The New Dark Age

18 January, 2010

Haiti’s elite spared from much of the devastation
Through decades of coups, hurricanes, embargoes and economic collapse, members of the wily and powerful business elite of Haiti have learned the art of survival in one of the most chaotic countries on Earth — and they might come out on top again. There is an extreme, almost feudal divide between rich and poor in Haiti. The gated and privately guarded neighborhoods resemble a Haitian version of Beverly Hills, but with razor wire. Elias Abraham opened the door of his pretty walled compound, a semiautomatic pistol on his right hip and his family…
salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=F1BpqJYyzPJfuWustb1HAfv8wt9i9Y7h

60 Minutes: Haiti Rescue Efforts
As Haiti continues to struggle through the disastrous earthquake, Byron Pitts reports on the rescue efforts. The devastation on the streets of Port-au-Prince is immense and doctors on the scene are forced to use primitive treatment methods.
salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=xMjEGi6e35LkUafd8Qd3SrSWVtLE62Ir

Why the US Owes Haiti Billions – The Briefest History
The US has worked for centuries to break Haiti. The US has used Haiti like a plantation. The US helped bleed the country economically since it freed itself, repeatedly invaded the country militarily, supported dictators who abused the people, used the country as a dumping ground for our own economic advantage, ruined their roads and agriculture, and toppled popularly elected officials. The US has even used Haiti like the old plantation owner and slipped over there repeatedly for sexual recreation. Here is the briefest history of some of the ma…
salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v180RPlSfwxjiuaAXn5uGvv8wt9i9Y7h

Haiti streets blocked with corpses as quake death toll mounts
Thousands of people injured in Haiti’s massive earthquake spent a third night twisted in pain, lying on sidewalks and waiting for help as their despair turned to anger. “We’ve been out here waiting for three days and three nights but nothing has been done for us, not even a word of encouragement from the president,” said Pierre Jackson, nursing his mother and sister who lay whimpering with crushed legs. “What should we do?” Desperate Haitians blocked streets with corpses in one part of Port-au-Prince to demand quicker relie…
salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Qk87BFMKEGEW54AWF3MK8%2Fv8wt9i9Y7h

US Military Tightens Grip On Haiti
By Alex Lantier
Amid the humanitarian tragedy following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, Washington has concentrated on establishing indefinite military control of the country. Fearing mass protests and riots by desperate Haitians against inadequate rescue efforts, US logistical efforts are focused on massing tens of thousands of troops for use against the population
www.countercurrents.org/lantier180110.htm

Cooperation Spirit Is Put To The Test In Haiti
By Fidel Castro
Haiti will put to the test the endurance of the cooperation spirit before egoism, chauvinism, ignoble interests and contempt for other nations prevail
www.countercurrents.org/castro180110.htm

Disaster Capitalism Headed To Haiti
By Stephen Lendman
Haiti faces crushing burdens – deep poverty, vast unemployment, overwhelming human needs, severe repression, poor governance, Washington dominance, a burdensome debt, and much more before the January 12 quake. Now the disaster, militarization by the Pentagon, and disaster capitalism soon arriving besides what’s already profiteering
www.countercurrents.org/lendman180110.htm

Witness To A Nightmare
By Jesse Hagopian & Eric Ruder
Jesse Hagopian, a teacher in Seattle and contributor to SocialistWorker.org, was in Port-au-Prince with his 1-year-old son to visit his wife when the earthquake hit. His wife, an aid worker, works until the evening on most days, but by sheer luck, she came to the hotel where they were staying early on Tuesday—just minutes before the quake struck at 4:53 p.m. This spared Jesse and his family agonizing hours or days trying to find one another amid the chaos. Jesse got a crash course in treating severe injuries—broken bones, head wounds and more—as people desperate for help kept arriving. Jesse spoke with Eric Ruder via telephone from Port-au-Prince on January 15 and 16 about the crisis unfolding around him
www.countercurrents.org/hagopian180110.htm

What You Can Do For Haiti
Donations and aid are desperately needed in Haiti. Here are some organizations with connections to the grassroots movements in the country
www.countercurrents.org/haiti180110.htm

We Are A Forgotten People
By Olden Polynice & Dave Zirin
Olden Polynice played center in the NBA for 15 seasons. During that time, he distinguished himself as more than a hardnosed rebounder. He was the most visible Haitian athlete in the history of U.S. sports. Polynice spoke with Nation and SocialistWorker.org columnist Dave Zirin about the post-earthquake calamity in Haiti
www.countercurrents.org/polynice180110.htm

Haiti: U.S. Puppets, Intrigues and Dreams of Sweatshops
Mike E.
January 17, 2010 – We need to talk about Aristide — the Haitian political leader associated with the poor and with radical change. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the tragedy of this earthquake was that Haiti had been doing so well. What she referred to was an imperialist campaign (spearheaded by her husband Bill Clinton) to consolidate a conservative Haitian government and prepare the workforce for sweatshop investments. A key part of that “improvement” was the crude, U.S. supported exclusion of left-leaning forces from the Haitian electoral process…
www.uruknet.de/?p=62255

Disgusting War Criminals Peddle “Humanitarian” Aid for Haiti
Kurt Nimmo
January 17, 2010 – On Sunday, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush mounted the corporate media propaganda platform and complained about the politicization of the Haitian relief effort. Clinton said the devastating earthquake offers a chance to put aside politics and help people in despair. “I’d say now is not the time to focus on politics,” said Bush in an interview taped Saturday for CBS’ “Face the Nation” when the ex-presidents’ visited the White House in response to Obama’s call for a “bipartisan effort” to help Haiti…
www.uruknet.de/?p=62263

US accused of annexing airport as squabbling hinders aid effort in Haiti
Priority landing for Americans forces flights carrying emergency supplies to divert to Dominican Republic
Rory Carroll and Daniel Nasaw
January 17, 2010 – The US military’s takeover of emergency operations in Haiti has triggered a diplomatic row with countries and aid agencies furious at having flights redirected. Brazil and France lodged an official protest with Washington after US military aircraft were given priority at Port-au-Prince’s congested airport, forcing many non-US flights to divert to the Dominican Republic. Brasilia warned it would not relinquish command of UN forces in Haiti, and Paris complained the airport had become a US “annexe”, exposing a brewing power struggle amid the global relief effort. The Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières also complained about diverted flights…
www.uruknet.de/?p=62271

HAITI: Sharing Meagre Supplies, as Graves Multiply
By Ansel Herz
PORT-AU-PRINCE (IPS) – Millions of dollars in aid are pouring into Haiti. Another head of state visits each day. The misery in Port-Au-Prince dominates the news nearly a week after the 7.0 earthquake struck the heart of this island country.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50009