U.S. Military Operations in Haiti: A Brief Synopsis
by Jack L. Treese, CWO US Army, RetiredHaiti is located on the western side of the island of Hispaniola approximately 700 miles southeast of Miami between Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Treaty of Ryswick signed by France and Spain in 1697 resulted in the formation of two separate but incongruous states, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The official language of Haiti is French and Creole while in the Dominican Republic it is Spanish. The mostly black population is a result of slave trading when it was a French colony.
In 1897 through 1912 instability in Haiti drew attention to its strategic importance. A small number of Germans maintained a large amount of economic power. German military intervention during a Haitian revolt in 1902 and word that Berlin considered using Haiti as a fueling station for its naval fleet became a concern for the United States. Under the policies of the “Monroe Doctrine” President Woodrow Wilson began planning for the occupation of Haiti.
The occupation of Haiti finally ensued and the United States ruled Haiti through a military government from 1915 through 1934. Under military rule Haiti prospered through development of a road system, schools, improved disease prevention, medical care and communications.
Unfortunately the Haitians grew to resent the occupation of the United States and violent protests resulted in the deaths of many Haitians at the hands of the US military. In 1934 the US left Haiti and the country became a dictatorship.
In 1990 Jean-Bertrand Aristide a Roman Catholic priest was elected president. In September 1991 he was forced out of office by elements of the Haitian military. Several more changes in power and sanctions by the UN were meant to force the return of President Aristide in October of 1993. However the Haitian military thwarted the process. Then the situation deteriorated into chaos as the de facto government allowed torture, assassination, and rape, despite international condemnation.
In 1994 the UN under Resolution 940 authorized member states to use any necessary means to restore peace and Aristide as president. The Unites States formed a multinational force and ”Operation Uphold Democracy” began in September. The operation involved an invasion with approximately 4,000 U.S. paratroopers. As the invasion force approached Haiti, the Haitian government agreed to allow the American forces to enter, thus preventing ground hostilities. President Clinton sent a team led by former President Jimmy Carter to negotiate the terms of installing a legitimate government and the return of Aristide as president.
Despite Haitian support for democracy, the flawed election of Aristide in 2000 led to an attempted coup d’état on December 17, 2001. Under the Bush administration support for Aristide declined. In 2002 Aristide asked the Organization of American States to help him maintain security and support for fair elections, his request was denied. In September of 2002 the Organization of American States passed a resolution to select a council to oversee the election process but the elections never happened.
Several armed opposition groups committed atrocities while vying for power and by February 2004 rebel groups seized Haiti’s fourth largest city, Gonaives. On 29 February Aristide left the country while Haiti’s chief justice of the Supreme Court took over leadership. At the same time the UN adopted Resolution 1529 allowing a Multinational Interim Force to enter Haiti. On that same day President Bush sent US Marines into Haiti. By early March soldiers from France, Chili, Canada, and other countries entered Haiti. The Department of Defense named the multinational operation “Operation Secure Tomorrow”. By June 2004 a follow-on force of about 6,700 military personnel relieved U.S. forces.
“Operation New Horizons” exercises started in 2001 were to benefit the Caribbean Islands and at the same time provide training for the U.S. military. In 2005 New Horizons Haiti was an exercise that built schools, drilled wells, provided medical care, and subsidized two orphanages and a hospital. United States military units from Mississippi, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Florida, and others teamed together to lead to the success of the mission. On 5 May 2005, in a ceremony signifying the end of New Horizons Haiti, the U.S. Embassy deputy chief of Mission, and Rear Admiral Vinson Smith, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, turned over three new schools to the people of Haiti.
In 2008 Haiti was devastated by three tropical storms over a three-week period leaving hundreds of thousands without food, water and shelter. Through operation “Continuing Promise 2008” the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge delivered tons of food to Haiti and provided sailors on the ground to help with distribution. By the end of the mission over 3 million pounds of supplies were provided to Haiti. U.S. Air force and Navy engineers from the Kearsarge further assisted the Haitian government in determining the extent of damage and needed repairs to bridges and roads.
