English Versions
Haiti and the South Command
Back to English Versions PageBy: Elson Concepcion
Havana, Cuba. - History doesn't show us anything else. US South Command is a true instrument of a warlike and imperial policy that advocates the invasion of countries, or at least direct interfering in their internal affairs.
The South Command was ousted from Panama and had to settle in Florida when the Cold War was coming to an end. After those developments, it changed some ways of its presence in the countries of the region, searching for better image and acceptance.
Its soldiers have gone to several places in Central America with warships camouflaged with civilian supplies and humanitarian assistance.
In that process of fitting into the new times, the presence in Haiti of war forces and equipment is a reminder of a domineering practice. They send their soldiers ahead to consolidate their presence in such a way that now Haiti, besides the devastation, seems militarily occupied.
The powerful media under Washington control justified the presence of so many militaries at once. The argument could be no other than the reining chaos of which US authorities blame the Haitians.
Those who think of weapons before giving food and medicines blame the impoverished population of the Caribbean nation of the protests and demonstrations where one US soldier was killed and dozens were wounded.
United States does not want Haitians to demonstrate or show anger when thousands of marines and soldiers disembark in the gardens of the destroyed Presidential Palace or watch over the distribution of food and water to the survivors of the earthquake.
Even the international public opinion has questioned US military presence in Haiti. It is regarded as an outrageous way of controlling the country in a situation of humanitarian emergency.
In fact, the plans of the South Command have this element very much in mind and their implementation in Haiti is part of the training of this military menace that operates in the region.
But such are the Yankees and they carry the philosophy of power and terror with them. They use these weapons very often in all the countries they have invaded or occupied.
The Caribbeans of the island of Grenada can bear witness to this fact. US militaries landed there and occupied the small isle, putting an end to its legitimate government.
The Panamanian people can also elaborate on such outrages. Us troops invaded the country, slaughtered their students, kidnapped and prosecuted the president in US territory.
Desperate Haitians are starving or looking for a child or some other relative in the midst of devastated cities. Some despair because of the wounds in their bodies and demand medicines instead of soldiers. They should not be treated as enemies of a war that does not exist. They cannot be threatened at the tip of bayonets, shoved around or pushed to the ground only because they make a dash for food and water.
The world must see that those residents gather in squares and parks and raise their arms asking for bread and water in an uproar that the soldiers do not listen.
Pentagon militaries are used to fish in troubled waters. Their massive presence in Haitian soil is therefore no surprise.
In fact the history of the South Command as joint headquarters began during World War II when Pentagon strategists established the Caribbean Defense Command. During the 50’s, it carried out several military missions in the Caribbean basin.
Let us not forget that those are the forces that occupied the Panama Channel during World War II and they meant to stay there forever.
Every year, the South Command organizes over 200 special operations all over the region, including joint activities and exercises with militaries of a few countries.
It has four main bodies: Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The headquarters are in Miami, Florida, with an alternate station in Puerto Rico.
Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego
( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )
