What? We kidnapped Aristide? WHAT?

I'm at work and can't get the news, or seem to find the latest on this online anywhere. Please, someone tell me that the mailman did NOT really just here on the radio that we kidnapped Aristide and are holding him hostage in Africa?

The whitehouse press secretary just said during a briefing that it's complete nonsense, but Aristide's people are sticking to their story. It's possible that he's trying to save face for fleeing the country. Then again, I rarely believe anything the whitehouse press secretary has to say.

Donald Rumsfeld just said, "The U.S. will have to create a multi-national, peacekeeping force, to secure Haiti in the long run."

Sound familiar?

Bleh.. The White House is still denying arresting Aristide. However, several reports of him being led away by U.S. Marines, handcuffed, have surfaced.

Oh, this is scary! Is anyone having flashbacks to the Congo? I hope, hope, hope we did not do this!

Pretty much everyone but Aristide's attorney and an American activist maintains that he left of his own free will, though "fled" might be more appropriate. But the Central African Republic communications minister...well. Should I trust the word of someone named Parfait? He sounds like a guy with...layers.

The white house is reporting that 400 U.S. troops will be in Haiti by the end of the day. They are also asserting that 5,000 international peacekeepers will be in Haiti soon with 1/3 coming from the U.S.

I'm starting to wonder how many wars Bush and pals can fight.

Aside from any right or wrong or WTH happened issues, the word 'war' just doesn't apply to Haiti. War between Haiti and the US?? C'mon ... we're talking about Haiti. It's a weekend skirmish at best. We'll raid the beach in the morning, secure the country by afternoon and have a beach party that night.

Maybe we are actually looking for WMD in Haiti <giggles>. I think that's also the secondary mission of the Mars Rovers <snicker>.

-AP

Umm... if I recall correctly, there were people out there hassling the US for NOT organizing a peacekeeping force, just a short while ago.

I guess we're damned if we do, damned if we don't.

True or not, what I find frightening is how readily people believe that this is true with so little evidence.

If I recall correctly, the Bushies said Iraq would be a cakewalk.

Anyway, as outrageous as the current administration has behaved, I think this story is really stretching belivability. Bush didn't send in troops immediately because:

1. Haiti is piss poor
2. Haiti isn't sitting on huge oil reserves
3. Aristide didn't tangle with Bush Sr.
4. Bush himself said that repatriation of ALL Haitian refugees attempting to slip in by sea was a priority.

My point: Bush isn't interested in sending troops to a piss-poor nation that has nothing he and his rich corporate buddies would want.

.

You said it man. Nobody's ever happy, including John Kerry who claims President Bush took too long to do anything about Haiti. Please, let's not forget who helped put Aristide in power (President Clinton).

By the way the person who started these rumors was U.S. congresswoman Maxine Waters (Democrat of course). Her district is in Los Angeles (she used to be my congresswoman. . .I'm glad she's not anymore). Anyway, she claims Aristide called her and told her that he had been kidnapped by U.S. forces. Of course, Ms. Waters, being a good Democrat, goes straight to the press instead of the White House or the Pentagon to find out if Aristide's story is true.

This whole situation was blown out of proportion because, as someone stated earlier, Aristide is trying to save face and some woman who shouldn't be in Congress anymore believed him.

By the way, where's the savior of the world, the UN, when you need it?????

I can just FEEL this about to explode into a flame war.

Doesn't matter what party they're in... CLINTON AND BUSH WERE BOTH DEAD WRONG WHEN DEALING WITH HAITI. Ok, anyway, I REALLY hope we didn't do this, but knowing Bush and his cronies, I'm suspecting we did.

It might turn to a flame war, hehe. There's a few grenades here.

Bottom line is, no matter what the current administration does (speaking in general of all administrations), the opposing party can and will ALWAYS be able to bring up some stupid thing to make them look bad, whether or not would have done the same thing. And that's being done ALL the time now.

I wonder if the people who "blew the whistle" here will get as much negative press as the US intelligence prior to the Iraq war has gotten (for being inaccurate), if this proves to be completely false. If these senators really did contribute to spreading a hugely false rumor like this (assuming it is false), they'd better get the negative press for doing it.

Of course, Aristide is probably a complete failure with nothing now, so what does he have to lose by starting a lie like this? Maybe it'll get him support he needs for the UN to reinstall him and his supposed "Democratic" government, or something...har.

If it's not false, all I have to say is........ damnit, stupid move!

"My point: Bush isn't interested in sending troops to a piss-poor nation that has nothing he and his rich corporate buddies would want."

well yeah. that's why people gain political office. always has been; always will be. it took me twenty years of experience plus five years worth of political science, psychology and history courses to realize it. i'm kinda slow.

No argument here, although let's not kid ourselves. Clinton and his corporate buddies wouldn't be doing anything much different (if any different at all), nor would most politicians.

It's not like Aristide had the situation in hand, by any means. Let's recall that the representative who is making this charge only just the other day stated that Hispanics and Caucasians "all look the same to me" while attacking the administration for NOT intervening in Haiti.

So what's the story with this? Is it true or what? I haven't heard anything more about it.