01
Mar
Marching Into Haiti One More Time
THIS JUST IN: President Aristide is now charging that he was indeed kidnapped and forced from office. (11AM)
US COUP IN HAITI? THE PASSION OF WHITENESS OUTSOURCING: AN INDIAN VIEW And, now, the Oscar for most insidious regime change. The nominees are:
- The United States (2000 elections),
- Afghanistan (by air bombardment and war lord),
- Iraq (by armed invasion), and most recently,
- Haiti (by shadowy covert action and murderous thugs).
The envelope, please … Our winner for the best slow-motion coup out of public view: Haiti.
On the "real" Oscars, there was Billy Crystal thanking American soldiers across the world … a gesture of pandering if there ever was one. Later Earl Morris won for the documentary "Fog of War” about his exchange with Robert MacNamara on Vietnam. After giving his own films an embarrassing “why haven’t you honored me before?” self-promotional plug, he said, with passion and an obscure metaphor: "40 years ago, our country went down a rabbit hole. And I fear it is going down that hole again." Yo Earl, we are down there already.
Haiti was not mentioned last night. The "stars" were too busy preening on the red carpet in all their bejeweled opulence to follow the tragedy in one of the world’s poorest countries. As they overloaded the Lord of the Rings with 11 statuettes — "There’s no one left to thank in New Zealand," quipped Crystal — a democracy was snuffed out in Haiti. An industry that began with a pro-Klan film called "Birth of the Nation" had no time for today’s Death of a Nation. MAO’S MANTRA Aristide is out. The Marines are in. And Chairman Mao’s dictum that ‘political power grows out of the barrel of gun’ has proven itself once again. Was the Haitian president pushed — or did he jump? Did he really leave voluntarily, or was he escorted, as is being reported, with a gun at his head? None of the answers to these questions were fully confirmed as I began writing. Reportedly Aristide was being flown last night to the Central African Republic, hardly a tourist destination. You can just hear some of those Washington wags saying, "Get me an obscure country with no no press corps, that no one has heard of." Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California called Artistide’s overthrow the result of a plan, a “preemptive strike," and "regime change." She says she suspects that Vice President Cheney is calling the shots. If this was a coup, as it appears it was, it would be the 33rd coup in Haiti’s tragic history. Of course there was nary a sign or explanation of this on TV this morning, CNN was asking: "Will the marines bring peace to a troubled land?" Yuk. This, of course, accepts the official story of Aristide’s departure and its beneficent rationalization of the intervention at face value. CNN presented the only problem in Haiti as Aristide’s armed supporters, not the thugs who the US backed in ousting him, FOX: “WE SENT OUR FIXER OUT FRONT” Fox outfoxed CNN, and outdid itself, with an early morning exchange that may yet receive an award for absolute callousness, self-involvement and inanity. Sorry, I have to paraphrase because I rushed in disbelief from the set to the computer to relay it to you.
Quote: "Aristide has arrived in the Central African Republic. … (Said with sarcasm and a laugh) …That country has had as many coups as Haiti. … (Snicker)"
Q: "Is it safe in the streets?"
A: " No. We sent our Haitian ‘fixer’ — and he’s a big guy — out in front of us to see how safe it was and he was attacked and our camera was stolen and smashed."
So much for the popular regard with which Fox and US TV News is held. All the TV reporters seemed to be doing their standups from the safety of some hill surrounding the capital.
The gritty Brazilian film City of God may not not have won anything in Hollywood last night but the world of violence and desperation that it depicts had moved from the fictional world of the silver screen to the factual reality of the TV screen. HE SAID HE WAS STAYING Yesterday, the Observer in London along with many outlets was reporting, "Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is refusing to step down despite increasing pressure from foreign governments and the general lawlessness that reigned in the Haitian capital as rebels seeking to depose him circled the city. Aristide said his resignation was ‘out of the question’ and suggestions he would flee ‘baseless rumors.’ "
BUSH PUSH But the big push was on, and blatantly so. The New York Times got a whiff of it, reporting: "Bush Increases Push for Haitian to Leave Office:" "President Bush dramatically increased the pressure on Jean-Bertrand Aristide to resign as Haiti’s president, authorizing a White House statement on Saturday evening that the crisis “is largely of Mr. Aristide’s making” and adding that “his own actions have called into question his fitness to continue to govern.” AND THEN, "POOF!" HE WAS GONE Within hours, CNN was reporting Aristide had left Haiti, supposedly "In the best interest of the Haitian people." BBC.com reported Aristide as writing, "The constitution should not drown in the blood of the Haitian people … If my resignation is to prevent bloodshed, I accept to leave.”
