In Honduras and Haiti, the U.S. Rules by Proxy

[katty]

more: http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/honduras-and-haiti-us-rules-proxy

In Honduras and Haiti, the U.S. Rules by Proxy

A Black Agenda Radio commentary by Glen Ford

“Wherever the U.S. has the power to thwart the democratic process, it does so.”
The Barack Obama presidency was supposed to signal a new era in U.S. foreign policy, including in Latin America, which had turned decisively against George Bush’s blustering, bullying and coup-making. What has emerged under Obama is not a reversal of historic U.S. imperial policies in the Americas, but a cosmetic adjustment.President Obama uses far less warlike language than his predecessor, but he deploys every trick and deceit in the book to maintain U.S. dominance in the region. And like all bullies who have had their noses bloodied, he tries to create fear in the hemisphere by picking on the smaller countries.

For most of the 20th century, Haiti and Honduras were de facto colonies of the United States. Haiti was occupied by the U.S. military for nearly 20 years, between 1915 and 1934. Honduras was the original, prototypical “banana republic,” ruled by a local oligarchy totally subservient to the United States. Both Haiti and Honduras are prime examples of a U.S. strategy to under-develop its neighbors – a deliberate policy of impoverishment and petty tyranny.

But blatant gunboat diplomacy doesn’t work very well anymore for the United States in most of Latin America, where a popular consensus has been achieved that rejects U.S. hegemony. Recognizing the drawbacks of overt American aggression, President Obama artfully pursues a policy of smiles and handshakes all around – while undermining democratic forces through proxies whenever the opportunity arises.

[timeforpeace]

1. Well, they're saying, at least we're not Afghanistan. Proxy being preferable to 100,000 troops.

[Syntheto]

2. The Haitian Revolution...

...was the most important thing to happen in the Western Hemisphere. Slaves of African descent didn't ask for their freedom, or hold freedom marches or elect members to the French legislative body of the time... they took it by force of arms.

The very last thing President Thomas Jefferson would do, considering his own, unofficial slave family begat with Sally Hemmings, as well as his extensive slave holdings was going to do was to recognize Haiti. There was no way White European governments were going to recognize a Black government, much less support it with trade and foreign aid.

It's the most disgraceful episode of the saga of the Americas, right up there with Cortes and the Pizzaro Brothers fairly successful attempts at genocide.

Toussaint L'Overture could have been dealt with as he was a unique individual with a good education and a better understanding of the Big Picture and the necessity of bargaining with the Europeans and Americans. After Napoleon trick-fucked him and bundled him off to die in the Alps, Haiti was ruled by Dessalines, a former slave with a burning hatred of Whites, responsible for the purging of the island by fire. Thus began the cycle of brutal strong men with predictable results.

It really sucks, because Toussaint would've worked with the French, making Haiti more or less a Black province within the French system. Sugar would've continued to flow, and Napoleon wouldn't have decided to auction the area referred to as 'the Louisiana Purchase' over to the Americans.

What would have happened, one wonders, if Napoleon hadn't been such a total racist, who was infuriated when Toussaint was referred to as "The Black Napoleon" in the world press, and didn't feel bound to any agreement with a Black?

[era veteran]

3. Now they eat dirt in Haiti

The shame of our hemisphere. Good Post Syntheto