Can Bill Clinton save Haiti?
Well the answer is obvious. It's Bill Clinton. Though he has been out of office for almost a decade the man is still a powerhouse on the Global scene. That he has taken on the special envoy position with the U.N., especially considering his less than pleasant encounters with Haitian restoration during his Presidency speaks to Clinton's commitment. I'd wager he feels a sense of responsibility toward the situation in Haiti beginning with U.S. policy in the 1990's and has been itching to take a crack at the problems that have spawned from that time. With that much commitment and all the Clinton clout (around the world with donors in particular) it would seem a great opportunity is available to bring some meaningful change and development for the people of a country ravaged by poverty, lawlessness and corruption not to mention the devastating effects of natural disasters in recent years. Furthermore, avoiding any puns, the timing could not be better for Clinton to get involved. Big money has just been pledged in aid for Haiti from the U.S. and the upcoming elections there are wide open with some visionaries running for high offices. We saw what Bill Clinton was able to do economically for this country against some tough odds with a high rate of success. He was not able to see his hopes for Haiti achieved at that time but with his new position and the new circumstances I would not be surprised to see peace and prosperity in Haiti's near future.
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happy news. I like happy news once in awhile.
I very much respect Bill Clinton. I hope he is successful.
He does have some pull, as it were, with this White House.
June 27, 2009 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just his presence will help bring attention to Haiti. This is a good thing. I hope he will make a big difference there.
June 27, 2009 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto'd.
June 27, 2009 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he will and it's about time. I have felt for the people there for quite some time. Bill really loves them and the culture. He said he's intrigued by voodoo.
June 27, 2009 11:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love Bill, but nobody can save Haiti.
Centuries of overcultivation and clear cutting have left the land devoid of trees and farmland. There are no resources there to to developed. That's why the storms hit is so hard -- there's a real lack of vegetaion for control flooding, so all the topsoil runs off, and there's no buffer for the rain of the wind.
The government only functions under corruption. I don't think there has been a single administration since the revolution that has operated under any idea but their own self interest. And unlike a lot of the Caribbean, the country has a history of violent revolution, so industry is wary of laying down roots there. The only reason the DR hasn't taken it over is because they don't want it.
It's a place where much, if not most, of the citizens believe in zombies.
The only way to save the country is to let the trees and plants grow back. Until there is some level of agriculture to allow for some degree of subsistence, I doubt anyone can help. Even Bubba.
June 28, 2009 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
What about renewable technology, extended investment, good government initiatives? WJC has the clout to help facilitate these kinds of strategies and he can be as relentless as he is convincing. I'd give Haiti at least a 50/50 chance of success and it's 100 percent when it comes to the chances that there will be improvement. Guaranteed.
June 28, 2009 3:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I love the title of this post!
June 28, 2009 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
It came to me in a dream.
June 28, 2009 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Haiti was destroyed by the US. Bill Clinton played a large and special part in its continued destruction. Traditional local agriculture was replaced by modern methods. The US has overtly and covertly intervened in their government and politics since Haiti threw out the French. Presidents as far back as JQ Adams have declared Haiti a "low hanging fruit" to be exploited.
All those governments that were corrupt and repressive were either supported by or antagonized by the US. We have allowed Cuban refugees carte blanche to enter the country, but Haitians are routinely turned away. Almost none of Haiti's resources remain in their country. They are instead exported at discount and a significant portion of the revenue pay off IMF loans.
In other words, Haiti is in a long line of western hemisphere nations that have been "annexed" by the US merchant class since the Monroe Doctrine. So forgive me if I am leery of Clinton's charitable intent. He is a world player and gets large sums of money via fees and contributions from a host of corporate interests. I can still remember the Marine backed ouster of Haiti's elected government, and there is blood on his hands.
June 28, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
So ur saying that since Bill Clinton made some mistakes in the past with US-Haiti policy and he gets paid for speeches that he can't have an impact? I don't understand what you mean.
June 28, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would also like to add that there is an underlying taste of white man's burden in the post and subsequent comments. The references to Haiti's primitive culture and Clinton's individual power to help save it from itself is EXACTLY the kind of rough and ready colonial logic that leads us hither and yon with guns and butter. Iraq being the latest and greatest example.
June 28, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I don't see how that "underlying taste of white man's burden" can be avoided given the history. So, is it better that the man with 'blood on his hands' try to do something about the mess the US has played a role in making of Haiti? or do you feel that it is an insult to Haitians as if sending in Saddam Hussein to help Iraq? Why do you think he has this post?
I agree about the guns and butter statement. I do not understand the arms recently sold to Syria?
June 28, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Haiti has little means for generating a trade income with which to buy food on the world market. Therefore it must grow its own food.
But it has only about 0.2 acres of arable land per person.
Its only hope is for most Haitians to emigrate.
June 28, 2009 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wrong. There is always the hope for production of certain types of renewables (like what they're looking at in Isreal) and the foreign aid can spur all types of investment. Ingenuity and the relentless spirit of the people will be the keys to success.
June 29, 2009 12:59 AM | Reply | Permalink