DR General denounces strategy to reduce military

Many Dominicans have been denouncing the international plot by the great western powers to try to unify Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Today we have learned of a pernicious undercurrent by the superpowers to weaken the military in many Third World countries in an effort to globalize military power and place it under the rule of these great nations.

General Adriano Silverio Rodriguez of the Dominican Armed Forces, from a Regional Interamerican Military Conference described how a new International New Order is trying to undermine the power of the military in Latin America by making it evolve into a police apparatus with military discipline only destined for missions directed at the anti-drug war and the administration of local violence. This new solution has as its goal to promote the reduction of military budgets to starve our military into submission, leaving the superpowers to control military operations in the globe. One of the methods to develop this strategy is by conducting joint regional security tasks, anti-drug missions, ecological defense, control of submarine riches in territorial waters, etc.

Brazilian Colonel Macedo in the same conference stated that this "new order" tries to incapacitate our armed forces so they can begin a new arms race and place our forces under their command serving as surrogates under the banners of International Organizations, such as NATO. The worst part is the docile participation of our governments in such plans as our forces begin to take a turn towards a semi- civilian profile by becoming democratized,totally subordinated to civilians,fomenting civilian leadership in the armed forces, and pacification of border conflicts.

It has been quite evident by the behavior of our Dominican Army recently how this plan is beginning to take some effects, as we see our military become political tools of the government, used for menial civilians tasks such as cleaning streets and planting trees, giving away toys and mattresses, building houses for the poor and other tasks that are the responsibility of the civilian government. With the proposed de-militarization of our police force, the next step would be the transformation of our forces into a weak national guard with police duties, as successfully transformed in Panama.

Locally, as part of the plan,the next and final phase would be the proposed unification of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as our military would have been already weakened and our polititians bought with lavish gifts to make it possible.

What is not mentioned by these two important regional military officers is that our young generation of patriotic officers born from our poorest families and with great traditions of military discipline will cause this plan to collapse on its own. And that a strong current amongst the civilian population is perceiving a betrayal of our land and preparing to defend our nationality until the last consequences.

...And our great tourism profile

From the figures reported by Banco Central today, one can only speculate that not only is our tourist sector very strong, but that with the proper injection of capital in supporting infrastructure, airports and better transportation systems it will solidy its leadership in Latin America.

The results of their recent survey(periodico Hoy-Economia) shows the following:An average of 39% of tourists from Central and South America and Europe prefer our country because of the quality of its beaches.
Considering that from the same survey 70% of the same tourists did not visit other countries in the caribbean the conclusion is that their perception is that our beaches are the best in the region.
41% of European tourists chose our country because of the climate, and 11% due to our hospitality.For obvious reasons North American tourists chose the climate as its higher component 21% and our beaches 16.5%.But what made North Americans come back was their pleasure with their previous trip, 21.3%(highest among all tourists) Almost 98% of all tourists feel they met their expectations of their vacation in DR.And with the exception of Europeans(71%), 90% of the other regional groups would return. Less than 1% would not return and the rest would be undecided.
The cost of their vacation was a positive factor as more than 75% overall approved. The most acceptability, for obvious reasons was the North American contingents because of higher comparable fees in their region.
Surprisingly,our country history, natural resources,night life,and casinos were not much of factor in satisfaction, but considered extras.Peace and tranquility were evaluated much higher than these.
Our hotels, their food and services had the highest degree of acceptability, while the lowest marks were for airports and their service(baggage handlers,inmigration,transportation,etc.)and taxi service.
From looking at the survey one can also conclude that there is a vast difference between tourists from North America and the rest. Looking at the figures one would conclude that North Americans prefer the high quality, more secluded locations away from the general population, while our Latin and European friends prefer to mix it up a bit more.

