UN chief names Bill Clinton as Haiti envoy

[Old Coot]

Source: Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The United Nations named former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday as its special envoy to Haiti, with a mission to help the impoverished nation achieve some measure of stability after devastating floods and other crises.

Clinton — who will be paid $1 a year and travel to Haiti several times annually — said he was honored to accept the post.

"I believe Haiti is better positioned to make progress for all its people than at any time since I first visited in 1978," he said in a statement.

"Last year's natural disasters took a great toll, but Haiti's government and people have the determination and ability to 'build back better,' not just to repair the damage done but to lay the foundations for the long term sustainable development that has eluded them for so long," the former president said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090519/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_bill_clinton

[fascisthunter]

1. the Crazy Conservos will Hate this

I will never forget how the Bush Admin illegally aided rebels to overthrow Haiti's president just to replace him with a yes man.

[balantz]

2. Here's Jeremy Scahill's opinion on the selection:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=314274&mesg_id=314274

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. If ever a country could do with a compassionate American friend, it's Haiti.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Adding to balantz's post #2, here is Jeremy Scahill's article on Bill and Haiti

Published on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 by RebelReports

Bill Clinton Named New UN Envoy to 'Stabilize' Haiti, a Country He Helped Destabilize

As president, Clinton forced neoliberal policies on Haiti, delayed President Aristide’s return after a US-backed coup and held Haitian refugees at Gitmo without rights.

by Jeremy Scahill

Former US President Bill Clinton has been named by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as his special UN envoy to Haiti. Clinton will reportedly travel to the country at least four times a year.

“(It’s) an opportunity to bring in resources to address the economic insecurity that plagues Haiti,” says Brian Concannon, a human rights lawyer who works extensively in Haiti. “But if the nomination is to be more than a publicity stunt, the UN needs to honestly shed a spotlight on the international community’s role in creating that instability, including unfair trade and debt policies, and the undermining and overthrowing of Haiti’s constitutional government.”

Shining such a spotlight on those who created the instability, as Concannon suggests, would mean examining Clinton’s own role as president of the US during one of Haiti’s most horrifyingly dark periods.

Reuters news agency quotes a diplomat as saying Clinton is “an ‘excellent choice’ to help unlock Haiti’s potential as an investment target,” adding that his appointment “could attract investment in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation and help stabilize the country.”

That last statement about “stabiliz(ing)” Haiti would be humorous for its irony if the reality—and Clinton’s history in Haiti—wasn’t so deadly serious. The fact is that, as US president, Clinton’s policies helped systematically destabilize Haiti.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/19-2

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. 'Oh Mr. Wolf, would you mind guarding this Hen House for us please?'

[Kali]

6. the Clinton years were NOT kind to the people of Haiti

[No Elephants]

7. And this does not present any kind of possibility of conflict of interest with the Department of

State, headed by Mrs. William Clinton?

What the hex was all that vetting about whether his charity or consulting work might conflict? A side show for public consumption?