Security for Haiti

FIRST LADY Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice both traveled to Liberia to mark the inauguration last week of a democratically elected president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who has given that devastated West African country hope for recovery from years of war and anarchy. In a show of support for the United Nations peacekeepers who remain vital to preserving security, two U.S. Navy warships made an appearance off the Liberian coast. Yet, much closer to home -- 600 miles from Florida -- the Bush administration continues to deny critical security support to another failed state, Haiti.

With U.N. help, Haiti is trying to hold its own democratic election to replace the interim government that has been in power for nearly two years. But the vote, scheduled for Feb. 7, already has been postponed four times because of organizational problems and Haiti's mounting anarchy; there's no guarantee it will go forward even now. Much of the countryside and capital continues to be controlled by armed gangs -- some loyal to exiled former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, some to his opponents in a deeply polarized society, and some to drug traffickers and other criminals. The drug traffic, in which Haiti acts as a transshipment point for cocaine on its way from South America to the United States, goes virtually unchecked. Kidnappings occur at the rate of 10 per day.

The Brazilian-led U.N. force of 7,200, made up of troops from Latin America as well as such unlikely friends of Haiti as Jordan and Sri Lanka, has never seriously attempted to restore order or disarm the gunmen. Earlier this month its commander committed suicide. It is expected to provide security for the elections but lacks the manpower, professionalism and logistical support to do so. The danger of violence is great: Among the more than 30 candidates for president are two alleged drug traffickers; an insurgent leader; and a former president, Rene Preval, who is bitterly opposed by the same coalition that forced Mr. Aristide from office.

The United States has been the guarantor of Haiti's security for nearly a century, repeatedly dispatching troops to restore order. Two years ago a Marine force entered the country to escort Mr. Aristide into exile. Yet, though it has endorsed and partially funded the election process, the Bush administration refuses to make even the smallest contribution to security. Last year Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld rejected a proposal to provide a small rapid-reaction force to back up the disarmament of the gangs. Now the Pentagon has rejected a U.N. petition for a temporary supply of helicopters to assist in the elections. Though Ms. Rice and other senior officials have visited Haiti to sing the praises of democracy, the administration is unwilling to commit even five helicopters to such tasks as securing the transport of ballot boxes.

It's true that U.S. military forces are spread thin because of the demands of Iraq and Afghanistan. But the administration's refusal to spare even a handful of helicopters or a few hundred Marines for Haiti makes little sense when instability there is sure to raise the flow of refugees and drugs toward Florida. Haiti has a slim chance to follow Liberia in establishing a legitimate government that can begin to restore order with the help of foreign troops and donors. But if the United States isn't willing to provide military backup in the Caribbean as well as in West Africa, its success is unlikely.