European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A a i cocaine Clarence Page resident Clinton has not been very candid 1 about what May be the most important element in Haiti a troubled politics cocaine. Haiti a military elite which runs its police department has been linked to the tons of colombian cocaine that flow through Haiti every year on its Way to american streets. Colombian and dominican Republic drug lords reportedly drop it off in Waterproof bags or slip into Remote ports All of which Are guarded by troops be Holden to the a a Kleptocracy that runs the country. Longtime Haiti watchers say interdiction of the cocaine by . Drug enforcement administration agents working in cooperation with haitian author ties improved during the Rule of its elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide then dropped off substantially when Aristide was deposed two years ago by the military a a Kleptocracy of it. Gen. Raoul Cidras. A confidential Dea report recently supplied to rep. John Conyers dmich., who led a congressional delegation to Haiti names alleged drug traffickers it says operate freely while american drug agents stand by helplessly. The deals resident Liaison Tony Greco unable to reach haitian narcotics officials after a tip watched helplessly in May 1991 As a plane dropped Bales of cocaine to waiting boats the report said. Greco whose information had led to the arrest of a haitian army narcotics intelligence officer on drug charges fled the county in september of last year. After receiving a death threat against his family Over a Telephone line at the american embassy. Rep. Charles Rangel d-n.y., who Heads the House drug policy caucus has been quoted in news reports As saying drugs and related Shakedown by Haiti a military elite were among Aristides first tar gets that they were an important Factor in his ouster and that they remain an important Factor in the stub Bowness of Cidras. General accounting office reports also have named a Cidras and police chief it. Col. Michel Francois As allegedly protecting drug deals. But while Dea agents risk their lives in the War to Stop haitian drug traffickers the Agency itself is working hand in hand with their alleged protectors. The Dea provides information to the same haitian military officers who have been accused of Traffick ing the narcotics according to a . Embassy offi. Cial speaking to reporters recently in return for a Promise of anonymity in port a Prince. In the Post cold War world cocaine is a Good bet to replace communism As the most subversive Force threatening american life. A a crack cocaine is the major reason for the upsurge in Street violence that has had kids killing kids fueling Street gang activity and catching Florida tourists in the Cross fire. Cocaine was cited by former president Bush to justify his invasion of Panama and arrest of dictator Manuel Noriega. Much of that panamanian traffic probably has been rerouted through Haiti which lacks such inconveniences to the traffickers As radar. What will we do now maybe that a Why Clinton is so reluctant to talk about Haiti a cocaine. It might mean head have to do something about it. Etta Chicago Tribune playing up one cliche at a time Andy Rooney talking is so much easier than writing most of us talk too much and write too Little. Talking is easy because we string together the same old familiar phrases in a differ. Ent order All Day Long. A in be never heard anyone answer a a not to the question a they keeping you Busy a a it surprises me How often a speaker is introduced As a someone who needs no  the masters of ceremonies apologize so frequently for using the expression that the apology has become part of the cliche. They say a a it a often said of a speaker Tafat he needs no introduction but tonight we have a Man who truly needs no  if the speaker does no to need an introduction the master of ceremonies  waste everyone a time by giving one. A i used to think someone was an intellectual if he said a whatever goes around comes  i no longer think so. A there was a time years ago when i was impressed with a Public speaker who said something a gives More heat than  Eric Sevareid used the phrase in his speeches but i done to think he would anymore. It was Clever once but we re finished with it. A i have an old edition of the Oxford English dictionary that says the word a a cliche a meaning Quot a tired or worn word or expression a is itself a dich6. A the phrase a had sex a with the word a a sex serving As a noun is widely used As a euphemism for the sex act. I never heard it until 20 years ago and it strikes me As being grammatically wrong. The word a a sex refers to the gender characteristics of an individual. Everyone has sex masculine or feminine or something in Between. What the phrase a had sex Means is a had sexual  i guess that a too Long and Clumsy a phrase for an idea that comes up so often. A the new line for a waiter or a waitress who comes to your table to see if you be finished in order to take your plate is a still working on that a a More and More the Cashiers at checkout counters Are saying a fall set a instead of a will that be All a either phrase irritates me. Why would i come to the checkout counter with an armload or a Basket Ful of stuff if that Wasny tall i planned to buy docs anyone say a no. In a going to leave All this Here and go Back and get More a sports interviews arc a great place for cliches. A baseball manager always says a a we re going to play Mem one game at a  a football announcers like to Point out a a he a one of the most underrated linemen in the  it suggests they see things the rest of us done to see. A some people adopt phrases and you associate the people with the words. My Friend Bill Judson used to say a holy moly a a lot. I knew the phrase but i never heard anyone else actually use it. He also said a holy Toledo a a when i tried to explain something to my father that i did no to understand myself he always said a a you re making it Clear As  i Haven to heard those words in 30 years. You done to hear a the stinks on dry ice much either. A cliches serve a purpose sometimes. They provide a Quick Way of conveying an idea we All understand. I think i just used a Good example of what i mean. A serve a purpose is a Handy cliche. A phrase like a tried and True is useful. A he does t mince words gets a Long idea across in a hurry. We can to be too hard on familiar phrases or wed never say anything. Tribune Media service. Andy Rooney is a former stars and stripes reporter. November 14.1993 sunday i 9 Page 9