Quotation of the day

Interesting story in the Times today about how much we've screwed up Haiti, which features one of the most flabbergasting lies I've ever seen in print. In brief, former ambassador to Haiti Brian Dean Curran says the Bush White House actively supported a conservative group, the International Republican Institute, which somehow or other got taxpayer money, to actively go against official U.S. policy in Haiti. It's truly a bizarre story.

Anyway, Curran loudly and repeatedly complained to his superiors, but got no support. As IRI successfully worked to oust Aristide, Haiti's president, the country descended into chaos. The Times asked Curran's former boss, Otto Reich, for comment:

"He [Curran] never expressed any problems with [IRI leader] Stanley Lucas to me, and I was his boss," Mr. Reich said. Asked why his name showed up on cables as having received Mr. Curran's complaints, and why Mr. Curran's cables detailed discussions with him, Mr. Reich replied: "I have absolutely no recollection of that. I'm not questioning it, I just have no recollection of that."

Mr. Reich went on to say that he had no idea what year it was or where he lived, and had trouble tying his shoes. He added that he could in no way to tell the difference between his ass and his elbow. He concluded the interview by wandering out into traffic without looking.

Ugh. We can do better, people. We really can.