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美国总统办公室1986年2月15日
不久前刚度过新年的里根皱着眉头盯着桌面上的报告，中情局局长凯西询问说：“情报显示，苏联在列宁格勒成立了一个新的合资银行来将日本抛售的美元外汇买进作为苏联外汇储备，我们估计苏联计划准备有7～8亿卢布转换成外汇。”
“那至少是二十亿美元，”里根小声对自己说。“他们将把所有的钱都兑换成黄金，然后尽可能买下所有可以隐藏的东西。”
“我们该怎么办？”
“我们必须阻止他们，”里根说，“但如果不发动战争，我们就没有办法这样做。”
总统接着谈到了美国与苏联的贸易问题。他对最近对苏联的出口下降表示关切，并询问苏联对美国的债务状况。
“这越来越难了。”里根说，“有没有什么能进一步阻止苏联外汇收入的办法？我们不能让日本市场继续把外汇买卖给苏联。”
凯西说：“我们将不得不对此采取一些措施，但不仅仅是日本人。欧洲人和英国人都在公开市场上出售他们的美元。”
“是的。”里根懊恼地说：“可惜，我们促进的广场协议反而让苏联收购了这些外汇。”
“所以这是我们的错，”凯西说。
“不，不一定，”里根回答，“但我们不能让这种情况继续下去。”
“我们该怎么做呢？”
“我们将需要开始对苏联实施经济制裁，”里根说。“我说的不是这里那里的几项制裁。我说的是贸易禁运，甚至是军事打击来阻止他们。我们不能让他们逍遥法外。”
“我们不能因为一群俄罗斯人做一点交易就发动战争。”凯西说:
“如果我们不能用武力阻止他们，”里根说，“那我们就得另找一条路了。”
“好吧，我们就不能再给他们施加一些压力吗？”凯西问道。
“我们需要石油价格进一步下降与打击亲近苏联的国家，没有对外援助的苏联就没有任何的国际贸易。”
凯西问道：“你认为我们能让中国也这么做吗？”
“值得一试。我们没有任何损失。”
“好吧，”凯西说，“我们会设法让中国同意贸易禁运。我们该怎么做？”
“打电话给大使，”里根说，“去听听他的建议。”
“我会打电话给他，”凯西说，然后去拿电话。
“不，我会的，”里根说，“对了，海地叛军与尼加拉瓜政府军怎么样了？”
“不太好。”
“哦？”
“苏联人一直在给他们武器。”
“那不好。”
“不，不好。”
“尼加拉瓜的情况如何？”里根问道，“反对派还有麻烦吗？”
“内战仍在继续，”凯西说，“但战斗对叛军来说很糟糕。”
“尼加拉瓜人很顽固。”里根说：“给尼加拉瓜叛军增加5亿美元援助，我希望奥尔特加政权在一年内终结。”
“我马上就去。”
“在决定是否给予援助时，不要那么匆忙。”里根说：“相反，看看你是否能从他们那里得到让步。”
“是的，先生。”
---
里根随后挂断了中国驻美国大使的电话。
之后，他求助于财政部长霍华德·贝克。
“贝克，”里根说，“我要你给法国和德国大使打电话，让他们会见日本大使。
让他们向日本大使解释，我们不会支持日本政府倾销外汇。法国人和德国人对我们也不太满意，所以一定要安抚他们。
此外，我希望你打电话给世界银行行长，让他打电话给国际货币基金组织和世界卫生组织的负责人，让他们释放他们拥有的首批20亿美元，并告诉他们，如果他们停止与苏联的所有交易，我们将以美元对美元进行匹配。”
“是的，总统先生，”贝克说，“我马上就来。”
“我希望这一切尽快发生，”里根说，“现在，凯西你有什么办法解决海地叛军吗？”
“我们应该强迫小杜瓦利埃下台，并以结束内战与举行民主选举的名义让军政府与叛军停火，并派遣美国军队监督选举与驱逐海地叛军中的古巴顾问。”
“这是一个相当好的解决方案，”里根说，“让联合国同意这个计划。我会让国务院起草一份决议。”
“是的，先生，”贝克说，然后走到电话前开始打电话。
里根签署了执行禁运的行政命令，美国财政部开始积极执行禁运。
------
海地叛军的据点内
一群由解放神学神父组织的叛军聚集在海地的山区和森林里，为他们在即将到来的起义中的角色进行练习和准备。
他们称自己为“神圣联盟”
该组织由几十名核心天主教徒组成，其中许多人是从他们居住的贫民窟附近招募来的。他们来自不同的背景，但他们有一个共同的目标：使他们的国家摆脱暴政，恢复昔日的辉煌。