The recent magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred on January 12 has once again necessitated the mobilization of our military in ”Operation Unified Response”. Units from Fort Bragg and the XVIII Airborne Corps, 73 Cavalry Regiment, have been deployed as well as units from the 82nd Airborne Division. In addition the Air Mobility Command has deployed numerous aircraft in support of the operation. The 12th Reconnaissance Squadron is using an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to help with the mission by providing ground photographs. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) along with several other ships are providing support.
This is only a brief synopsis of Haiti. One can find a more in depth history at http://www.globalsecurity.org.
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67 Comments
Mr. Treese,
Interesting history lesson and summary for the ill informed. You forgot to mention the illustrious Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvielier's, and the wonderful Ton Ton Macoutes.
A point sticks out in your article:
"Unfortunately the Haitians grew to resent the occupation of the United States and violent protests resulted in the deaths of many Haitians at the hands of the US military."
Your article ended with the earhtquake. Hobody wants to go out on a limb and take a stance against Haiti. Granted, if we weren't there, Chavev, or Castro or some other meddling tin-pot dictator would be, but personally, I fear we are on a slippery slope in Haiti. Those people can never be taught self sufficiency. Once we set the precedent and take them under our wing, we just took them to raise, forever. We might as well annex Haiti now, and make it a protectorate, and get a return on our investment. The democrat party would welcome the votes.
My stance on Haiti has not been popular here, as when people see bruised and battered bodies, and corpses, they tend to get emotional. Whether my stance is right or wrong, it is factual.
Once again, the U.S. Military is used for non defensive purposes. Once again, the U.S. government has forced taxpayers (i.e. stolen private property, initially $100 million pledge by Obama) to donate to Haiti.
Thank you to all the private donors that showed that charity still works.
I heard the other day on the radio that we or possibly the UN has given Haiti close to $1 Trillion since 1992. Where has the money gone? Not to make them self sufficient or for infrastructure or decent housing. I don't understand…………….Oh Yes, I do understand!
although not huge fans of Colin Powell he did have one shining moment…
when Bush and co wanted to invade Iraq, he looked the President in the eye and said: "If you break it- you own it". Well, we didn't 'break' Haiti, but we sure as heck own it now. So your take on Haiti makes sense int fact that we now HAVE to do something other than turn it over to the Macoute, or re-install (the left still loves this nitwit)
the psycho Marxist jesuit Arisitide.
You know we are going to have to accept hundreds of thousands of Haitiana in this country for 'humanitarian' reasons. You can smell that coming. Plus the rebuilding…
It will be a de-facto protectorate anyway…
Likewise, I have not donated to the Haiti relief funds. I think the money will be wasted! As far as I am concerned the money the government is donating is my contribution. The past two years all of my donations, have gone to friends or acquaintances who have desperately needed it!
Other than natural disasters it seems from Haiti's history that most of their ills have been brought on themselves. The same thing is going on around the world in third world countries. I have no problem helping others in need. I do believe that we should help those that also try to help themselves. Beyond that, sink or swim.
You did not mention "Papa Doc" Duvalier, dictator from 1957 until his death in 1971, or his son and successor, "Baby Doc" Duvalier, dictator from 1971 until he was chased out in 1986. "Baby Doc" has lived the high life in Paris since then. For 29 years, these two men tortured & murdered untold numbers of people, robbed the country of it's treasure, and pretty much left Haiti the almost uninhabitable mud pit it is today.
The Haitians don't seem to want help and yet they can not feed themselves. The country was a disaster before the disaster and we should ensure that the feds are paying strict attention to our shores and enforcing the immigration laws because many will head for Florida I am sure…
Funny how our government has so selectively applied the Monroe Doctrine. Then we wonder why other nations hate us. Our greedy war-profiteers salivate over the notion of war so they hijack our government to get us in to wars here AND in the other hemispheres.
