The Miami Herald - New Policies Needed or Leadership Change

The Miami Herald

HEADLINE: New policies needed-or leadership change;
HAITI

BYLINE: BY MIKE DeWINE

BODY:
In 1995, when we sent 20,000 U.S. ground troops to the island to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power, we did not expect miracles of immediate recovery. We also did not blame Aristide for the poverty and desperation he inherited. We only expected him to keep his word and establish a foundation for change that would help move the country away from its failed past toward a hopeful and productive future.

Tragically, however, under Aristide's rule, an already dismal situation in Haiti has only worsened, leaving the nation further wracked by wretched, abject, dehumanizing poverty. Furthermore, it has become a nation terrorized by a government of gangs. And unless Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide initiates significant political and economic changes and halts his current campaign of violence and political intimidation, the United States has little choice but to challenge the legitimacy of his government.

Gang rule

With Haiti's ever-deteriorating economy and a consequently dissatisfied and disillusioned electorate, Aristide sees his survival hinging on his use of government-

supported thugs-state sanctioned street gangs who terrorize anyone who opposes him. The police force that the United States and the international community worked so hard to train and professionalize has become corrupt, dispirited and politicized. Some of its members now are trafficking drugs.

While not appearing as centrally controlled or as organized as the old Ton-Ton Macoutes of the Duvalier regime, they are just as effective and just as deadly. Aristide's henchmen paralyze neighborhoods with their violent intimidation tactics, leaving many parents too fearful to send their children to school.

Aristide may believe that his gangs will assure his power. They will not. They only escalate the violence, lessen his credibility among his own people, and seriously risk the legitimacy of his presidency in the eyes of the international community. For Aristide to continue down this path will only lead to more violence, more death, and more disaster for him, for Haiti, and for the United States, as we once again will see boats swollen with Haitians risking their lives for the chance of a better life.

Change is possible

Aristide can make things right. He is smart. He is charismatic. And, he once had overwhelming support among the Haitian people, as well as the international community. Furthermore, Aristide has demonstrated that good work can be done in Haiti, by allowing the nongovernmental organizations to go about their humanitarian work. Specifically, in the fight against AIDS, Haiti is fortunate to have some of the world's best HIV/AIDS doctors and strongest advocates, like First Lady Mildred Aristide.

President Aristide does have, within his hands, the power to preserve the legitimacy of his government and avert further chaos and inevitable disaster. He can pull back the thugs and tell them to stop the violence. He can rebuild a professional police force. He can work out an agreement with the opposition to provide for wholesale political change and reform. Or, frankly, he can leave power now.

U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and has traveled to Haiti at least 13 times in recent years.

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