古巴派来的军事训练顾问掐灭了他吸的烟头，一名年老的神父在海地天主教徒反抗者们说：“我的孩子们，耶稣基督不仅是救世主也是解放者！杜瓦利埃的残暴统治是不仁与野蛮的，许多的兄弟姐妹依靠泥土充饥！基督福音不应该是一个抽象的概念或精神真理，无论是被压迫者还是压迫者，而福音是将所有人从压迫力量中解放出来。福音也不是解放思想的抽象，而是特指现在正在积极反抗被压迫的人，将穷人从富人中解放出来，将所有被压迫者从压迫者中解放出来。拿起武器，为了解放我们与我们的孩子！”
叛军随后被出示了一张地图，并被告知他们将接受苏联的武器和军事训练。牧师接着说：“现在，在我们开始训练之前，我们准备了一篇简短的演讲，向你们所有人发表，回答你们中许多人可能提出的问题。现在的问题是：你们会团结起来解放你们的国家和人民，还是继续支离破碎，反对这些崇高理想？我这样问是因为我亲自派你们去接受苏联支持下的武器训练。如果你不团结，我就不派你去。我们可以选择什么都不做，把你们国家的命运交给法国人和美国人，他们对你们的国家几乎不尊重。然而，如果你选择起义，你将得到苏联的全力支持。你怎么说？你会联合起来反抗吗？还是保持分离并反对这条道路？”
对此，叛军以响亮的“是！我们将团结起来！我们不会放弃我们的国家！我们不会放弃自由的道路！我们不会放弃救世主基督的正义事业！我们将团结起来，我们将走向自由！我们将征服压迫者的首都，解放我们的国家！赞美上帝和神圣的苏联！\"
牧师接着说：“孩子们，演讲结束了。现在是开始训练的时候了。”
然后将该组分成更小的子组，然后开始培训。
---
海地首都太子港
政府军向叛军广播了杜瓦利埃逃亡的消息，并保证举行民主选举与要求停火。
叛军很快作出回应，呼吁结束战争和停火，并释放所有政治犯。
政府和叛军迄今未能实现其目标。
亨利·南菲将军成立“全国执政委员会”实行军事政府统治，声明的目的是恢复法律和秩序，但批评者认为这是防止全面起义的临时措施。
苏联军事顾问伊万诺维奇和让·贝特朗·阿里斯蒂德大主教在海地停火问题产生分岐。大主教赞成停火，而苏联则表示必须完全停止战斗，但停火的可能性并没有完全排除。
“我们不能停止战斗！美国所主导的选举是虚假的选举，这只会导致杜瓦利埃部下那些垄断资本的人通过贿选垄断选举。我们必须继续武力革命来建立一个新政权。”伊万诺维奇在办公室盯着阿里斯蒂德大主教说。
据说南菲将军正在考虑苏联的要求和大主教的建议。
无论如何，双方都在为战争做准备。
---
太子港
这座城市一片混乱。人们惊慌失措。形势严峻。
该市的医院、诊所和其他医疗设施已被挤占。病人死于容易治疗的疾病。
太子港机场是一个燃烧的残骸，预计在两年后的下一次总统选举之前不会再次全面投入运营。
港口挤满了死难者，霍乱正在蔓延。街道两旁都是死人，到处都是死亡的恶臭。
叛军在太子港建立了一个滩头阵地。海地共和国国民军正在夺回该市的街道。
随着战斗的继续，紧张局势加剧。双方都声称取得了一场又一场的胜利。
血腥的一个月后，叛军重新夺回了这座城市。南菲将军和他的盟军撤退到他们的山区堡垒，但战斗仍在山区继续。
叛军要求停火，政府拒绝了。
这是一个僵局。
---
3月7日
阿里斯蒂德大主教与苏联顾问伊万诺维奇乘坐装甲车进入首都，两人下车进入总统府邸。这里几乎是一片废墟，远处野外到处是饥饿的民众们。
“美国要求停火并与南菲将军的军政府举行选举，同时，美军海军陆战队进入了太子港。”情报人员向伊万诺维奇报告，阿里斯蒂德大主教看向伊万诺维奇说：“我们应该停火与军政府举行选举。”
“选举？城市之外都是要依靠泥土充饥的平民还有劫匪。这时候与军政府举行选举？选举能恢复经济生产吗？”伊万诺维奇站在桌边，讽刺说。
“那你有什么建议？”
“成立新的基督教社会主义海地政府，消灭军政府并进行经济建设与改革。”
“如果你是认真的，那么你必须建立停火协议，并与美国进行谈判。否则就是内战和大屠杀。”
“那些美国海军陆战队不与恐怖分子谈判。”伊万诺维奇双手交叉说：“为什么要在乎美国？在海地人民饥饿到吃泥土时，谁来拯救了他们？是我们！这世界从来没有公正与人权，没有人给巴勒斯坦人与其他人公正！你应该建立一个崭新的海地基督教社会主义神权政府，而不是在乎美国帝国主义者。”
“我支持内战，以便粉碎恐怖分子。军政府将被一个新政府取代，一个不会恐吓人民的政府。南菲将军，你说他是个通情达理的人？”
“他是个懦夫，是美国的傀儡。我和美国人打了20年仗。我看到了他们的力量。他只是一个愿意牺牲无辜来赢得一群富有剥削者青睐的人。”
“苏联希望结束这场战争，”阿里斯蒂德大主教说，“但是，美国似乎不会同意。”
