http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/59936
CNS News January 18, 2010 Leftist Leaders Say U.S. Is Using Relief Mission As Pretext to Occupy Haiti By Patrick Goodenough The United States is using the humanitarian crisis in Haiti as an excuse to occupy the earthquake-hit island nation, two of Washington’s most vocal leftist critics in Latin America implied at the weekend. To support the massive aid operation following last Tuesday’s devastating quake, the U.S. was set to have up to 10,000 troops on the ground or in the waters off Haiti by early this week But the presence of 82nd Airborne Division troops at Port-au-Prince airport, Air Force C-17s ferrying in equipment, water and supplies and the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson equipped with 19 helicopters off Haiti, along with the news that more troops and assets including a hospital ship are on their way, raised suspicions in some quarters. “What is happening in Haiti seriously concerns me as U.S. troops have already taken control of the airport,” Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said late Friday. The Nicaraguan newspaper El Nuevo Diario said Ortega accused the U.S. of manipulating the tragedy to install troops in Haiti. It said the comments were made during a meeting with a Syrian government minister. “Haiti seeks humanitarian aid, not troops,” he said. “I hope they will withdraw troops occupying Haiti.” Ortega also expressed satisfaction that members of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) – a left-wing regional grouping led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez – were involved in the humanitarian effort. Nicaragua earlier sent 31 military doctors and Venezuela has sent doctors, medicines and food. On Sunday Chavez weighed in, using his weekly television and radio show to question U.S. motives in Haiti, and accusing it of “occupying Haiti undercover.” “[President] Obama, stop sending troops to Haiti, send doctors,” the official Venezuelan ABN news agency quoted him as saying. “Haiti does not need troops.” .... Soon-to-arrive additional assets included more than 2,200 U.S. Marines onboard an amphibious ship, equipped with heavy lift and earth-moving equipment, a dozen helicopters and additional medical support capabilities, Southern Command said. .... Chavez and other ALBA leaders frequently allege that the U.S. is conspiring to bring down their governments and has plans to intervene militarily in the region. In recent months they have pointed to a U.S. agreement to use military bases in Colombia as supposed proof of such a plot. The U.S. and Colombia say the agreement is in support of counter narcotics operations in the region. It followed the refusal of Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa – another ALBA member – to renew a 10-year lease for the use of an Ecuadorian airbase for the anti-drug mission. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/15/content_12811750.htm Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2010 Nicaragua sends rescuers, military doctors to Haiti MANAGUA: Nicaraguan on Thursday sent 31 military doctors of the Humanitarian Rescue Unit (URH) and humanitarian aid for the victims of a magnitude-7 earthquake that shocked Haiti on Tuesday. The Nicaraguan rescuers and doctors will assist at least some 3,000 victims of the earthquake in Part-au-Prince, capital of Honduras, for some 10 days. Before the plane took off, chief of the Nicaraguan Army, General Omar Halleslevens inspected the two AN-26 planes which carried the aid to Haiti. The 31 officers of the URH travel in one of the planes, while the other plane was loaded with portable beds and medicines to aid the victims in Haiti. The cost of this aid is of 100,000 U.S. dollars. Among the 31 URH officers there are experts to reestablish the electricity system and to provide the first aids. The two Nicaraguan planes will make a stop in Jamaica for later take off to Haiti. Haitian President Rene Preval said on Wednesday that there are at least some 100,000 deaths and Port-au-Prince was devastated by the strong earthquake. On Wednesday, Nicaraguan government spokesman Rosario Murillo announced that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ordered to send two planes of the army to Haiti with a humanitarian brigade and humanitarian aid. =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato Blog site: http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: rwroz...@yahoo.com or stopnato-subscr...@yahoogroups.com Daily digest option available. ==============================