I heard that report while making my oft-postponed date with the treadmill in the gym across from my home. I had resolved to restart my workout regimen but this "breaking news" broke my spirit. KIDNAPPED? RTL radio reported that American soldiers took Aristide away, along with his security force, by force. "The American Army came to take him away at two in the morning,” the man said. “The Americans forced him out with weapons. “It was American soldiers. They came with a helicopter and they took the security guards. “(Aristide) was not happy. He did not want to be taken away. He did not want to leave. He was not able to fight against the Americans.” "The RTL journalist who carried out the interview described the man as a “frightened old man, crouched in a corner” who said he was the “caretaker of the residence."
See Australia’s Daily Telegraph: http://tinyurl.com/2ssx8
HANDCUFFED?
A report carried by WBAI Radio in New York from Haiti said that the US Ambassador arrived at Aristide’s home at at 4 or 5 in the morning. President Aristide was reportedly escorted out in handcuffs. He was being taken to see US ambassador James Foley or Foley was there. He was led out by 10 marines. Pacifica stringers reported there were death squads hunting down members of Lavalas, Aristide’s party. ABC NEWS reportedly interviewed Aristide. One of their crew members was reported as confirming this story but was too frightened to give his name. President Bush said Aristide resigned. Al Giordano of Narco News notes similarities between Aristide’s “resignation” and the failed coup against Venezuela’s Chavez two years ago: “The press said the president had resigned, when he had been kidnapped,” writes Giordano. HOORAY FOR PACIFICA The best coverage was on Pacifica Radio hosted by Amy Goodman and Dennis Bernstein. I listened to the broadcast on KPFA.org, the website of the Berkeley based station. I am transcribing as I listen.
A "NEW BEGINNING?"
Ira Kurzban, a US attorney representing President Aristide criticized President Bush for calling what he labeled a "US coup," a "new chapter." He said that the President’s father was in office when Aristide was deposed the first time. He said there was nothing new about it.
He said no one has seen the resignation letter that Aristide supposedly signed. "It was clearly signed with a gun to his head … it reminds me of the old Soviet system, where people make forced confessions … They are preventing him from speaking to the people of his country and the world."
"PHYSICAL ELIMINATION"?
"I demanded as his lawyer the right to speak to him. I was rebuffed … I was told he was up in the air… we are seriously concerned about his physical elimination … We have many questions that have not been answered. …
"Last night there was a squeeze play played on the president — [the administration was saying we won’t protect you … as we speak, the prime minister of Haiti’s home has been burned down … Two members of the family of the Mayor of Port au Prince have been killed. …
RANDALL ROBINSON SAYS ARISTIDE WAS THREATENED
Randall Robinson, founder of TransAfrica Forum, discussed conversations from St Kitts that he had with Aristide. He spoke of hearing from NPR radio host Travis Smiley of a conversation Colin Powell had with ex-Congressman Ron Dellums. Dellums was told to contact Aristide to warn him that he was about to be killed … and that the US government would not protect him.
"We have no idea if they are alive or not, (as of 7: 30 p.m. last night) … He was told that Aristide said he would never step down … This is a terrible day for freedom and democracy in the world and for the United States." The South African government told Robinson that they had no request from Aristide. He was suspicious of why he would voluntarily go the Central African Republic.
He soon said "this was planned." He said that the Aristide government had been undermined and loans were cut. "They gave money to an opposition that didn’t exist," he added.
Another factor that suggested preplanning was the reactivation of refugee camp at Guantanamo Bay with 50,000 beds ready to go. When Aristide was forced out the last time, refugees heading for the US were also denied permission to enter and forced to stay in the US military base on Cuba. Many languished there in misery for years.
HOW WELL WAS THIS STORY COVERED?
None of the drama, nor any of these details of this story were being reported in any detail the TV news programs I watched. Most of the talk shows focused on Super Tuesday, the Passion of the Christ and the upcoming Academy Award presentations.
