There was a plane over Tivoli, so what?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

The shallow brouhaha over the United States surveillance plane which assisted us when we had to fight back drug thugs last year is much ado about nothing.

Had we not been in the throes of an election campaign, it would not even have made the front pages. But everything is fodder now for one or the other of the political parties, especially the Opposition which is really being hypocritical.

We forget already so soon the terrifying scenes of police stations burning and thugs extending their barricades outwards from Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, as if they were about to stage a coup and take over the capital city. Imagine criminals running our country!

There are two facts that every thinking Jamaican man, woman and child will appreciate.

First, the Jamaican people were happy to be rid of the criminals who massed in Tivoli Gardens to prevent Christopher 'Dudus' Coke from being arrested and extradited to face gun and drug charges in the United States.

In fact, it is not hard to see that had the gunmen been more equipped and had our security forces not received surveillance help, many more than the reported 73 persons would have been killed.

Second, the US is not going to sit back and allow terrorist gunmen to take over a country virtually on its borders, especially in this post-9/11 world.

We would be living in a fool's paradise if we thought that the notion of sovereignty is going to mean anything to the US where there is even the remotest threat to its national security.

Whether we had invited them or accepted an offer of assistance or not, Washington would have had a vested interest in what was going on here in May 2010, and that is even without factoring in their request for the extradition of Coke that triggered the entire episode.

Furthermore, the US is an ally, and allies come to the assistance of friends when it is necessary. We are gratified to know that we have such friends that we can call on in times of disaster, man-made or natural.

The People's National Party (PNP) understands this very well. That is why then National Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips signed that controversial Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) under which evidence was found to convict Coke.

We don't know why National Security Minister Dwight Nelson denied the presence of the plane, given the gravity of the situation last year. It was a sensible move to accept that kind of assistance.

Of course, we are aware that the military has a culture of secrecy when it comes to matters of security, and it is conceivable that Mr Nelson did not know the details of the operation. We note, for example, that he might not have known that the extradition papers had arrived for Coke had then Police Commissioner Hardley Lewin not told him.

But as far as the secrecy of the military is concerned, we wouldn't want it any other way, wherever and whenever our national safety is at stake.

The childish talk about the US unearthing all sorts of information about Jamaicans is akin to talk about Russian ships in the harbour.

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COMMENTS (32)

4/25/2012

This blog needs to be advertised btteer! i love the Prime Minister who is presiding over the non-extradition of “Dudus” and the non-resignation of Joe Hibbert .the problem is that criminal enterprise and state business seem to be inextricably intertwined. Until a wholesale attack is made on this situation, taking out the occasional don will achieve little. this was what Lewin was going on about the other day.I found your listing of events and eventualities (in this post and the previous one), underlying the surface statements of the media and politicians very revealing. There is a kind of logic to a lot of what Bunny Wailer was saying a West Kingston logic that this society needs to take seriously instead of dismissing out of hand. Its a local logic that has allowed people to unite across the yawning political divide and organize their affairs to their satisfaction in the face of a morally superior state that has offered them very little.It's a reality that needs to be dealt with and i'm not sure any of the existing politicians have what it takes to do this

4/20/2012

This blog needs to be advertised bteetr! i love the Prime Minister who is presiding over the non-extradition of “Dudus” and the non-resignation of Joe Hibbert .the problem is that criminal enterprise and state business seem to be inextricably intertwined. Until a wholesale attack is made on this situation, taking out the occasional don will achieve little. this was what Lewin was going on about the other day.I found your listing of events and eventualities (in this post and the previous one), underlying the surface statements of the media and politicians very revealing. There is a kind of logic to a lot of what Bunny Wailer was saying a West Kingston logic that this society needs to take seriously instead of dismissing out of hand. Its a local logic that has allowed people to unite across the yawning political divide and organize their affairs to their satisfaction in the face of a morally superior state that has offered them very little.It's a reality that needs to be dealt with and i'm not sure any of the existing politicians have what it takes to do this

Kas An
12/11/2011

Yes, the military can and should have their secrets but this issue went beyond the drone plane itself and was more directed at the bareface lie of the politicians. That is what people are sick off: being spoken to like we have no sense. It needs to end.

N Manley Blythe
12/11/2011

Well Editor, if you can trivialise the obvious deception on the part of the Minister of National Security and seek to deflect focus from lies to "...plane, so what?", then what hope is there for our country? I find it absurd that you would focus on the plane and not on the lies!
I wanted a break from PNP marginal growth but now it is looking like marginal growth is better than LIE after LIE after LIE. No credibility = no support for Vision 2030.
Politicians must go to prison! Editorial, please!

Wa Tch
12/11/2011

Mr. Editor if you truly wish to see the return of the JLP you have got to do better than this. This is unadulterated drivel and is further confirmation that JLP and their supporters are intellectually deficient. We are indeed grateful for the US support but the consistent denials is the issue and such goes to trust, credibility and transparency. If the Min wanted to claim secrecy based on Nat'l Security he should have said so not deny and then have the PM retract when exposed by the media. CHO!