“那又怎样？海地还能更糟糕吗？阿里斯蒂德大主教，你必须对海地与基督耶稣负责。海地新的国名应该叫什么？”
“这不是我来决定的。上帝会审判的。”
“什么？你不能那样做！你是主教！你应该领导上帝的羊群！”
“我可以从人的灵魂中判断罪。不是看他们叫一个地方的名字，而是看他们给它起的名字。你认为这个地方应该叫什么名字？”
“海地。这是一个法语单词。它不应该被称为上帝的爱吗？”
大主教对年轻人微笑着说：“不，应该叫地狱。”
“嗯，新国家叫伊斯帕尼奥拉社会主义基督神权国？”
“如果你愿意。或者你可以继续使用海地给它起的名字。”
寂静无声。
“海地”这个名字有一定的含义。
伊万诺维奇和大主教来回走了几分钟。
大主教做了几个和解的手势。“那就这样吧。上帝保佑我。”
伊万诺维奇看着大主教说：“你应该去和另一方谈谈。我们需要结束这场冲突，而不是延长它。”
“我会为你祈祷，我的朋友。”大主教离开了房间。
“美国人，他们不会屈服，”伊万诺维奇说。“我们必须继续战斗。这是一场宗教战争，世界将以我们事业的公正性来评判我们。”
“这里有什么利害关系？”我问。
“海地人民的自由，国家的未来。”
“你是说种族灭绝？”我问。“军事政变？傀儡政府？”
“当然不是。海地的一个新时代。一个真正民主的时代，一个将穷人带入社会的基督教民主。”
我收起悲伤盯着他说：“谢谢，我该走了。我需要回到我的世界线。”
“在世界新秩序建立之前，你只是一个更宏大计划中的一个棋子。”
我沉默了。
“再见。”
------
“你的意思是邪恶的共产主义者夺取了海地？然后成立了伊斯帕尼奥拉社会主义基督神权国？”里根盯着情报问，中情局局长凯西点点头。
“是的，先生。我们希望大主教能帮助我们达成和平协议。”
“不，我不需要这群共产主义者。他们只会制造恐怖与死亡，古拉格与监狱，秘密警察与共产主义，贫困与苦难，谎言与宣传。苏联所主导所主导的社会主义世界在一个充满不幸和苦难的邪恶和危险的世界。”
“先生，您有什么建议？我们愿意听取您的建议。”
“我建议你除掉这个大主教。”
“什么？”
“除掉他！派一个刺客去杀他，或者让人杀了他！做点什么，随便做什么！”
“这是不可能的命令，先生。大主教受到外交豁免权的保护。”
“杀手被雇佣和训练来杀死这样的人。”里根摆摆手说：“我不希望拉丁美洲再出现古巴这样的社会主义政权，出去。”
中情局局长站起来盯着里根说，“先生，我们正在努力帮助海地人民。如果我们除掉大主教，那么你是在告诉我们放弃，让共产党接管？我认为我们需要在这场冲突中选择一方。我们应该站在苏联及其人民的旗帜下吗？还是我们应该站在自由的旗帜下？我们的行动意味着什么？我认为我们需要仔细考虑。”
“那么，你还在等什么呢？摆脱他！现在\"
“我会处理的，先生。”
局长离开了房间。
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U.S. Office of the President February 15, 1986
Reagan, who had spent New Year\u0027s 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\u0027s at least to twe billion dollars,\" Reagan whispered to himself. \"They\u0027re 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\u0027s 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\u0027t let the Japanese market continue to trade foreign currency to the Soviet Union.\"
\"We\u0027re going to have to do something about it,\" Casey said, \"but it\u0027s 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\u0027s our fault,\" Casey said.
