Chavez Calls Bush 'Asshole' as Foes Fight Troops
Reuters

Sunday 29 February 2004

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Bush an "asshole" on Sunday for meddling, and vowed never to quit office like his Haitian counterpart as troops battled with opposition protesters demanding a recall referendum against him.

Chavez, who often says the U.S. is backing opposition efforts to topple his leftist government, accused Bush of heeding advice from "imperialist" aides to support a brief 2002 coup against him.

"He was an asshole to believe them," Chavez roared at a huge rally of supporters in Caracas.

The Venezuelan leader's comments came as fresh violence broke out on the streets of the capital, where National Guard troops clashed with opposition protesters pressing for a vote to end his five-year rule.

Military helicopters roared in low runs overhead as soldiers fired tear gas and plastic bullets to repel several hundred opposition demonstrators who threw stones and set up burning barricades in eastern Caracas late into the night.

Troops and opposition activists also skirmished in other cities.

CONTINUE THIS MUST-READ!