Bush vows to block an exodus to U.S of Haitians

[maddezmom]

By RON HOWELL
STAFF WRITER

February 26, 2004


With Haiti inching toward civil war, President George W. Bush said yesterday the U.S. Coast Guard would turn back any Haitians fleeing in boats to U.S. shores.

That declaration - which was essentially an affirmation of current policy - drew swift denunciations from critics, who called it inhumane and racist. Also, about 20 members of the Congressional Black Caucus told Bush in an impassioned meeting that the United States must be prepared to use force and offer aid to prevent total chaos in Haiti.

~snip~

But immigrant advocates said the United States is unfairly singling out Haitians with a policy of automatic repatriation.

"It is unconscionable that the world's greatest democracy is not doing more to welcome refugees from a tiny neighbor that is again teetering on the edge of political chaos," Cheryl Little, executive of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, said from Miami.

Aristide's Florida-based attorney, Ira Kurzban, called the U.S. policy toward Haitian boat people racist. He said the Bush administration "hates" Aristide and is simply waiting for him to be eliminated, "and then they'll send a peacekeeping force."


~snip~
more:http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woboat263686466feb26,0,4074840.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines

[0007]

1. Wouldn't a good Christian help his brother in a time of need?

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Only if the rebels are flashing titty

--bkl

[Sugarbleus]

2. I have to take time to read up on this situation but

I was under the impression that Aristide was a puppet prez set up by our country? Are the complaints that this guy is a corrupt and vile person true?

In any case, yes, it is abominable that we don't take refugees fleeing all that violence. It's okay to allow illegal latins and asians into our country to take the work from unemployed americans at half the cost but it's not okay to take in mostly black refugees for humanitarian purposes!?
What a screwed up goverment we have.

I have to go research this whole fiasco. BushSucks

[Voice_of_Europe]

3. Go back and die quietly!!

Not very friendly to send people back to their possible death..

Somebody who takes the risk to cross the ocean in anything that floats has not much to loose except his life and they see their chances of surviving better on a floating thing than when remaining at home...

Reminds me of Jews getting turned away at borders and sent back to die.

[lefty_mcduff]

7. Some background on current Haiti situation can be found here...

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43a/458.html

Same cast of characters as always.

[Mel]

8. Here's a article you may find interesting

it speaks a little bit more about what the black caucus has been doing.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/25/national0209EST0430.DTL

What I think, Bush* hasn't and still doesn't give a damn about the people of Haiti. It's disgusting and I find it racist! Bush* yaps about Democracy for the people of Iraq but he can't help his neighbors? If he doesn't help the people of Haiti it just puts another nail in his coffin as far as I'm concerned. It further pounds the point that going to war against Iraq was, is about oil not their latest talking point 'democracy for Iraq'

Here's a good article
http://www.blackcommentator.com/74/74_reprint_french.html

Here's a link to the CBC/ Congressional Black Caucus. It's true in my eyes they are
the Conscience of the Congress.
http://www.house.gov/cummings/cbc/cbchome.htm

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Yeah, there's a lot to read...

and start with Toussaint L'Overture and his slave revolution. One hell of a story there. It was even in my history books when I was back in high school.

A lot happened between then and Aristede, much having to do with the US saving everything south of us for United Fruit.

Father Aristede was the "designated elected President" after Baby Doc got his ass tossed out of there, partly with our help after watching him and his father destroy the country for decades. I think Jimmy Carter went down to help supervise that election, but would have to look that up.

So, Aristede was the victim of a military coup, and Clinton invaded to put him back in office. It was a bloodless invasion, beautifully planned and carried out with no casualties. Would have been one for the history books if it wasn't under Clinton. Can't have Clinton ever doing anything right, can we? Damn! One of our finer moments, and it has to be that damn Clinton again..

So, we then sent an ex NYC police commissioner down there to build a proper police force, and a whole bunch of other experts and helping hands. And held another election.

But, we aren't into nation-building, so the job was never finished. Admittedly, it was a tough job and who knows how long we'd have to be there to finsh it. But, we just bailed long before much of enduring substance was accomplished. Seem to remember something about Republicans bashing another of Clinton's "useless" ventures, and Clinton folding.

And, it turns out, Aristede may be the properly elected leader of Haiti, but he's not all that good at the job. Particularly without the help of a certain rich uncle.

[coltman]

5. thats our compassionate conservative

but the thief in chief would like a photo op if rove could arrange it.

[ET Awful]

6. He's just trying to be like dad. . .

They both attacked Iraq.
They both fucked up the economy.
They both turned away Haitian refugees during catastrophes involving an Aristide government. . . . .

[Skidmore]

9. Wanna drive * over the edge?

We need billboards and ads and protest signs that that say:

George Bush--Just like his dad
Junior-Just like his dad

He's tried to drink, drug, swagger, and bully his way out of being identified as his father's son while using his family name to gain access and favors. Rub his nose in his heritage. It would drive him up the wall.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. We'll take all the Cubans...

we can get, but now that Haiti is actually in a civil war, and we sent the Marines to protect our embassy, jen-yoo-wine Haitian war refugees are told to FOAD.

Priceless.

[libertad]

11. Cubans come over here and immediately become Repubs. nt

.

[silverpatronus]

13. i couldn't agree more!

and there's absolutely nothing to explain it other than race. ok, maybe partisan politics have a small role, but it's overwhelmingly about race. but then again, i could write a book about the racist immigration policies of the US and 50-odd other countries around the world...

[newyawker99]

17. Hi silverpatronus!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[silverpatronus]

22. thanks!

i've been lurking a while, even posted a few times (but i can't find my posts now! WAAH!).

[Muddleoftheroad]

14. There are conflicts around the globe

Do we open our doors to every refugee?

[silverpatronus]

15. immigration doesn't only concern

people moving to whatever country. it also concerns visitors, students, guest workers etc. go look at the visa waiver list even for the US only. go look at the visa rules for australia. tell me racism doesn't play.

as for opening your doors to every refugee, from a resource standpoint that's impossible. any landmass, any economy, any set of resources can only support a finite number of people. but surely you must see the hypocrisy in welcoming cubans while turning back hatians.

[Muddleoftheroad]

16. The U.S. has special antagonism with Cuba

It is unsurprising that we do our best to aid their refugees over others.

[silverpatronus]

18. unsurprising, of course...

but you must agree that it is also hypocritical.

[0007]

21. Very hypocritical, especially when it is your next door neighbor

[moondust]

19. Don't give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses

yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore; Do not send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I douse my lamp beside the golden door. Just send more money.

[Loonman]

20. Cubans show up and they break out the damn coffee cake

So long as it isn't those Haitians!

GOP idiots.....