Mr. Robinson's hoods - TransAfrica America executive director Randall Rubinson's bully tactics to change Clinton administration policy toward Haiti

National Review, August 29, 1994 by Rich Lowry

Aristide supporters would prefer that these issues simply be buried. "You know, we really don't need another hatchet job on Aristide," says Barnes. "It's not in the U.S. interest at this point."

Neither is it in the U.S. interest to restore Aristide--which is part of the idea's appeal. "The proponents of Aristide," says one congressional staffer, "are people who want to undo the history of U.S. repression. If they thought an invasion were serving a national interest, they'd oppose it." Or, as Robinson told the conservative weekly Human Events years ago, "If the U.S. can provide arms to all of the right-wing, heinous regimes around the world, then it should be providing arms to liberation movements like SWAPO and ANC."

Aristide is a one-man "liberation movement." He regularly referred to the U.S. as the "cold country," considered it synonymous with "imperialism," and accused it of having "exploited our beloved country." Says Raymond Joseph, "If Clinton makes the mistake of taking Aristide back with military force, after he lands Aristide will start denouncing the United States for killing all those Haitians.... He'll tell the U.S., You get your damn troops out of here--fast."

For Robinson and his allies, who have spent their careers making the same angry demand, there couldn't be a happier ending.