We've been giving the UN NGO's billions to help the Haitians yet they're still dependent and in tent cities not unlike the Palestinians. Reminds me of one of the greatest hoaxes of all time – the Iraq and Food for Oil Scam – interesting how that was hushed up.
Better to use our money wisely and help make the Haitians independent otherwise we'll end up taking them all here.
What does that have to do with the article?
Relax, I don't think we are going to go to war with Haiti, so get off the greedy war profiteers hijacking our government.
The only Haiti would become truly important, would be if someone found oil there…………..
Cowboy, I believe there is already a house resolution under way calling for the occupation and rebuilding of Haiti.
Annie,
You are correct. Keep your money close to home. If you want to give, or help someone, do it to your kids, or grandkids, or neighbors or family. It is time we close our purse strings. Let George Clooney and the Purty People in Hollywood support Haiti. They need the ego boost, a case a of the warm and tinglies.
The world, the left, the MSM laughs and ridicules conservatives 24/7, until some un-American, non-white, third world shithole suffers a disaster, then they all come running to US, with palms outstretched. Time to tell them "No Mas", thanks, but no thanks……….
Temporary protection status has recently been granted to Haitans (Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, El Salvador, and Sudan also have protection status.
Already a house resolution under way for occupation and rebuilding of Haiti
I hear Baby Doc wants to donate $8 mill to Haiti….probably the interest on the money he robbed. Apparently he does have a "pot to pee in"
As the articles picture points out, occupation and rehabilition/rebuilding does indeed have to do with war profiteers.
The Haitian Donation.
I am curios.
Madame Pelosi and her spouse have a combined net worth of about 57 million (I think I remember that figure).
John Heinz and Teresa Heinz Kerry are worth about a billion from her marrying John Heinz's pickle fortune.
I could go down the list, yet you all get the point. These people are among the cheapest, of the cheap. It would be interesting to know exactly how much they gave, and on what date. Anything given after the time of this question, would be subject to posturing………..
A reporter needs to ask Madame Pelosi exactly how much she has given, and when. Barrack Obama needs to answer the same question. He just got a million dollar windfall from his unearned Nobel Prize.
Problem is the U.S. government forces you to donate through theft. Nothing wrong with private individuals donating private property or choosing to keep it close to home.
While it is true that aid was needed by the earthquake victims, but it did not have to be supplied by the U.S. Military. We do not have the responsibility to rebuild that country up, and when we have tried before they 'grew to resent the occupation of the United States." The country is a failed state, there is no reason to keep giving money to that outhouse. Remember Somalia, we went there to help the poor victims also, before they killed and mutilated our troops. It is bad enough that are military is fighting in Afghanistan, while Clinton is there talking about reintegrating the Taliban into the government and giving the Taliban $100 Million dollars, but now they are talking about cutting the deficit by cutting defense spending. So why we are at war, we are cutting our forces and frittering away slim resources by helping people that detest us. A military is made for fighting, not nation building.
Gee, i've heard that same line of reasoning applied to the American guetto
Our President pledged $100 million, I heard a report we have now spent over $300 million with expectations going over a billion. I personally don't think Obama cares how much we spend, after all it would be miniscule compared to the money we owe Haiti for colonialism and capitalism greed. especially if it looks like cap and trade won't become law.
Yes America has just been waiting to get its hands on Haiti, I can hear the manical laughter of the bildeberg group even now, finally the jewel of the carribean is ours!
Your an idiot.
Yeah thats not in the article, it's the voice in your head.
You might want to up your meds a bit until you get reality and fantasy sorted out.
I agree with all that has been said on this thread….I have
been wondering ever since the earthquake, why in July
of 2009, Obama only pledged 50,000 to Italy after their
earthquake?….I asked this twice since the Haiti crisis, and
no one has answered the question…From what I understand,
the little town where it hit in Italy had casualties and the little
town was destroyed… Seems like a couple of million would
have been more appropriate….