\"No, not necessarily,\" Reagan replied, \"But we can\u0027t let this continue.\"
\"How do we go about doing that?\"
\"We\u0027re going to need to start slapping economic sanctions on the USSR,\" Reagan said. \"I\u0027m not talking about a few sanctions here and there. I\u0027m talking about a trade embargo, or even a military attack to stop them. We can\u0027t let them get away with this.\"
\"We can\u0027t start a war over a bunch of Russians trading a little money,\" Casey said.
\"If we can\u0027t stop them with military force,\" Reagan said, \"then we\u0027ll have to find another way.\"
\"Well, can\u0027t 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\u0027s worth a try. We\u0027ve got nothing to lose by trying.\"
\"All right,\" Casey said, \"We\u0027ll 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\u0027ll call him,\" Casey said, and went to get the phone.
\"No, I\u0027ll 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\u0027s not good.\"
\"No, it\u0027s not good.\"
\"What\u0027s the situation in Nicaragua?\" Reagan asked, \"Any more trouble with the Contras?\"
\"The civil war continues,\" Casey said, \"but the fighting\u0027s 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\u0027ll get right on that.\"
\"And don\u0027t 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\u0027t 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\u0027ll 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\u0027s a pretty good solution,\" Reagan said, \"Get the U.N. to go along with that plan. I\u0027ll 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\u0027re 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\u0027re 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\u0027s 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\u0027s capital, Port-au-Prince
Government forces broadcast the news of Duvalier\u0027s 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\u0027s 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\u0027s demands and the Archbishop\u0027s 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\u0027s 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\u0027s 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\u0027s a stalemate.
---
\"The U.S. has asked for a ceasefire and an election with General Nanfi\u0027s 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\u0027s a coward and a puppet of the United States. I\u0027ve fought the Americans for 20 years. I\u0027ve seen their power. He\u0027s just a man who\u0027s 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\u0027s country be called?\"
\"It\u0027s not for me to decide. God will judge that.\"
\"What? You can\u0027t do that! You\u0027re a bishop! You\u0027re 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\u0027s a French word. Shouldn\u0027t it be called God\u0027s 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\u0027ll pray for you, my friend.\" The Archbishop left the room.
\"The Americans, they\u0027re not going to bend,\" Ivanovich said. \"We\u0027ll have to continue the fight. It\u0027s a religious war, and the world will judge us by the justness of our cause.\"
\"What\u0027s 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\u0027re 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\u0027s correct, sir. We\u0027re hoping the Archbishop will help us get a peace agreement.\"
\"No, I don\u0027t 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\u0027re 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\u0027s an impossible order, sir. The Archbishop is protected by diplomatic immunity.\"
\"Assassin\u0027s are hired and trained to kill people like that.\" Reagan waved his hand and said, \"I don\u0027t want another socialist regime like Cuba in Latin America, get out.\"
The CIA Director stood up and stared at Reagan, and said, \"Sir, we\u0027re trying to help the people of Haiti. If we get rid of the Archbishop, then you\u0027re 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\u0027ll handle this, sir.\"
The Director left the room.