The effect is in place

It has begun within and without. Slowly you are being subverted of what you once were, third place in the Banana republic race, you are quickly slipping behind in your army and you r economy. each and every year the peso is devalued, each and every year your debt increases, each and every year you cry to the WB for more money, you are a nation on the verge of bankruptcy, both fiscally and morally

You have time to learn French and Creole, do so before it becomes your national language and not knowing it will relegate you to he cutting of the cane

The Haitians are already there, waiting for their compatriots to cross the border, waiting to spring up in every household, construction site, businesses, learn to live with the fact hat you are already a nation of Haitians

It's all in how you skew your imagined story

From the figures to be released by Banco Central today, one can only speculate that not only is our tourist sector very weak, but that without the proper injection of capital in supporting infrastructure, airports and better transportation systems it will quickly lose its leadership in Latin America.
The results of their recent survey(periodico Hoy-Economia) shows the following:An average of 89% of tourists from Central and South America and Europe no longer prefer our country because of thepoor quality of its beaches.
Considering that from the same survey 80% of the same tourists did visit other countries in the caribbean the conclusion is that their perception is that our beaches are no longer best in the region.
81% of European tourists once chose our country because of the climate,now only 3% because of pollution, crime and corruption. and only 1% due to our hospitality.For obvious reasons, 2% of North American tourists chose the climate as its higher component 1% and our beaches .5% due to our failure to build any ecologicaly friendly resorts .But what made North Americansdecide not to come back was theirdis- pleasure with their previous trip, 61.3%(highest among all tourists) Almost 98% of all tourists feel they failed miserably in their expectations of their vacation in DR.And with the exception of Europeans(41%), 90% of the other regional groups would never return. More than than 91% would not return and the rest would be undecided.
The cost of their vacation was a positive factor as more than 75% overall approved of the prices, but felt hey received far less than the value for their pound. The most un-acceptability, for obvious reasons was the North American contingents because of higher comparable fees in their region. , but far\ superior service
Surprisingly,our country history, natural resources,night life,and casinos were not much of factor in satisfaction
Our hotels, their food and services had the lowest degree of acceptability, while even lower marks were for airports and their service(baggage handlers,inmigration,transportation,etc.)and taxi service.
From looking at the survey one can also conclude that there is a vast difference between tourists from North America and the rest. Looking at the figures one would conclude that North Americans would prefer the high quality,, un polluted, clean water and more secluded locations of other Caribbean Islands while our Latin and European friends prefer Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico to the Declining Dominican Tourism.

Re: It's all in how you skew your imagined story

Whose interpretation of this survey are we to believe? Visitor's comments seem to be the more logical of the two as Tourist Watcher not only has left out certain findings but seems to have slanted the results with an eye toward nationalistic pride. Is this survey on-line where I can copy it? I have a meeting regarding tourism in the Samana peninsula this afternoon and I would like to present the results to those attending. This survey is echoing much of what I've been saying for the past several years,...only to have it fall on deaf ears.

POST HERE RESPONSABLY!!

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU ANYWAY!?

I do not always agree with Tourist Watcher, but at least he does not use a anonymous proxy server to posts derogatory remarks about the Dominican Republic or his people, an irritating country filled with prostitutes as you say.

Spreding hate as usual

Does anyone know of a good Patua or French schools in Santo Domingo. I don't wanna be left behind.

You know nothing about economics

Besides working for my gramps as an accountant, I follow the DR peso daily on the International world markets in real time.I aslo have a minor in economics. So here is my 2cents worth.

Any country can increase their debt. The problem occurs when the GDP/ external debt ratio increases. Then you have a net liquidity imbalance and the inability of a country to meet interest payments.

Currently, the DR's ratio is very low.They can absorb the 600 million and it won't affect the ratio hardly.The Domincan peso is not a hard currency yet it has a certain stability when compared to other similar currencies.

The devaluation factor has at times shown a certain slide aspect about the peso. Yet after a certain time period it returns to the mean.

The world economy is flat at present. It shows signs of weakening. Even after 6 rate cuts by the fed, the US economy continues a stagnation approach.If it weren't for the consumer confidence factor at such high levels,the US wold be in a recession.Japan being in a recession over a decade also wighs heavily on the world. Obviously the DR will feel the effects of this slowdown yet it 's holding up nicely.

trolling for trouble

Would you please stop trolling.... If you have an opinion state it, back it up, discuss it, etc... but quit trying to start a fight for the heck of it....

Trouble Reading?