I am curious.
We all saw the tragedy of 9/11, and how that devestated New York City. God forbid a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit New York, or Houston, or LA. I wonder, how much aid would the wrold send here? Would the world rebuild US?
Kinda makes you also wonder why they wanted Afghanastan, a country stuck in the 13th century.
Kinda makes you wonder why the failed Clinton and Bush administration attempts at making Haiti an American protectorate were ever proposed.
That answer is an easy one. They weren't prospective voters.
Well Northern Californias earthquake in 1989 was more violent (7.1 on the richter) but it only amounted to 63 deaths. Better engineering and construction practices kept the death toll down.
So the amount of aid and extent of the disaster is much more minimal.
We already have a 51st state protectorate named Israel on the welfare role. Lets not add the 52nd.
I would respectfully disagree. Massah Obammie said there were 57 States, and I believes him. I don't know where they be, but I believes him.
I heard the other day on the radio that we or possibly the UN has given Haiti close to $1 Trillion since 1992.
Check Switzerland.
Already have recently granted temporary protection status to Haitans
You make some good points. Did the government respond to the great Chicago fire after Mrs. O Learys cow knocked the lantern over and started the fire?
Keep in mind the temporary protected status ( TPS ) is suppose to last 18 months. This status has been enacted 5 times dating back to 1997 ( I think ), none of these TPS's have been lifted to this day. Once these aliens get citizenship, they then are allowed to bring immediate family members over here as well. So however many haitians come over, multiply those entitlement getters by 4,5 or 6. This doesn't even factor in jobs lost, educational costs, healthcare costs, incarceration costs, etc. At some point, 5 years, 10 years. 20 years. we will not be able to be the world's keeper and savior, because we will be a third world country as well.
Funny how the left is always saying the UN is the proper body for world justice, but whenever the US steps up and leads other UN countries in enforcing UN sanctions and resolutions, they scream "US imperialists"!
I'm thinking the left loves the UN, but only as long as it is an ineffectual debating society that allows tyrranies to thwart the humanitarian the efforts of democracies, and lets those same tyrants get away with whatever they want.
Mother Nature released a horrific blow to Haiti. We rushed in to help and others have once again been critical. Sometimes we just can not win and when it is providing assistance you have to wonder why. My opinion is that very soon more blame will come to us from this. We will continue helping for a while but this is an independent nation and it's necessary for the Hatian people to help themselves. Hopefully we will see that in the coming days and weeks. If not, then we need to disengage. I do believe in help and charity yet the old axiom comes to mind that "God helps those who help themselves." We do not owe as a nation to the Haitians the forever support needed to lift them from the lifes lot they allow. Individually we can make a difference via charity and good works and that is good. Hatians owe it to themselves to work to improve their individual and collective society, government and living standards. It is within their ability to improve their own life. It is not our place as a benefactor to be there to take care of the needs that as a society they have not chosen to pursue for themselves. Just my opinion based on what I have seen of gov't welfare programs here and abroad.
Yes, actually we do have quite a few more. As we heard the wordplay last night that all COMBAT troops will be removed from Iraq, we know that all NON-COMBAT troops will remain in Iraq.
Non-combat troops, are those the ones in the military band?
If you think the Bilderbergs are working for US interests, then you are an idiot.
There ya go.
Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, South Korea, Haiti, Germany, Okinawa.
There it is. 57 states.
No. Military Band I believe falls into the Musicians and Entertainers UNION, a subsidiary of SEIU.
Non-combat refers to Halliburton truck drivers, and "special contractors." You know, the tour guides, with guns.
Those people haven't been capable and competent regarding helping themselves, since the slave traders stopped there for fresh water and dropped them off. Don't even think it'll change now. The matter has only compounded itself in the past 200 years. Everyone who understands animal husbandry and genetics knows they are all kin, and linebred into retardation. It is a disaster of epic proportions.
Blame Bush.
wow.
