We all have seen the disastrous in Haiti after the massive earthquake…all the death, destruction, misery and hopelessness….we have all watched the world respond generously to the situation…but now I am seeing a pattern that may just not be so….but it is all too familiar.
Writing recently for wsws.org, Bill Van Auken:
From the dawn of the 20th century, Haiti fell under the domination of Washington and the US banks, whose interests were defended by sending Marines to carry out an occupation that continued for nearly 20 years, maintained through the bloody suppression of Haitian resistance.
The Marines left only after carrying out the “Haitianization”—as the New York Times referred to it at the time—of the war against the Haitian people by building an army dedicated to internal repression.
Subsequently, Washington backed the 30-year dictatorship of the Duvaliers, which began with the coming to power of Papa Doc in 1957. While tens of thousands of Haitians died at the hands of the military and the dreaded Tontons Macoute, US imperialism saw the murderous dictatorship as a bulwark against communism and revolution in the Caribbean.
Since the mass upheavals that brought down the Duvaliers in 1986, successive US governments, Democratic and Republican alike, have sought to reconstruct a reliable client state capable of defending the markets and investments of US firms attracted by starvation wages, as well as the property and wealth of the Haitian ruling elite. This entails preventing any challenge to a socio-economic order that keeps 80 percent of the population in dire poverty.
Haiti’s original constitution was written by the commander of US troops that were occupying the island nation some 100 years ago…..
I believe it was Woodrow Wilson that sent the first troops to Haiti in 1913….and the US has been involved in Haiti’s internal affairs ever since…I am hoping that this is not a usual move to try and get a foothold in Haiti once again…to make Haiti into this “little” America in the Caribbean…….but it just seems all too familiar……
“I am hoping that this is not a usual move to try and get a foothold in Haiti once again”…
YES! It quite clearly is – in fact MORE than an attempt – they are occupying Haiti militarily and f*ck the plight of the people!
There SHOULD be a world outcry against it and the US should be thrown out of the UN and ridiculed at the very least, if it persists and is not reversed. In my opinion, this is the very WORST kind of agression – kicking people when they are on the floor and unable to even argue or defend themselves.
When such violent and disgusting behaviour is exhibited by thugs on the street, there is public outrage against the perpetrators… why not NOW? 👿
I hate to use the word….imperialism…but I cannot for the life of me think of another word to describe it…