Steve

What could be more clear than my statement that the Haitian assimilation of the Dominican workforce has long been in place, that the Haitian influence in the Dominican Economy is more prevalent, that the Haitian Influence in Dominican Politics may or may not slowly influence your foreign policy; or a violent confrontation may take place to make one uneasy nation of Hispaniola?

I have been in the Bateys, the camps in the fields, the border towns, the hills on the boder and miles into the Republic, they are there, waiting.

I have been in Port a Prince, I have listened to Aristeded, I have listened to the Western "Solution"

That is my very clearly stated opinion and observations, I do not troll, these fish were hooked by the Haitians years ago

Extreme Solutions LONG

Visitor,
please loose the anonymizer... It kills your credibility..

I not arguing with your facts, as I dont claim to validate or dispute them... Just seems that certain people on the board are looking for a fight.

It seems to me that fights dont solve much..

Many here are proposing solutions to a problem that are worse than the problem itself (on both ends of the spectrum). The solution has to lie somewhere between..

the best I can see, the facts are these: There are a lot of poor hatians in the DR. A lot of Dominicans dont like it. A lot more hatians want to come over. Things are really terrible in Haiti. Haitians dont want to recognise the independance of the DR. Dominicans like their independance. Haitians and Dominicans have VERY diffent cultures. You both share one island. Your fates are linked. A lot of powerful countries might want the nations to merge. The large economic powers are unwilling to help haiti or support the DR unless it is in their economic interest... starvation is a strong motivater, war sucks, genocide is worse. and lastly, the problem is not going to go away on its own, and no one else is going to help.

I think all sides can mostly agree on that.

solutions that have been proposed

Walling off haiti: This is ignoring the problem. wont help the DR and will be expensive. Also will only increase corruption on the border and increase immigration pressure. Additionally, The DR will be deprived of a cheap labor source..

Colonization: yeah, they would put up with that like the DR would put up with the haitians colonizing them.....

Genocide: Well besides damaging the moral fiber of the country and the likelyhood of outside (UN) interferance then the haitians would really be pissed and the problem could intensifiy to the next solution

War: Well besides destroying the economy of both countrys, haiti would be worse of than before and likely only INCREASE the immigration pressure.. So now we have to head back to genocide. Then you just end up in a bloody mess and a never ending battle..

There has to be more logical solutions to the problem.

some less extreme solutions that others have been proposed

legalizing the status of resident haitians. I dont see how there is any other option. mass deportation and they will just come back again...

temporary work visas: face it, to Dominicans really want to hand dig ditches for 2 bucks a day. this way haitians get a little cash, DR gets cheap labor. The system is regulated to resolve the unwanted permanent resident problem.

reeducation of Haitians: The problem will not be resolved until haitians are able to be happy in their own country. this wont happen without engineers, doctors, etc....

help from haitian expats:.... I lovely idea, but unlikely to succeed on a large scale.

I would add some proposals of my own:

Somehow convince the larger economic powers to see how helping haiti is in their own economic interest. (yeah I know people are trying that now)

Perhaps the DR should offer some free education to a select group of haitians on the condition they return to haiti...

begin training haitian midwives to ease the pressure on the border hospitals..

figure some way to begin regrowing haitian forest near the border.

Remeber, while it is two peoples it is one island... your fates are linked, for good or for worse....

Visitor=Lori=Toilet Washer...

Come on Lori, graduate, stop these (really) stupid postings, and if yyou don't at least stand by them, sign your name !!! Don't be so lame !!!!!

Visitor=LoriAnneMe@aol.com

Oh yeah, I forgot "judge Roy Bean"... Lori you are so ignorant, it's a shame...

Re: Visitor=LoriAnneMe@aol.com

When you no longer can address the content of the message, find a messenger to attack.

I have a valid email for you to reply. making me as "real" as any of you.

Why don't you address the issues instead of shooting the messenger?

And that is a valid email

Re: Spreding hate as usual

There is a Haitian community in the heart of Santo Domingo near the Mercado Modelo called LITTLE HAITI. The Missionary Baptist Cchurch is a Haitian church and its pastor would probably love to have people come and learn the language. By the way, it's NOT called patois, the language is called KREYOL, or in Spanish, Haitiano.

Anyhow the church is located at Calle Hernando Gorjon#25(San Carlos).

