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Opinion: Bill Clinton plans no coup in Haiti

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ABC News reported late Friday night that former U.S. President Bill Clinton had denied any plans to effectively take over governing the impoverished and now devastated island country of Haiti.

Clinton, a Democrat who was term-limited out of U.S. office in 2001 after eight years, runs two foundations in Haiti, is the special United Nations envoy to that country and had said he was ‘prepared to spend years’ there.

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So, ABC’s Cynthia McFadden reported on ‘Nightline,’ that she asked the 42d American president if he would effectively be taking over and running the country.

‘No,’ said Clinton, who will turn 64 this year. ‘That’s important.’

The husband of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama‘s secretary of State, added:

Over time, Haiti has been through being abused and exploited by its neighbors, and being ignored. And then being helped in a way that was not designed to enable them to stand on their own two feet and help themselves. We don’t want any of those three things.

Clinton is on his second trip to Haiti since it was struck by a massive earthquake that killed thousands on Jan. 12. McFadden asked Clinton if rebuilding would be a full-time job for him?

‘I don’t know,’ the former governor answered. ‘I’m still working through my authority and capacity for the United Nations.’

He said the existing government there headed by President Rene Preval has many remaining serious challenges including improving food distribution and health and sanitary conditions. In fact, having lost all its buildings, offices and many senior employees, the national government is currently working out of a local police headquarters.

But the government is making long-term recovery plans, Clinton insisted.

‘They’re going to do much better,’ he added.So, no Clinton inaugural balls in Haiti just yet.

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-- Andrew Malcolm

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