U.N. Chief in Haiti Found Dead

He was a 29-year veteran of the Brazilian military and by all accounts a reflective man who took his mission seriously.  Some time last night, Lt. Gen. Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar stepped out on the balcony of his hotel suite overlooking the tropical lushness of Port au Prince and shot himself.  According to the AP:

``His unexpected death leaves us all bereft, and we offer our most sincere condolences to his family,'' said Damian Onses-Cardona, a spokesman for the U.N. mission in Haiti.

More below.

Ever since the American-engineered ousting of Bertrand Aristide, Haiti has slipped ever deeper into a hell of random violence, kidnapping, murder, hunger and despair.  What is the opposite of a Midas touch?

The security situation has been unraveling in past weeks, with a rash of kidnappings hitting the capital. International election workers, journalists and ordinary Haitians have been among the victims.

Bacellar's death also came days after officials postponed national elections for the fourth time, blaming security problems and delays in distributing voter registration cards and setting up polling stations. The elections had been planned for Jan. 8. No new date has been set and it was not immediately clear what effect Bacellar's death would have on a new election timetable

When will there ever be good news for Haiti?  Or Afghanistan?  Or Iraq?  A quiet moment of reflection is due Bacellar, his wife and two kids, and all the people today suffering from having received our 'help.'

•  I saw that on Al Jazeera earlier

  I couldn't find an English version.

  The only thing I could think of was when Rumsfeld went down to South America and said the peacekeepers were doing a heck of a job, and the media knew that was code for "don't report the bad shit that is happening here."

  They forgot the rules during Katrina for a while, but it is back.
  

  by mickT on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 03:50:16 PM PDT

•  What is the opposite of a Midas touch ?

  Ans.  A Bush touch.

  by fedupinca on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 03:58:13 PM PDT

•  Until the UN is

  given the proper tools and money, it will remain a poltical plaything of the security council.  I'm surprised more committed UN officials do not take their own lives.  It's a bloody shame.

  My sympathies to his family.  I hope he has found the peace that doesn't exist on this planet.

  I can't remember his name but I believe a French Canadian officer has lectured and written about his experiences on the peacekeeping mission in Rwanda.  It's enough to make one cry.    

  by xanthe on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 04:13:54 PM PDT

  •  posted this downthread - meant to post

    it here... sorry....

    un finanial crisis

    The United Nations and all its agencies and funds spend about $10 billion each year, or about $1.70 for each of the world's inhabitants. This is a very small sum compared to most government budgets and it is just a tiny fraction of the world's military spending. Yet for nearly two decades, the UN has faced a debilitating financial crisis and it has been forced to cut back on important programs in all areas. Many member states have not paid their full dues and have cut their donations to the UN's voluntary funds. As of October 31, 2005, members arrears to the Regular Budget topped $719 million, of which the United States alone owed $607 million (84% of the regular budget).

    Many proposals for UN reform deal with restructuring the UN's funding. Some suggest that the UN must seek alternative financing sources to fund its programs. Proposals include instituting a global tax on currency transactions, while others propose environmental taxes and taxes on the arms-trade. However, member states responsible for the highest contributions are reluctant to reform the system, fearing they would lose political leverage. This section examines the UN's financial condition and offers proposals for alternative financing of the UN.

    by edrie on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:46:52 PM PDT

    •  Thanks for the information -- I understand the

      UN building in NYC is in awful condition as well.  Must put a smile on neo cons' faces, though you would think it would shame them.  Oh wait, they're shameless.
       

      by xanthe on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:07:45 PM PDT

•  Go figure

  "Where here to spread democracy" -- guess what, this is what happens when we interfere with one we didn't like.

  Good going ASS-HOLES!

  by Unforgiven on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 04:22:42 PM PDT

  •  If this is what they do to Haiti

    where their is relatively little at stake, what do you think is going on in the back rooms of Baghdads election.

    How far will they go to avoid an Islamic theocracy?

    by buhdydharma on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 04:29:06 PM PDT

    •  asdf

      Obviously not enough. But then again, I don't give a shit. It's their screw-up. It's 1/2 way (well, 11 hours) around the world from me. Doesn't bother me a bit.

      Haiti is our neighbor - plus, I imagine, would be a hell of an awesome vacation spot.

      This whole misadventure down there was something I was going to keep up on, but I didn't. There seems to be one-thing-after-another going on that it just makes your head spin.

      I wish someone would give me room & board to study one subject to completion. That would be satisfying.

      by Unforgiven on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 05:23:14 PM PDT

•  Haiti

  Aristide is gone, and if it served any purpose I am not sure what it was. He was thrown out of office in a coup supported by the United States.

