The revolving door of return

Once again, the troops are arriving in Haiti, this time a cobbled-together UN force to take over from the US-led force that nailed down the overthrow of Jean Betrand Aristide. Once again, the talk is of "long-term commitment," of "restoring democracy," of disarming violent factions.

And once again the fact is that it is set up to fail.

Port-au-Prince - UN peacekeepers are returning to Haiti once again, but with many of the problems that plagued their last mission here - uncertainty about troop numbers and funding, a hazy mandate and no commitment to long-term aid. ...

Bright flags of about two dozen participating nations dot empty barracks at the airport but only samples of the blue UN hats and berets have arrived ahead of a Tuesday handover.

It was still unclear Monday even where the mission's headquarters would be, said Adama Guindo, a UN representative heading the mission until a permanent one is appointed.

So reports the Toronto Globe & Mail for June 1, which goes on to say that the UN mission

will again try to keep a tentative peace in the divided country, and again train an ill-equipped and understaffed police force, as well as work on development projects.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked member nations to make a long-term commitment to transform Haiti - which has suffered more than 30 coups in 200 years - into "a functioning democracy." But only a fraction of the $35-million (U.S.) he requested has arrived and the mission mandated by the U.N. Security Council remains at six months.

And the commitment to actually putting a stop to the violence that continues to oppress the many in favor of the few remains at the level of words, not actions.

Ex-soldiers are among leaders of several rebel factions that joined forces this year to oust Aristide again. Some boast that they carry the guns that never were taken from them nearly 10 years ago.

There was no difference this time round. The Americans did little about disarmament.

The question must be asked: Who does that mismatch of rhetoric and reality benefit?

Footnote Noted in Passing: From the BBC for May 31:

Ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has arrived in South Africa, ending a two-and-a-half-month exile in Jamaica.

He said South Africa would be his "temporary home" until he can return to his country, Haiti.

The BBC's Victoria Phenethi in South Africa says that Mr Aristide was given a red-carpet treatment by President Thabo Mbeki and other officials.

Last time he was booted by the reactionaries, I had some hope that he would return, as eventually he did, after being politically eviscerated by the US and before being economically undermined by elites at home and abroad. This time, I think he's gone for good. They know better than to take another chance on him, knowing he will not roll over, at least not easily.

There is no question but that Aristide could have done better, that he could have made compromises he refused to make, that he failed to maintain the ideals he set for himself and others - that he was not an entirely innocent victim. But there is also no question that he was far more sinned against that sinning, far more, if you will, victim than executioner.