I am not overjoyed with the nastiness I see in some of these posts abpout Haiti and Haitians. I'm not enamored with either, but there's such a thing as human rights.The government of Haiti is the thing that's messed up; the people have been sliding down the hole for five hundred years. Until the government of that country gets itself away from the dictatorship that country won't have anything but grief. It's people will do desperate things to be rid of the poverty.

Neither the US or the DR should be made to bear the brunt for the Haitian givernment's density. BUT, like here in the States, if Dominicans won't take the construction and other such jobs, the Haitians ARE ready and willing to work for whatever they can get. There's a lot of jobs most Americans won't do and the immigrants will gladly take these positions.

When the immigrants work hard and can buy houses and leave the Americans in the dust, who can the blame be placed upon??

SO with the DR. Dominicans-- basically, QUIT THE BITCHING AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION. The DR is my adopted country and my partner is a Dominican, so please, don't lace into me. I worked as a missionary in the DR for quite some time and lived in a Dominico-Haitiano community. I am a member of that community both there and in this part of the diaspora.

CAlling each other names and spreading ignorant bogotry won't cut it -- EVER !!

Re: Extreme Solutions LONG

Steve: You are right about possible solutions, but the problem is that Haitians will not understand logic and seeing an opportunity being offered now by human rights developments and a conspiracy by world powers to let the problem be solved by us, the end result will be what it always will be. We will have to push them back the hard way.Too much precious time is being waste and Haiti is gaining ground.

I am sorry if I am so pessimistic about this, but no one can handle Aristide and his Lavalas assassins, except us. Our military must take charge of this problem now. This is no longer a civilian problem. We already have a Vice-President, Milagros Ortiz Bosch who just ignited the fire today by declaring herself a half- Haitian, something that she had never declared prior to running for VP. Yet, along with Pe?a Gomez, another Haitian and part of the international plot to turn us over to Haiti, she has been into this all along.

VP Bosch also decreed to eliminate birth certificates as a requirement to enroll in our schools so that Haitians can quietly invade our schools too. Even in the USA a birth certificate is required to enroll.

We are in for big trouble. I was not a hardliner, but hardliners are lining up and I am convinced now that there will be major trouble ahead. We pushed Haitians several times and they still are not convinced that we mean business. It is time to give them another lesson in history and I totally support a pre-emptive attack on Aristide and his people. The Jews do it , why not us. It is our nationality in trouble. Our armies should head to the border and our air force and artillery should hit them hard and good. Tourism and investment do not come before our nationality. We must do what we must do.

Re: Extreme Solutions LONG

Very good points and I agree with your concerns. I too am upset by the recent unrest in Haiti.

Any sort of violent action on hispaniola would immediately kill your tourist trade. nobody visits a war zone on vacation. It would take many years to recover from it.

Shutting down the borders is less extreme than other suggestions but it only make the Haitians more angry. At least regulation would allow more control than now and not antagonise them.

The problem is coming up with a more plausable solution and directly attacking those responsible for it. It would be very difficult to gain sufficient support domestically and internationally for violent actions such as premptive strikes (until it is too late and violence has already begun). Perhaps building support for a more constructive solution would be more possible.

While I somehow doubt that every haitian in the DR is a blood thirsty assassin waiting to attack the DR, it is clear that the political powers in Haiti are dangerous and bent on destruction. Most are just trying to survive I would suggest that diffusing the power base of these hostile leaders would be more effective morally, economically, and socially. I believe the support of these lunatics is based on the extreme desperation and poverty in that country. If haitians (specifically the poorest) could see some other solution they would not be so inclined to support violent actions.

I should point out that the Nazi party in Germany was only able to achieve power because of the economic sanctions that were placed on them after WWI. Had all been well they would not have been able to overtake the existing democratic goverment. The US demonstrated that lesson in WWII in the reconstuction of Japan and Germany whom are now allies.

I personally cannot think of a single reason why dominicans would want to merge with Haiti, but I do see it in there interest to have a stable and friendly neighbor...

One last point. Argueing over the DR being able to beat the Haitians in a war is a mute point. I doubt the haitians would try a "frontal" attack. The real battle would be in guerilla warfare and could last a century. Nobody wins those...