  We hear little about Haiti ,the poorest country in the western hemisphere yet we hear much about Fidel Castro being an evil doer. That the United States could have helped the people of Haiti to be as fortunate as Cubans and to have schools, high literacy and excellent health care would have done more for the reputation of the US than all the money spent in Iraq.

  The death of this peacekeeper is a sad day for the UN. His family should be consoled that he died trying to be a peacemaker not a warmaker.

  by ohcanada on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 04:28:19 PM PDT

  •  According to Aristide...

    ... at the time, it wasn't so much the (US backed) coup; but we sent a plane down there to 'retrieve' him and spirit him away. I'm sure, for his own good.

    But our president, that claims to be all for the spreading of democracy, makes me wonder why he allowed/prepetrated this abduction.

    This in Haiti, the war in Iraq, the ruining of our economy, the killing our civil rights, exporting our good jobs, letting illegal immigrants take the crappy jobs, pissing off most of South America, ...

    WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?

    by Unforgiven on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 05:36:49 PM PDT

•  Sleep walking?

  by DianeL on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 05:51:39 PM PDT

  •  Done it myself, but I'm still very much alive!

    by DianeL on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 05:52:33 PM PDT

•  interesting article in black commentator

  with great links... worth the read!

  here is a sample from the article...

  Now let's fast forward to last December 31, 2003 as Luigi Einaudi of the Organization of American States (OAS) is ushered into the lobby of the Hotel Montana for Haiti's bicentennial celebrations. While checking into the luxury hotel he makes this comment in front of several witnesses: "The real problem in Haiti is that the international community is so screwed up and divided that they are letting Haitians run Haiti."

  
  much more in article worth reading...

  also, here are a few choice statements by maxine waters
  

  "I repeatedly appealed to Secretary of State Colin Powell to assist the government of Haiti, yet the Bush Administration refused to provide any assistance whatsoever to stop the violence until after President Aristide's departure. It is clear that President Aristide's departure was a pre-condition to any U.S. efforts to stop the violence. President Aristide told me that he was forced to leave Haiti on February 29, 2004, after U.S. officials told him that he and many other Haitians would be killed if he refused. President Aristide apparently is being held against his will in the Central African Republic.

  it's good to be king, isn't it, george...

  and rep. corrine brown.

  Recent events that have taken place in Haiti once again go to prove that if you're not in lock step with The Bush administration, they'll take you out. This occurred in Venezuela, in Iraq, and now, in Haiti. What is particularly sad is that it now seems that the U.S. is responsbile for organizing the coup that overthrew President Aristide.

  by edrie on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:26:00 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for these links n/t

    by chuckvw on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:32:25 PM PDT

•  oh year, then there is the little matter

  of funding, right?

  to do it's job, the united nation needs what?

  Yet for nearly two decades, the UN has faced a debilitating financial crisis and it has been forced to cut back on important programs in all areas. Many member states have not paid their full dues and have cut their donations to the UN's voluntary funds. As of October 31, 2005, members arrears to the Regular Budget topped $719 million, of which the United States alone owed $607 million (84% of the regular budget). [bold mine]

  Many proposals for UN reform deal with restructuring the UN's funding. Some suggest that the UN must seek alternative financing sources to fund its programs. Proposals include instituting a global tax on currency transactions, while others propose environmental taxes and taxes on the arms-trade. However, member states responsible for the highest contributions are reluctant to reform the system, fearing they would lose political leverage. This section examines the UN's financial condition and offers proposals for alternative financing of the UN.

  the neothugs chastise the united nations for being ineffective while obstructing funding that would make a difference.  it is no wonder that those trying to implement change suffer despair!

  congratulations, john bolton, you're doin' a heckuva job!  

  by edrie on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:35:27 PM PDT

  •  I take the liberty...

    of giving you this advice because of your comment here.  If you like that neat little trick, all you have to do is click the time/date stamp of the comment you want to link, swipe the url off your current address/history dropdown, and paste it just like any other link.

    Then you can write a comment like- "Oops, I meant [this http://www.dailykos.com/comments/...] as a reply to you.", instead of this.

    A real endless loop should be possible if things are slow enough that you can predict the actual number of your comment and follow the url conventions of dKos to name it before you post it.  I will attempt it here, but I make no guarantees because it is impossible to test before posting.

    This is not meant in any way to be a criticism of your comments (both of which will get my 4s) and if it's old news to you my apologies in advance.

    by ek hornbeck on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:16:44 AM PDT

    •  Damn.

      Off by 1 I think.  I'll try again but as I said, it is tricky business so I don't use it a lot.

      Here.

      by ek hornbeck on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:21:04 AM PDT

      •  Q.E.D. n/t

        by ek hornbeck on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:21:38 AM PDT