It’s understandable why the Biden administration would be hesitant to get involved. But sooner or later, it might have no choice.
Haiti is a story that appears to repeat itself while also growing inexorably worse over time. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent meeting in Jamaica with fractious Haitian political and civil society leaders recalled a similar moment when I was U.S. ambassador to Haiti 20 years ago. Back then, the worst outcomes were avoided through decisive American intervention.
In late February 2004, Port-au-Prince was falling into chaos. Criminal gangs loyal to then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide were on a rampage, even as a ragtag band of ex-military thugs led by warlord Guy Philippe pressed on the capital, seeking to topple the government. In a last-ditch attempt to forge compromise between the opposition and Aristide, I arranged for Secretary of State Colin Powell to call in to my meeting with heads of political parties and civil society representatives.
Among the international community’s many mistakes and failures over the decades, perhaps none was more fateful than the decision — supported by the Trump administration — tobetween 2017 and 2019. The absence of a credible Haitian security force led to the progressive collapse of state institutions and opened the door to the anarchy now gripping the country.many are calling for Haitian-led or even Haitian-only solutions, but this is unrealistic in view of the security situation.
A military intervention in Haiti is understandably abhorrent to the Biden administration given the multiple security challenges the United States is juggling around the world. But the situation has deteriorated to the point that Washington might have no choice but to mount an abbreviated operation to supplant the gangs and facilitate a political transition.
With a new government in place, the United States could rapidly hand security responsibility over to the international community, anchored by a Kenyan police detachment alreadyThe Washington Post accepts opinion articles on any topic. We welcome submissions on local, national and international issues. We publish work that varies in length and format, including multimedia.Cupid the peacock was shot with an arrow. Neighbors united to help him.
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