Aristide and the Battle for Haiti's Political-Economic Future

In 2004, President Jean Bertrand Aristide was removed from executive power in a U.S.-supported coup d'tat. Aristide was kidnapped by U.S. special- forces then flown to a neighbouring location. (Exactly like the coup in Honduras last summer). Since the 2004 coup Lavalas, a mass political party which Aristide created, has been subject to violent repression and censorship at the hands of the Haitian government. Aristide, now living in South Africa, has announced his intention to return back to the country for the on going recovery effort.

"The spirit of Ubuntu that once led Haiti to emerge as the first independent
Black nation in 1804; helped Venezuela, Columbia and Ecuador attain liberty and
inspired our forefathers to shed their blood for the United States independence
cannot die. Today this spirit of solidarity must and will empower all of us to
rebuild Haiti."

The return of Aristide to Haiti will be opposed by Haitian elites and the U.S. government. Haiti is a sovereign nation-state but for decades the U.S. has interfered in its internal economic and political affairs, often relying on violence. Immediately following the earthquake, U.S. right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation, began planning a political and economic future for Haiti that could effectively defend U.S. interests there. These interests include new “free” trade deals, economic liberalization and countering the influence of Venezuela, Cuba and other Latin American countries aligned with the Bolivarian Revolution.

President Obama has already implemented many of the ideas coming out of the Heritage Foundation including sending in an overwhelming amount of military, civilian, and government forces to the island and tapping George W. Bush to help Bill Clinton in a "bi-partisan" aid effort. Bush has strong ties to the Heritage Foundation and their ideas will no doubt be represented in U.S. foreign policy in Haiti. Both Bush and the Heritage Foundation were supporters of the 2004 coup. The return of Aristide and a resurgence of popular participation during the political and economic phases of recovery would complicate their agenda.

Perhaps, it is inappropriate to start thinking about long-term political and economic transformation in Haiti given the amount of suffering taking place. But that has not stopped the U.S. State Department, Pentagon or Heritage Foundation. When the media cameras leave in the months ahead that is when the real battle for Haiti's future will begin.

Can Latin America's "ALBA" Deliver?

The Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America, or ALBA according to its Spanish acronym, is a little known secret to many citizens of the United States. But throughout our hemisphere the Venezuelan-led project is gaining momentum and raising new questions about the future of trade and development in Latin America.

ALBA began in 2004 between Venezuela and Cuba when the two countries began exchanging petroleum for medical assistance. Cuba has sent more than 14,000 physicians free of charge to poorest sectors of Venezuela. In return, Venezuela at one time was sending ships to Cuba with 90,000 barrels of oil a day. In the last five years, the alliance has grown to include a total of nine members spanning South America and the Caribbean. Wednesday, ALBA made regional headlines adding Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda as its newest member countries.


The major difference between traditional US- led free trade agreements, and ALBA is that the later explicitly works toward a version of regional economic integration that is based on a vision of social development and mutual economic aid. ALBA has a stated mission of "solidarity, cooperation, complementation, and justice." US trade initiatives are primarily concerned with market access and liberalization.

The alliance functions as a counter-weight to the free-trade negotiations initiated by the US in Latin America. The final declaration of the last ALBA summit makes no secret of the member's mistrust toward the US influence in the region.

"[We recognize] the strengthening of the ALBA and its consolidation as a political, economic, and social alliance in defense of the independence, sovereignty, self-determination, and identity of member countries and the interests and aspirations of the peoples of the South, in the face of attempts at political and economic domination,"

While the political position of ALBA has been well defined, there is very little information about the success or failure of specific projects within the alliance on delivering basic needs and creating economic opportunities for people within member countries. Ultimately, the impact on poor people in one of the vastly unequal regions of the world should be the most important aspect of any trade agreement here. Otherwise, ALBA would essentially be no different from the US agreements it seeks to replace. There will most certainly be political costs for nations who join ALBA in their relationship with the United States. Is membership in the new alliance worth those costs or is ALBA nothing more than an example of inflamed rhetoric?

There have been some positive developments, most notably Cuba's "Operation Miracle Program" which, has provided eye care to hundreds of thousands of poor people throughout Latin America. If the alliance does measurably improve the lives of people within membership countries, ALBA should no longer remain in the shadows of political debate and the development community in the United States should take notice.

