Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409270041
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI LENGTH: Medium
Smiling crowds thronged the Humvee jeeps in the rutted streets of Port-au-Prince. Some American military police, in full combat gear, began directing traffic.
``In Somalia I got a bunch of middle fingers,'' Pfc. Mike Peacock shouted above the din as he sat behind a machine gunner in a Humvee. ``We're getting a lot of thumbs up and waves and American flags. It's all right.''
U.S. military police patrolled intersections and were posted at police stations. Part of their mission is to forestall attacks on civilians by Haitian security forces such as those that killed one man and injured scores Tuesday.
The rapid consolidation of power by American forces has set off grumbling among lower-ranking Haitian troops who fear being abandoned by their leaders. In the four days since U.S. soldiers first landed in Haiti, they have seized Port-au-Prince's international airport, the seaport, the military airfield and the sole heavy-weapons depot.
In keeping with an accord reached Sunday by Haitian army leader Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras and a U.S. delegation led by former President Jimmy Carter, Haitian forces relinquished the sites peacefully.
``What is Cedras doing to us?'' one soldier asked another over an army radio frequency. ``He gave them the airport, the port, the heavy weapons. What next?''
Haitian soldiers are worried about losing their jobs - exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has announced plans to reduce the army from 7,500 to 1,500 troops - and possible attacks by Haitians seeking vengeance.
Haitians opposed to their military dictators, on the other hand, are heartened by the expanding presence of American soldiers. About 15,000 are expected to be here when the deployment is completed.
by CNB