NcDeuce
02-19-2004, 06:09 PM
U.S. military experts heading to Haiti
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A small team of military experts from the U.S. Southern Command will head to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assess the country's security situation amid continuing violence, Defense Department officials said Thursday.
The small team of about four people from Southern Command personnel based in Miami, Florida, will travel to Port-au-Prince in the next few days, officials said.
Officials strongly emphasize the team will focus on the ambassador's request that the team look at security for the official delegation.
Along with embassy security, officials said the military experts would also look at other issues such as security for Americans living in Haiti and continued monitoring for possible Haitians who might try to flee ongoing violence there and try to sail to the United States.
There is no indication yet the Bush Adminstration is changing its current policy of not becoming involved in Haiti.
One defense official said the Pentagon is questioning U.S. national security interests in Haiti. However, the military would, as always, be prepared to evacuate Americans if necessary from the country. There are 20,000 Americans in Haiti according to the State Department.
The Red Cross estimated Wednesday that more than 50 people have been killed since the rebellion first erupted February 5 in Gonaives.
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has faced criticism from opponents at home and abroad since his election in 2000, which has been called fraudulent. Opposition parties accuse his supporters of using violence to intimidate them.
Former Aristide supporters have joined with their once sworn enemies -- paramilitary and military leaders who had supported the former military dictatorship -- to oust Aristide. These forces returned from exile in the neighboring Dominican Republic just a few days ago and are believed to be heavily armed.
The rebels are thought to number no more than 100 in Gonaives. But they repelled a police attack to retake the city last week in fighting that killed 30 people, mostly officers, according to the Haitian Red Cross.
The Aristide government has called the uprising a "coup" and the rebels "terrorists" and has appealed for international aid, but none was immediately offered.
During a speech Thursday, Aristide indicated that he intends to remain in office. "I am ready to give my life if that is what it takes to defend my country," he said, according to The Associated Press. "If wars are expensive, peace can be even more expensive."
We sent troops from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 10th Mountain, and 160th SOAR less than 10 years ago...Episode 2?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A small team of military experts from the U.S. Southern Command will head to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assess the country's security situation amid continuing violence, Defense Department officials said Thursday.
The small team of about four people from Southern Command personnel based in Miami, Florida, will travel to Port-au-Prince in the next few days, officials said.
Officials strongly emphasize the team will focus on the ambassador's request that the team look at security for the official delegation.
Along with embassy security, officials said the military experts would also look at other issues such as security for Americans living in Haiti and continued monitoring for possible Haitians who might try to flee ongoing violence there and try to sail to the United States.
There is no indication yet the Bush Adminstration is changing its current policy of not becoming involved in Haiti.
One defense official said the Pentagon is questioning U.S. national security interests in Haiti. However, the military would, as always, be prepared to evacuate Americans if necessary from the country. There are 20,000 Americans in Haiti according to the State Department.
The Red Cross estimated Wednesday that more than 50 people have been killed since the rebellion first erupted February 5 in Gonaives.
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has faced criticism from opponents at home and abroad since his election in 2000, which has been called fraudulent. Opposition parties accuse his supporters of using violence to intimidate them.
Former Aristide supporters have joined with their once sworn enemies -- paramilitary and military leaders who had supported the former military dictatorship -- to oust Aristide. These forces returned from exile in the neighboring Dominican Republic just a few days ago and are believed to be heavily armed.
The rebels are thought to number no more than 100 in Gonaives. But they repelled a police attack to retake the city last week in fighting that killed 30 people, mostly officers, according to the Haitian Red Cross.
The Aristide government has called the uprising a "coup" and the rebels "terrorists" and has appealed for international aid, but none was immediately offered.
During a speech Thursday, Aristide indicated that he intends to remain in office. "I am ready to give my life if that is what it takes to defend my country," he said, according to The Associated Press. "If wars are expensive, peace can be even more expensive."
We sent troops from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 10th Mountain, and 160th SOAR less than 10 years ago...Episode 2?