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U.S. Office of the President February 15, 1986

Reagan, who had spent New Year's Day not long before, frowned as he stared at the report on his desk, and CIA Director Casey inquired, "Intelligence indicates that the Soviet Union has set up a new joint venture bank in Leningrad to buy up the dollar foreign exchange dumped by Japan for Soviet foreign exchange reserves, and we estimate that the Soviets plan to have 700 to 800 million rubles ready for conversion to foreign exchange."

"That's at least to twe billion dollars," Reagan whispered to himself. "They're going to convert all that money they have into gold, and then buy up everything they can to hide it."

"What do we do about it?"

"We have to stop them," Reagan said, "but without starting a war we have no way of doing so."

The president then turned to the question of U.S. trade with the Soviet Union. He expressed concern about the recent drop in exports to the USSR, and inquired about the state of the Soviet Union's debt to the United States.

"It is getting more difficult." Reagan stated, "Is there anything that can be done to further stop Soviet foreign exchange earnings? We can't let the Japanese market continue to trade foreign currency to the Soviet Union."

"We're going to have to do something about it," Casey said, "but it's not just the Japanese. The Europeans and the British are all selling their dollars in the open market."

"Yeah." Reagan chagrined, "Unfortunately, the Square Deal we promoted instead allowed the Soviet Union to acquire these foreign currencies."

"So it's our fault," Casey said.

"No, not necessarily," Reagan replied, "But we can't let this continue."

"How do we go about doing that?"

"We're going to need to start slapping economic sanctions on the USSR," Reagan said. "I'm not talking about a few sanctions here and there. I'm talking about a trade embargo, or even a military attack to stop them. We can't let them get away with this."

"We can't start a war over a bunch of Russians trading a little money," Casey said.

"If we can't stop them with military force," Reagan said, "then we'll have to find another way."

"Well, can't we just put pressure on them some more?" Casey asked.

"We need a further drop in oil prices versus a crackdown on countries close to the Soviet Union, and without foreign aid the Soviet Union would not have any international trade."

"Do you think we could get China to go along with this?" Casey asked.

"It's worth a try. We've got nothing to lose by trying."

"All right," Casey said, "We'll try to get China to go along with a trade embargo. How do we go about that?"

"Call the ambassador," Reagan said, "and get his advice."

"I'll call him," Casey said, and went to get the phone.

"No, I'll do it," Reagan said, "By the way, how are the Haitian rebels doing with the Nicaraguan government forces?"

"Not well."

"Oh?"

"The Soviets have been giving them weapons."

"That's not good."

"No, it's not good."

"What's the situation in Nicaragua?" Reagan asked, "Any more trouble with the Contras?"

"The civil war continues," Casey said, "but the fighting's been going badly for the rebels."

"Nicaraguans are a stubborn lot." Reagan said. "Give the Nicaraguan rebels an additional $500 million in aid, and I want the Ortega regime to end within a year."

"I'll get right on that."

"And don't be so hasty in deciding the aid will be given," Reagan said, "Instead, see if you can get a concession out of them."

"Yes, sir."

---

Reagan then hung up on the Chinese ambassador to the United States.

After that, he turned to his minister of finance Howard Baker.

"Baker," Reagan said, "I want you to call the French and German ambassadors and have them meet with the Japanese ambassador.

Have them explain to the Japanese ambassador that we will not stand for the dumping of foreign currency by his government. The French and the Germans aren't too happy with us either, so make sure that they are appeased.

Also, I want you to call the head of the World Bank and have him call the heads of the IMF and the W.H.O. and have them release the first $2 billion that they have available and tell them that we will match it, dollar for dollar, if they will only cease all dealings with the Soviet Union."

"Yes, Mr. President," Baker said, "I'll get right on it."

"I want all of this to happen as soon as possible," Reagan said, "Now, Casey do you have a solution for the Haitian rebels?"

"We should force Duvalier Jr. out of power and get the junta to cease fire with the rebels in the name of ending the civil war and holding democratic elections, and send U.S. troops to oversee the elections and expel the Cuban advisers from the Haitian rebels."

"That's a pretty good solution," Reagan said, "Get the U.N. to go along with that plan. I'll have the State Department draft a resolution."

"Yes, sir," Baker said, and went to a phone and started making calls.

Reagan signed an executive order to implement the embargo, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury began to actively enforce it.