Meet Africa's Cuba: Eritrea

Many Americans are knowledgable about the island nation of Cuba, which despite an economic embargo and political isolation by the US government, has remained one of the global South's success stories in social development. Cuba's universal healthcare system was featured prominently by Michael Moore in his popular film "Sicko".

Less of us however, have heard about a small country thousands of miles away in Africa called Eritrea, that in many ways continues to be just as controversial as Cuba to political analysts.

Eritrean guerrillas organized against the Ethiopian government in 1961 to liberate their nation through armed struggle. 18 years later the nation is perceived as a thorn in the side of the United States military and global financial institutions which are prevalent throughout East Africa.

America's closest strategic ally Ethiopia is Eritrea's sworn enemy and its former occupier. While Eritrea has no formal embargo on it imposed by the US, there has been an offical blockade of arms sales. Despite persistent threats, America has not yet added Eritrea to the list of State Terrorist Sponsors to which Cuba belongs.

For supporters, Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki is a symbol of anti-imperialim and self-reliance, but critics say he is an autocrat whose government stifles internal dissent and supports armed resistance movements in neighboring countries. An East African bloc within the United Nations went as far as calling for sanctions agains Eritrea because of its alledged support of rebels in nextdoor Somalia. The Eritrean government refutes the claims.

The parallels between Cuba and Eritrea are not lost on Eritrea's President, Isaias Afwerki, aformer guerilla leader who fought in a decades long liberation war against Ethiopia. In a recent statement to the press Afwerki remarked,

"I don't know Cuba, but I admire their resilience...Being near the United States, and the United States blockading this country for so many decades, how were they able to do it? How was it possible for them to have the best scientists in biotechnology, the best health services?"

According to the latest World Health Organization report, life expectancy for Eritrean females has increased from 53 years in 1990 to 65 years in 2007. Amongst Eritrean males the expected life span increased from 28 years to 61 years. The drastic improvement in life expectancy can be attributed to the end of the conflict with Ethiopia, but an increase in disposible income is also an important factor. Eritrea has made significant gains in the areas of health and education.

The government has also mobilized a concentrated effort to eradicate poverty and to ensure food security. In an East African region where most countries share close strategic military and economic relationships with the United States, the Government of Eritrea pursues strict adherence to the principle of self-reliance.

Throughout Africa, economic policies are usually designed by foreign investors and technocrats through the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. In Eritrea, economic policy is largely determined by mandate from the leading political party, People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).The strength of Eritrea's committed strategy of "self-reliance" is reinforced by statements from the US Agency for Interntional Development (USAID).

"The ability of Eritrea to pursue developmental programs in the midst of conflict, massive population displacement, and drought is due primarily to intense national commitment, reinforced with an approach to development assistance designed to enhance self-reliance."

On May 24th, Eritreans will celebrate 18 years of political and economic independence. Love or hate the nation's politics, it is hard to deny the symbol Eritrea represents in the context of East Africa. Like Cuba in Latin America, Eritrea is Africa's hard-headed son who defies all conventional wisdom in international politics--- against incredible odds.

US Delegation Visits Fidel Castro: The African-American Connection

There are positive signs that the ridiculous economic embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba may be on its way out of the door. Rueters has reported that members of a U.S. congressional delegation have been meeting with Cuban officials to discuss a normalization of relations between the US and Cuba. Members of the delegation met with Fidel Castro during the twilight of a 5 day trip in which they also met governing president Raul Castro.

The trip is an example of the more cordial relationship African-Americans have had with President Fidel Castro and toward the Cuban Revolution in general. Fidel Castro has made several visits to Harlem where African-Americans have shown their solidarity with the Cuban people and their struggle against imperialism. The US corporate media often overlooks this historic relationship, and for good reason. The video below is of Fidel addressing a large crowd of African-Americans in 1995.

IS FIDEL CASTRO DYING?

Today, reports are circulating that there is concern about the health of Cuba's revolutionary icon, Fidel Castro. The absence of his weekly political commentaries and canceled meetings with foreign dignitaries has raised concern that the internationalist may be facing deteriorating health conditions.

For decades, Cuba's neighbor has launched a series of assassination attempts and embargoes designed to destabilize the Cuban revolution and Fidel Castro's leadership. The assumption being that a Cuba without Fidel, would cripple the driving force of the Communist-inspired revolution.