As he was sending in an armed military force, President Bush appealed to Haitians to forsake violence. Ironically, the justification was that Aristide was undemocratic because he had been associated with an undemocratic legislative election. This — from the beneficiary of the fiasco in Florida in 2000. Yesterday Haitians in Florida took to the streets to protest.
INTERVIEWING "THE EXPERTS"
NBC News went for comments to a Congressman in Florida for a comment and the head of the Council of Foreign Relations in New York. The broadcast came back to identify the Congressman, Mark Foley as Republican. (Foley reportedly said earlier that Aristide would "leave Haiti in a Lear Jet or in a pine box.") It did not identify Richard Haas of the Council as a Republican and former member of the Administration. He was used instead as a "neutral" expert. (Foley was back on again this morning justifying the removal of Aristide: "He had his chance … It was time for him to go," he said without imperial arrogance.
Congressman Charles Rangel said that after speaking with Colin Powell he concluded, "We were just as guilty of the coup as the rebels … I don’t understand the resignation piece of this story … I spoke with President and Mrs Aristide last week and he reiterated he would fulfill his responsibilities."
Maxine Waters, the California Congresswoman joined the Pacifica conversation denouncing the mainstream press for not reporting the story fully and fairly. A Haitian activist sounded as if she was in tears when she asked later how American journalists could sleep after distorting the story this badly.
Waters said, "Washington never denounced the thugs and the killers." She noted that the opposition leaders who had attempted coups in the past were interviewed on US television … "There is something funny going on … It stinks."
Alas, the technology in the broadcast also stunk and connections were lost repeatedly but it didn’t matter. Maybe it was the audio streaming I was tuning into to. I don’t know. Despite the audio mess, the conversation was gripping. Listen: kpfa.org
VENEZUELA NEXT?
There may be another intervention coming — in Venezuela. Reuters reports:
"Tens of thousands of supporters of President Hugo Chavez marched on Sunday to protest what they criticized as US meddling and rally support for the leftist leader as he battles an opposition referendum challenge.
"Waving revolutionary flags and “Out with the CIA” and “No to Yankee Invasion” banners, Chavez sympathizers streamed through the capital under the watch of National Guard troops and two military helicopters circling overhead."
http://tinyurl.com/26c77
OUTSOURCING JOBS TO INDIA
Here’s an Indian perspective on the outsourcing debate in the United States. Media Channel reader K.M. Shrivastava, a Professor at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication criticizes an article by Cindy Rodriguez in The Denver Post.
"She brands - the nation’s hot new export: American jobs. "Unions protested in the ’80s and ’90s when it was American factories leaving for Mexico, Bangladesh and China. Those jobs never came back. Now it’s happening with white-collar jobs. IBM, Intel, Dell are just a few that outsource; meanwhile, capable American workers are standing on unemployment lines."
"She describes how her Dell computer service call is patched to New Delhi and she talks to a Rajid and not a Robert in Denver. "I don’t like that we have an administration that thinks free trade should work like this: I’ll trade you 10,000 American jobs for 100,000 computer programs and a T-shirt."
"Cindy is not alone writing such pieces. In this election year Americans are discovering that globalization is also hurting them. They were the champions of this new economic religion. Years ago when Carla Hill, former US trade representative came to India asking for concessions in service sector with a bag full of threats, Indian Commerce Minster (Subramanyam Swami) told her that he can give her all what she wanted in return for just one concession. Free global flow of trained and untrained manpower. The story goes that Carla packed her bag of threats and went back to Washington DC
"You want Dell to sell in India so that stock in Dell gives you profit. You do not want Rajid to come to Denver and work for Dell. Your Robert is not prepared to work at the price at which Rajid works sitting in New Delhi. You want gains of globalization but no pains. You only want to take and not give. You want a free trade that does not give level playing field to Rajid and Robert. May God help you, Cindy — is there enough on the globe for your greed?"