------

Inside the stronghold of the Haitian rebels

a group of rebels organized by the priests of liberation theology have gathered in the mountains and forests of Haiti to practice and prepare for their role in the upcoming uprising. They're calling themselves the "Blessed Union."

The group consists of several dozen hardcore Catholics, many of them recruited from the neighborhood of slums in which they're living. They come from different backgrounds, but they share a common cause: to rid their country of the tyranny of the restore it to its former glory.

As the military training advisor sent from Cuba extinguished the cigarette he was smoking, an elderly priest said to the Haitian Catholic rebels: "My children, Jesus Christ is not only the Savior but also the Liberator! The brutal rule of Duvalier is unkind and barbaric, and many of his brothers and sisters are starving in the dirt! The Gospel of Christ should not be an abstract concept or spiritual truth for either the oppressed or the oppressor, but the Gospel is the liberation of all people from the forces of oppression. Nor is the gospel an abstraction of liberating ideas, but refers specifically to those who are now actively resisting the oppressed, liberating the poor from the rich, and all the oppressed from the oppressor. Take up arms, for the liberation of us and our children!"

The rebels were then shown a map, and told that they will be receiving arms and military training from the Soviet Union. The priest then said: "Now, we have prepared a short speech, before we start the training, to deliver to the whole of you, to address the questions many of you might have. First, we address the question of whether you want to proceed with the uprising or not. In order to do so, you must be unified, and thus the speech is addressed to you all. Now, the question is: Will you unite to liberate your nation and your people, or will you remain fragmented and opposing these noble ideals? I ask this because I am personally sending you to receive the training with the weapons and the backing of the Soviet Union. If you do not unite, I will not send you. There is an option of doing nothing, and leaving the fate of your nation to the hands of the French and the Americans, who have shown little respect towards your nation. However, if you choose to revolt, you will have the full support of the Soviet Union. What do you say? Will you unite to revolt? Or remain separate and opposing this path?"

To this, the rebels responded with a resounding "Yes! We will unite! We will not abandon our nation! We will not abandon the path of freedom! We will not abandon the righteous cause of the Liberator, Mr. Christ the Lord! We will unite, and we will march to freedom! We will conquer the oppressor's capital and free our nation! Praise be to God and the Holy Soviet Union!"

The priest then said: "My children, the speech has ended. It is now time to begin the training."

The group is then divided into smaller sub-groups, and the training begins.

---

Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince

Government forces broadcast the news of Duvalier's escape to the rebels and pledged to hold democratic elections with a call for a ceasefire.

The rebels soon responded with their own call for an end to the war and a cease fire, as well as the release of all political prisoners.

The government and the rebels have so far failed to achieve their objectives.

General Henri Nanfi established the "National Ruling Council" to impose a military government. Its stated purpose is to restore law and order, but critics see it as a temporary measure to prevent an all-out uprising.

Soviet military adviser Ivanovich and Archbishop Jean-Bertrand Aristide disagree on a cease-fire in Haiti. The Archbishop favors one, while the Soviet Union says there must be a complete halt to fighting, but the possibility of a cease-fire is not entirely ruled out.

"We cannot stop fighting! The elections dominated by the U.S. are sham elections, which will only lead to the monopolization of elections through bribery by those who monopolize capital under Duvalier's ministry. We must continue the revolution by force to establish a new regime." Ivanovich said as he stared at Archbishop Aristide in his office.

General Nanfi is said to be considering both the Soviet Union's demands and the Archbishop's suggestion.

In any case, both sides are preparing for war.

---

Port-au-Prince

The city is in chaos. People are panicking. The situation is dire.

The city's hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities have been overrun. Patients are dying from easily treatable conditions.

The Port-au-Prince airport is a flaming wreck, and is not expected to be fully operational again until the next presidential election, which is in two years.

The port is filled with the dead and dying, and an epidemic of cholera is spreading. The streets are lined with the dead, and the stench of death is everywhere.

Rebels have established a beachhead in Port-au-Prince. The city's streets are being retaken by the National Army of the Republic of Haiti.

Tensions rise as fighting continues. Both sides claim victory after victory.

After a bloody month, the rebels have retaken the city. General Nanfi and his allies retreated to their mountain redoubt, but the fight continues in the mountains.

The rebels want a cease fire, and the government refuses.

It's a stalemate.

