Haitian Rebels Call For Guerilla War On Interim Government (from ATSNN)

The group of former soldiers from Haiti's disbanded army which just last February overthrew president Jean-Bertrand Aristide are now turning on the interim government they paved the way for. The rebels are angered by the governments failure to give back-pay for the 10 years in which the military was disbanded, and their refusal to restore the military before elections are held. Tensions escalated on Saturday when the government had Brazilian troops remove rebels from their headquarters, and now the rebels are calling on former Hatian soldiers to wage guerilla warfare.



The reaction of UN forces to this development will be very important. These same forces have now called for two revolutions in the course of a single year and their demands are entirely for themselves- not for the good of the nation. These rebels seem to aspire to the creation of a military regime and can only be trouble for the poorest nation in the Americas.
Unfortunately, this also raises questions about the US backing of these rebels. Aristide claimed to have been the victim of a US sponsored coup. Now the rebel forces which brought about the change of government have been swept aside become irrelevant in the face of a UN backed interim government. The appearance is that America has shrewdly played the two local factions off against eachother to create an opening for outsiders to come in and shape Haiti as they see fit.

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Haiti- what a sad place. Will the U.S. Marines land once again? The U.S. Marines have been the Haitian occupation forces before.

U.S. Marine Haiti information
SERVANTS........ Usual menage includes cook, laundress, maid and yard boy. Wages should not exceed $8 for cook, and $6 to $5 monthly for other. They receive in addition allowance monthly for food of $3 each, and buy and prepare own food. Laundry work on premises and usually very well done. Difficult, buecause of custom and caste traditions, to do with less than four. Butler receives $8 to $10 and speaks English. Yard boy cleans yard, lower floor, oils floors, clean autos and run errands. Usually petty thierves but pilfering is trifling unless money or jewelry is left carelessly around.

1915-1934 U.S. occupation provides a little insight into the current problems of Haiti. America invaded (occupied) Haiti because of bank debt owed to American bankers. During this occupation the Americans set in place the political apparatus that eventually led Haiti to become the 'poorest of the poor.' America still stands accused of Imperialism in Haiti as a forerunner of IMF and World Bank rape.

America left in 1934 after 19 years of riots and anti-American troubles that included massacres and seemingly continual murders (approx. 60,000 dead). Haiti had limited resources and was unable to support a large occupation, unlike Hawaii, Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, the Philippines and innumerable other way-stations of American Imperialism.

Haiti is a land of trouble and turmoil. Subversion is not only endemic but historically expected.

Isn't it iteresting how people pick and choose what qualifies as imperialism?
Nobody questions America's control of Ohio, which required a second war on the British who were protecting the native population.
Nobody questions America's control of Texas, which was subverted by Americans who moved into Mexican territory with the intent of gaining control and being annexed by the USA.
Only those who took pains to stay away in history class are aware that Hawaii was taken by force becuase they would not play ball with American sugar and fruit companies.
If we didn't annex it though, it was imperialism?

I'm not really trying to defend or attack America so much as just raise obvious question over what constitutes good or bad imperialism, as it is obvious that many of today's leading nations have engaged in it to reach their current station.

" . . .good or bad imperialism"

Makes me smile.

I have no doubt that in history there are more than a few conquered peoples that genuinely appreciated the conquest.

Ohio? That is a stretch. Conquerors of the Ohio area:
Paleoindian
Archaic
Adena
Hopewell
Woodland
Fort Ancient
Mound builders
X (unknown bridge group)
Shawnee
Miami
Mingo
French
British
French
British
Mennonites
Americans
Republicans


There are assuredly some left off this list. Interesting place, Ohio. Who will next claim it?

Every group that was replaced by another was either driven out, killed off or assimilated. Much like Hawaii. Back to the present-

American Imperialism had a run during the beginning of each century, the one for this century is just beginning. A middle-eastern colony? Then a South American one? Never an African one to date, but who knows what the future holds.

Originally posted by JoeDoaks

American Imperialism had a run during the beginning of each century, the one for this century is just beginning. A middle-eastern colony? Then a South American one? Never an African one to date, but who knows what the future holds.

I'm a bit paranoid sometimes, but I really think that there are more than a few world leaders out there right now who are looking at Africa with 100+ years foresight and planning to move in once the locals are thinned out enough from AIDS.
Let me point out an added bonus to the growing South Asian empire that America is building; once Syria and Iran are taken, there will be a solid wall of US controlled states barring Russia and China from Africa. All America will have to do then is back the India economically and militarily to use them as protectors of the sea route, and America would then only be contending with the EU in Africa. I see America then trying to make inroads with France, the former Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria- Eastern Europe can't be in the Russian or EU camp or it opens too much competition (unless of course America goes nuts conquering Northern Africa, but I dont see direct conquest as the likely means to be taken.)

Colonies aren't what they used to be at all. It's wierd. It used to be that you made the colony a part of the empire and created an economy by trading finished goods for natural resources. As an added bonus your colony was a recruiting ground for the military and a military base.

These days you can't rape a colony for resources, so all you can do is bag all the government contract work for that nation for your companies. Money comes out but doesn't go back in and the colonies wont be viable for very long. Of course thats how America has always done it- just look at Haiti. The rest of the world is probably like "what the heck are you people doing?" but thats just our style for some reason. You also can't build much of a military in a modern colony because they are always resisiting you. You aren't allowed to really crack down on a colony anymore.

Truth be told, colonialism isn't a nationalist enterprise anymore. We are taking a step backwards to the days when armies and empires were the playthings of royalty and worked only to the advantage of the elite. Halliburton and Raytheon are making out like bandits while America pays through the nose. Donald Rumsfeld isn't as dumb as he acts either- he's trying to get fired so he can go back to the private sector and buy stock in those companies!