Farruk BMA
12/11/2011

Well, well, well. An anti-JLP cartoon. My old friend Clovis I did not know you had it in you. How did this one slip past the censors? Observer trying for impartiality? Too little, too late.

Leon Sutherland
12/11/2011

Mr. Editor, you have missed the point in this matter. Nobody was being critical of the help from the USA. The real problem was with the denial by Mr. Nelson that this was the case.
I, however, have to be in sympathy with Mr. Nelson. If he was kept out of the loop about the operation in TG, even up to this point, it indicates the low level of trust that the hierarchy of the security forces had in him.
He should have done the honourable thing and resigned after the PM's press conference.

John Smith
12/11/2011

Clovis cartoons are starting to make more sense than Observer editorials. I think it would display some wisdom to just put a big Clovis cartoon in the Editorial section. It would certainly be more coherent and informative.

Nejeeper KNG
12/11/2011

We need more help. Does the average Jamaican knows the role that our own Jamaicans play in the US military? We are Officers running commands; the US is not our enemy the gangs in JA are the biggest threat (enemy of the state) to our future. Thank you America for your support could you help us with Spanish Town?

David Armstrong
12/11/2011

I disagree with this editorial and find it shallow and contradictory. The contradiction comes from the second paragraph: "Had we not been in the throes of an election campaign, it would not even have made the front pages." If this is the case why mke this story an editorial? The headline and the comment that this story is much ado about nothing suggests that this should not even be an editorial. This is a big deal and the JA people need to be told about these things in a timely fshion.

howie J
12/11/2011

None of this plane issue had to happen. No PNP thug was untouchable under the PNP administration. Zekes, the PNP strong man was sent to prison while Peter Phillips was security Minister. They got rid of their own PNP thugs without the support of the U.S. However, they were obstructed at every step of the way when they made attempts to get Dudus.
The hypocrites in this matter are the media and the JLP leadership and their support for their thugs.
Put Jamaica first!

Mahoney Campbell
12/11/2011

We as a nation have a lot to learn, about national security. One thing you do bring in foreign troops over you country air space in the name of surveillance the minister of National security should be fired forthwith you don’t do that. Am I the only one notice how most of these ministers have GREEN-CARD and never live in the US, not even for six month? Jamaica Land we Love! We have been sell out.

Mark Forbes
12/11/2011

There are 2 types of die-hards. Those that are proud of the fact and those that are ashamed of being one. The proud ones wear it on their chest all the time. The shameful ones maintain a veneer of impartiality but is forced in election season to drop all pretense. The Observer has dropped all pretense.
The PNP's position is too clear for this misrepresentation of it not to be intentional. Mr Editor, the question post-press conf. is: Why is the Min. still out of the loop? Is he a figurehead?

MouthaMassy Dotcom
12/11/2011

This editorial misses the point, simply there should have been full disclosure by the security minister when he was asked about the plane. Also, the fact that U.S. sent a spy plane to assist is a big deal because it implicates the U.S. in the death of any innocent person in Tivoli who were killed as a result of the incursion. The raid on Tivoli to find Dudus was improperly planned and executed as the mission failed & left too many dead. The U.S. Forces have hunted many w/o mass deaths (I.e. OBL)

Mark Forbes
12/11/2011

I firmly believe a free press is one that is free to be biased. But Mr Editor, this is not bias. This is not spin. The PNP have stated categorically that the presence of the plane is not an issue. Why are you pretending as if it is? There is simply no statement that could be spun to infer this.
People are upset because the Govt. is taking them for idiots, the exact same thing you are doing here. Of course, an idiot can't be taken for one, which is why some are agreeing with the editorial.

blog dis
12/11/2011

If its no big deal then why deny it so vehemently? we can apreciate that certain national defense issues as the Tivoli incident was are under the purview of the JDF then say so.This JLP Admin is incredibly clumsy and a PR nightmare and it is going to cost them the election in a country where Anancy is afolk hero and the populace prefer ginalship over lyad and style over substance .SMH

Born Yah Jamaica
12/11/2011

I for one maintain that as long as the "assistance" was done in accordance with Jamaican laws, then I have no problem if not all members of the political directorate was in the loop. Secrecy was the essence of the entire operation and if I were in the high command of the security forces neither the pols nor my members would know. Too often they leak info to criminals.
Whether MNS knew or not I cant say, I would be happier if he didnt.
Refreshing to see the PM own up however. What now?

Al Vanawic
12/11/2011

Observer, it must be election time for you to be resorting to this type of editorial. The issue is not whether there was a plane in Tivoli Garden, we all love American planes. The issue is WHY LIE ABOUT IT.

howie J
12/11/2011

Come on now Editor, you really don’t have an argument here. This is a good story for any party to use against another party especially since the only dons the PNP couldn’t touch when Peter Philips was security Minister was the JLP thugs.
The JLP was backed into a corner and had no choice. They didn’t want their strongman to go.
So let me ask you Editor was the raid on Tivoli in 1997(?) and 2001 due to politics or a genuine attempt by PJ to get the JLP thugs?
Put Jamaica first!
Peter Phillips for Prime Minister.

fall mouth
12/11/2011

@JR; so the Opposition is engaged in gutter politics when they ask questions of the govt. and you see it as dividing and ruling? Interesting!
The country might still be waiting to hear from the PNP of their plans but don't you think the ruling party has an obligation to tell us of theirs also. Do you know THEIR plans; why not tell us, starting with the IMF? @WW, a govt speaking the truth is of the utmost importance to a nation. How else will we line up behind them for achieving goals? And don’t you think that telling lies is part of the corruption process?

