Tying Aristide's hands.

• Author: Jean-Baptiste, Chavannes
• Position: U.S.- Haiti policy - Cover Story

From the outset, the international community--the United States, in particular--has pursued a dilatory strategy to prevent the restoration of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. Contrary to common perception, the United States has never thoroughly applied the sanctions mandated by the Organization of American States. Until recently, Miami served as the major port for shipment of goods to Haiti.

In fact, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce report, the profits of American companies operating in Haiti have increased since the coup took place three years ago. Instead of supporting effective sanctions against Haiti's elites, the United States resorted to a leaky embargo that crippled the already impoverished Haitian majority while rendering drug trafficking and contraband more lucrative, further enriching the generals and the elites.

Now the United States is moving cynically toward a military intervention and occupation, ostensibly to dislodge the military regime. But we cannot forget that it was U.S. military intervention earlier in this century that gave birth to the Haitian army. We cannot forget that Washington has spent millions in training, arming, and supporting the criminals who continue to wreak havoc on the Haitian people. We believe that the real objective of any military intervention would be an attempt to crush Haiti's popular movement, which was instrumental in bringing President Aristide to power.

Furthermore, even if Aristide were returned to Haiti, his hands would be tied, crippling him from...