U.S. to send military team to Haiti

Feb 19, 2004 | The Bush administration said Thursday it would send a military team to Haiti to assess the security of the U.S. Embassy there, but stressed that it is still looking for a political solution to the bloody uprising against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The Pentagon announcement that a small number of military personnel was being sent to Haiti came as Aristide declared he was "ready to give my life'' to defend Haiti, indicating he was not prepared to give up power.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States was reluctant to send military personnel to Haiti to help resolve the bloody uprising against Aristide. At the Pentagon, spokesman Lawrence DiRita told reporters that U.S. Ambassador James Foley had requested the military team.

The military team is expected to consist of three or four experts from U.S. Southern Command, the military command with authority over the Caribbean, Pentagon spokesman Di Rita told reporters at a press conference.

DiRita said the team will assess threats to the U.S. Embassy and its personnel.

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