---

"The U.S. has asked for a ceasefire and an election with General Nanfi's military government, while U.S. marines have entered Port-au-Prince." The intelligence officer reported to Ivanovich, and Archbishop Aristide looked to Ivanovich and said, "We should cease fire and hold elections with the military government."

"Elections? Outside the city there are civilians who have to feed on dirt and robbers. Elections with the junta at this time? Can elections restore economic production?" Ivanovich said sarcastically, standing at the table.

"What do you propose, then?"

"The establishment of a new Christian socialist Haitian government, the elimination of the military government and the building and reform of the economy."

"If you are serious, then you must establish a cease fire and negotiate with these United States. The alternative is civil war and a massacre."

"Those United States Marines do not negotiate with terrorists." Ivanovic crossed his arms and said, "Why should we care about the United States? Who came to the rescue of the Haitian people when they were starving to the point of eating dirt? It was us! There has never been justice and human rights in this world, and no one has given justice to the Palestinians and others! You should build a brand new Haitian Christian socialist theocratic government, not care about the American imperialists."

"I support civil war, so that the terrorists are crushed. The military junta will be replaced with a new government, and one that does not terrorize the people. General Nanfi, you say he is a reasonable man?"

"He's a coward and a puppet of the United States. I've fought the Americans for 20 years. I've seen their power. He's just a man who's willing to sacrifice the innocent to gain favor with a group of rich exploiters."

"The Soviets would like to end this war," Archbishop Aristide said. "However, it seems that the United States will not agree."

"So what? Could Haiti be any worse? Archbishop Aristide, you must be responsible for Haiti and Christ Jesus. What should the new name of Haiti's country be called?"

"It's not for me to decide. God will judge that."

"What? You can't do that! You're a bishop! You're meant to lead the flock of the Lord!"

"I can judge sin in the souls of men. Not by the name they call a place, but by the name they give it. What do you think this place should be called?"

"Haiti. That's a French word. Shouldn't it be called God's love?"

The Archbishop smiled at the young man, and said, "No. It should be called Hell."

"Well, the new country is called Hispaniola Socialist Christian Theocracy?"

"If you wish. Or you can continue to use the name Haiti has given it."

There was silence.

The name "Haiti" had a certain ring to it.

Ivanovich and the Archbishop went back and forth for a few minutes.

The Archbishop made a few conciliatory gestures. "Then it shall be so. so help me God."

Ivanovic looked at the Archbishop and said, "You should go and talk to the other side. We need to end this conflict, not prolong it."

"I'll pray for you, my friend." The Archbishop left the room.

"The Americans, they're not going to bend," Ivanovich said. "We'll have to continue the fight. It's a religious war, and the world will judge us by the justness of our cause."

"What's at stake here?" I asked.

"The freedom of the people of Haiti. The future of the country."

"You mean a genocide?" I asked. "A military coup? A puppet government?"

"Of course not. A new era for Haiti. An era of true democracy, a Christian democracy that will bring the poor into the fold."

I gathered my sorrow and stared at him and said, "Thank you, I should go now. I need to get back to my world line."

"You're just a pawn in a much grander plan. Until the New World Order."

I was silent.

"Goodbye."

------

"You mean the evil communists seized Haiti? And then set up the Hispaniola Socialist Christian Theocracy?" Reagan asked as he stared at the intelligence, and CIA Director Casey nodded.

"That's correct, sir. We're hoping the Archbishop will help us get a peace agreement."

"No, I don't need this group of communists. They only create terror and death, gulags and prisons, secret police and communism, poverty and misery, lies and propaganda. The socialist world dominated by the Soviet Union is in an evil and dangerous world of misery and suffering."

"What do you suggest, sir? We're willing to listen to your proposals."

"I suggest that you get rid of this Archbishop."

"What?"

"Get rid of him! Send an assassin to kill him, or have him killed! Just do something, anything!"

"That's an impossible order, sir. The Archbishop is protected by diplomatic immunity."

"Assassin's are hired and trained to kill people like that." Reagan waved his hand and said, "I don't want another socialist regime like Cuba in Latin America, get out."

The CIA Director stood up and stared at Reagan, and said, "Sir, we're trying to help the people of Haiti. If we get rid of the Archbishop, then you're telling us to just give up and let the communists take over? I think we need to choose a side in this conflict. Should we stand by the flag of the USSR and its people? Or should we stand with the flag of freedom? What will our actions mean? I think that we need to think this through."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get rid of him! Now!"

"I'll handle this, sir."

The Director left the room.

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