THE PASSION OF THE GIBSON
All the news programs were reporting on the big grosses of Mel Gibson’s film "The Passion of the Christ" in its first three days in theaters. Here’s a perspective on the film that hasn’t been part of the mainstream media debate. It is by William Rivers Pitt of Truthout.org
"The television airwaves have been filled for the last several days with a lot of back-and-forth about Mel Gibson’s new film, ‘The Passion of The Christ.’ A great deal of debate centers around whether Gibson has fashioned a broadside against Jewish people in the manner of the Medieval anti-Semitic passion plays of old. There are plenty of rabbis arguing with Christian ministers on just about any channel you might choose to watch, so I’m going to leave that question to them for the time being.
"My question is much simpler: Why would Mel Gibson make a movie about people in the ancient Middle East and cast it with so many white people? To look at the central actors in this film, you’d think Jesus did his work near Manchester, New Hampshire instead of the Holy Land. The answer to that question lies within the United States, the prime market for this film. There are millions of Christians in America, some 25% of whom would characterize themselves as evangelical. It stands to reason that this film would do very well here, especially given the controversy that has surrounded the content.
"The whiteness of the cast, however, speaks to a decidedly unchristian truth that lies near the heart of this republic. Simply put, nailing a white Jesus Christ to the cross on film will generate a far more emotional response from the American viewing public than the crucifixion of a savior who actually looks like he is from the Middle East. …"
http://Truthout.org/docs_04/022704A.shtml
FRANCE NOT AS PASSIONATE
The Sunday Telegraph in London reports:
"French cinema chains are refusing to distribute or screen Mel Gibson’s controversial film The Passion of the Christ because of fears that it will spark a new outbreak of anti-Semitism. A veteran film industry figure said: “We don’t want to be on the side of those who support such anti-Semitism. When we distributed It’s a Beautiful Life by Benigni we were worried about the risk of making a comedy about the Holocaust, but that was different. There’s enough anti-Semitic stuff circulating here already without us throwing oil on the fire.” …
“This time, many in France fear that The Passion will stir up angry reaction of a different kind. The newspaper Liberation described Gibson’s faith as “a Shi’ite version of Christianity … imbibed with blood and pain” which “reduces the message of Christ to his death by torture.”
SOURCE: Sunday Telegraph (registration required-free)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F02%2F29%2Fwpass29.xml
YOUR LETTERS
ON HAITI
Dau’d X Mohammed writes, in part, on Haiti:
"As though we don’t have enough on our editorial plates anyhow, I writhe with anguish and an overwhelming sadness for the plight of the neglected and exploited Haitians because they are black and because they’re Catholics. The Bush White House, beyond writing them off, have interfered in the process by siding with and arming the rebels. Rebels my ass! They’re a 2004 version of the 1980s Contra. Drugs and guns are (still) at the heart of a CIA op going very badly for ordinary Haitians.
"Besides the anti-Catholicism angle, there is also a Bush White House, Ashcroft-type “religious” component that justifies toppling Aristide and restoring order. The John Ashcroft, Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham, and Pat Robertson-influenced Bush White House are bigots, and they hate Voodoo. Forget the George HW Bush practice of Voodoo economics. …"
DANISH RADIO AT RISK
Pia Raug writes from Copenhagen:
"We have a very brave and dedicated journalistic news service with the Danish radio. Guess what? They are planning to close down the best daily program of global national political information, based on real old fashioned pride. BECAUSE IT IS TOO CRITICAL!!! Shock waves from the effort to dismantle BBC are already hitting DK. Where will we all end up?
"Can it really go on like this? Like the Reverent Niemöller quote, “First they take the Jews …” Here, the government started out with the artists and the intellectuals — now they turn on political journalism. Like in Jürg Haiders home region, Kernten."
WALMART ON PBS
Teddi Curtis writes:
"I was anxiously awaiting the new Tavis Smiley program on PBS and tuned in early. Unfortunately, his show is sponsored by WalMart and I have vowed to boycott anything to do with that big box. So, I won’t watch, but do miss the opportunity to see another viewpoint.
"Seems odd to me that anyone concerned about our social issues these days would take money from an organization who’s method of operation has devastated small town America’s main street; added to the cost of governmental programs for food stamps and emergency room medical coverage; lowered the wages of already low income workers; and encouraging slave shops in Asia."
As we march in to March, stay with us on Mediachannel.org for one of a kind coverage of media issues, omissions and commissions. Your comments and concerns keep us going. Write: Dissector@mediachannel.org.