0o k
12/11/2011

So a lot of things.....Like interference and or directing our Local Law Enforcement from the USA Embassy. It is wrong just like IMF speaking out of turn........but the plane itself is the least as I have explained.
It is clear that one or more branches of our Military and/or Constabulary has been co-opted (secretly?), to carry out activities for foreign entities. This is dangerous.
Look no further than USA Fast And Furious program and consequences of it on USA and Mexican Law Enforcement.

Rudy Simons
12/11/2011

Mr Editor
You have just missed the point or are you so willing to blindly push the issue aside. There is nothing wrong with the help from USA. What was wrong was his categorical denying and outright lies. I cannot believe an operation involving the JDF and the police takes place the the Minister of National Security is unaware.
The only positive that has come out of this blunder isa that at least the PM had the strength to come out and correct this unlike is predecessor Bruce

Paul Gentles
12/11/2011

Great title - So what? all the more graver the lie told by the MNS - what was the aim of the lie, why lie?
If the govt is willing to lie over such trivial accounts how then can they be seen as credible and worthy of any trust?
Only in the face of uncontroversible evidence do we get the truth from this lot - they then as now back pedal.
Dudus - bruce later apologised
JDIP - Holness took over
Plane in the sky - Holness corrects MNS
what next?
Or will "so what? be the order of the day?

James Bond
12/11/2011

There was a plane over Tivoli, so what? how did Dudus escaped the dragnet with the vast numbers of security personnels on the ground and the eye in the sky. I am sure there must be some evidence of Dudus leaving Tivoli assisted by corrupt officials or corrupt members of the security forces.

John Christian
12/11/2011

Well said Observer...these Braying Neophites seem to be lacking in mental content..where do they get this energy..to be all about nothing.???

Joe Robinson
12/11/2011

Great article, the PNP. knows better than what they are saying and doing. They are just a bunch of Hypocrites, this is the kind of politics Jamaicans are tiered of, the divide and rule game. If the P.N.P. loose this election they can only blame themselves for their own stupidity and the gutter politics they still hold on to. Jamaicans are still awaiting to hear from them the plans they have for the country. Instead they keep wallowing in the mud slinging game.

ghost rider
12/11/2011

"Certainly the majority of the people of this country supported the Tivoli incursion, if not the stupid delays and half-truths which led to it, and those same people would have overwhelmingly supported the assistance from the Americans. So, why hide the marbles?"
The above quote in today's Observer from columnist Mark Wignall in his article "Dwight Nelson should pack his bags and go," adequately answers your concerns Mr. Editor.

Will Will
12/11/2011

If help was given in a positive way, then why make a mountain out of a mole hill? As expressed by the editorial, this is much ado about nothing. I do think our dear Minister should have been privy to the knowledge he denied. However, I do not think the nation was harmed in any way, so let's move on to the more pressing issues such as corruption that are of utmost importance to the nation.

fall mouth
12/11/2011

Aren’t you getting away from substance here Mr. Editor? I don’t think that a plane over T.G. was what sparked debate. The Opposition asked a simple question in light of an article in the NY and was lied to by the govt. Are you saying that lies told by a government to its people are no big thing? You go on about terrifying scenes at T/G and sovereignty but these have nothing to do with the matter. I think the majority of people just wanted to know what happened. So why lie, or is this a culture of this government? Like you said, we don't know why Dwight Nelson denied the presence of the plane, given the gravity of the situation last year/ Doesn’t everything revolve around this and shouldn’t we know?

wanda woeman
12/11/2011

If the deployment of a U.S. aircraft is not a big thing then, why did the Minister deny it? Nobody is saying the plane should not be there. What I am on about is that the operations were categorically denied by the Minister.. THAT IS THE GRAVAMEN OF THE MATTER. He said further that his checks with the military had shown that this was not so. If the New Yorker article was not imminent, then the denials would have continued. You are setting up straw men and knocking them down. Observer we are not fools, Sir. When the minister was asked he should have said exactly what your caption says: “THERE WAS A PLANE OVER TIVOLI, SO WHAT?”

Robert Ranger
12/11/2011

You could`nt have said it better.......Mr/Ms Editor..

SHAWN MCGREGOR
12/11/2011

Poor editorial. You want me to believe that the US must send troops to help us fight crime? Am I to believe that our JDF and JCF are redundant? What message are we sending to criminals? That they are bigger than the JDF and JCF together, so much so that we had to call for backup? It was neither necessary nor effective. And to think they Killed all of 73+ people? come on. Then again, its not even the plane that matters here, it's the perpetual lying. Can you focus on that please Mr/Ms. Editor ??

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There was a plane over Tivoli, so what?