YUP Cowboy, I agree with your opinion. Just as we make the choice to succeed they make the choice to fail. Life is all about choices.
Made you gasp, didn't it?
The cold hard truth has a way of causing folks to come up short.
Disagree with me?
I would challange someone to release the DNA figures. Therein lies the truth. They are nothing more than tropical Amish. The family tree does not fork.
I think we give Egypt $3 billion a year to stay a " moderate ' country. This " moderate ' country's state run paper sure says nasty things about the U.S.
Wow. I see the milk of human kindness really flows around here…..Tell me: how does it feel to have no soul?
Cowboy, Just wanted to let you know that I follow your post. They seem to be the only truly "logical" posts around. Thank you, I do enjoy them!
Yeah, when Billy Clinton was running around Haiti to reinstate Aristide he had time to cut a nice deal for his assistants to "work" with the state telephone company of Haiti raking in millions for there company and probably giving a little "thank you" note to the boss…
Other countries did send and offer aid after Katrina. As frustrating as it can be to feel so unappreciated by so many (I think it's mostly a loud, vocal, radical minority across the globe that gets the attention of the media to create the illusion that we're hated) it's important to acknowledge and appreciate those who step up.
It's Wikipedia, but you can browse a list of countries who offered and supplied aide and support to us after Katrina:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_respon...
Thank you Victor. That is a compliment.
As you say, you have been forced to donate by the U.S. government
[...] » U.S. Military Operations In Haiti: A Brief Synopsis – Big Government Earthquake?….I asked this twice since the Haiti crisis, and no one has answered the question…From what I understand, the little town where it hit in Italy had casualties and the little town was destroyed… Seems like a couple of million… [...]
Well, according to Dr. Georges Michel and others the United States discovered oil there years ago and indeed have future plans
[...] » U.S. Military Operations In Haiti: A Brief Synopsis – Big GovernmentEarthquake?….I asked this twice since the Haiti crisis, and no one has answered the question…From what I understand, the little town where it hit in Italy had casualties and th… [...]
John Kerry donate to Haiti? He was to busy circulating e-mails to donate to Coakley than donate his wife's money to Haiti.
Yeah, but those Haitians will soon be getting all the Heinz Ketchup they can drink. Bonus!
Very well put Cowboy as usual, and straight to
the point…I was thinking it was part of the disdain
he showed some ot the Europeans leaders…
I understand, and do get your point.
I am not as bad at heart, as I might come across to be.
Sometimes, it is hard to make a point on the internet.
What do you mean by selective?
Just look at any country where the dominant ethnicity and their rulers are jigaboos. Somalia, Ethiopia, etc. They are all mud holes. Jigs are mud people who are totally incapable of maintaining a civil, modern, violence-free, non-corrupt society. That is their nature. Hell, look at Detroit. When will people realize this (or at least not be afraid to voice how they truly feel). These people cannot be helped. Slavery was the best thing to ever happen to this race.
FYI, the monies PRESIDENT Obama received from his Nobel Peace Prize, which he aptly earned, was all donated to charity.
If you want to know what the US is doing in Haiti, I would advise you do some research. The US military is blocking relief efforts, harassing MSF, and doing whatever it can to re-gain its foothold.
I was a volunteer working in Haiti in 1986 around the time "baby doc " was moving to Paris. He did however, have time for a 13 million dollar wedding on the way out. As a charity worker, that seemed a little extravagent to me as I was trying to return health to his subjects who couldn't afford surgery or medicine and were living in shacks with dirt floors. The story of the nations repeated incompetence to govern since that time makes it clear someone needs to take them under wing and run it for them … for a price. They have little of value, some aluminum, agriculture, modicum of tourism. Jonas Salk (polio vaccine) had a clinic on the north shore. Don't know what happened to that. No matter. For all the reasons stated in the blogs above, the UN can assist in taking over and running the government and making it a ward of the UN, not the US. Using the natural resorces as payment for doing so … no more free lunch. Nice history Jack.
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