The Superman Complex: With Haiti Aid, Even a Superpower Can’t Move Mountains
On one hand, there are real physical limits that people don’t take into account. The nearly total destruction of Port-au-Prince included the control tower and the refueling facilities at the airport, as well as all the island’s electrical supplies. A functioning small island airport was turned into dark, rubble-strewn, uncertain runways. The port, with its cargo facilities, cranes, docks, and warehouses, was apparently even worse: docks and cranes are now tangled wreckage — some of it underwater waiting to rip out the bottom of an unwary ship.
Still, at sunrise, the Navy had a reconnaissance P-3 over the port, and the Coast Guard was near the harbor. But while rescuers and supplies were on their way, it was hard to land them. The airport went into operation fairly soon, but by midday flights had to be redirected to the Dominican Republic or simply not allowed to leave for Haiti at all. U.S. ships were on their way, but even the fastest naval ships only do about 45 miles an hour. Ships in port at Guantanamo Bay are 15 hours from Port-au-Prince. Since they have to go around both Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, ships from San Juan are more like 30 hours away. Ships in the U.S. are many days away.
On the other hand, politics has indeed slowed relief. The U.S. didn’t want to appear to be moving in to occupy Haiti, a trick that hadn’t worked well in 1994. The UN, through the UN Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH), acted with its usual asininity — there were immediate problems as the U.S. distributed all the supplies they’d brought and the UN refused to release more, apparently not wanting the U.S. to get the credit. The U.S. deferred to the UN rather than become an occupying force, the UN deferred to the Haitian government, and the Haitian government was largely nowhere to be found.
This kind of relief mission is a chess game. You can’t fly supplies in unless there is an airport to receive them, and you can’t ship them in until the port is in operation, unless there are special ships and equipment brought in — and those tend to be slow ships and come from far away. Currently the Navy thinks major relief ships will arrive by January 21.
The lesson of all this is simple, if painful. Good intentions and compassion don’t trump physical reality, and no matter how urgent the need might be, even a superpower can’t change that.
very timely and concise report. thank you Charlie Martin.
it is unfortunate that the UN is as much a hindrance in relief as it is with peace keeping and most everything else it does.
..truly unfortunate is the present administration in the White House and how this too is a political football.
The US will be criticized no matter what, whether it does something or doesn’t. Too little relief, too late, too poorly distributed, too much of the wrong kind of relief, etc etc etc ..
Haiti is a dysfunctional mudpit. That needs to be clarified when discussing the efficiency of distribution.
In other words, we could do it if the other bitching prima donnas would just get out of the way, but they don’t and we don’t dare hurt their feeling, so Hatians can just die.
Why does America even bother?
I’m not snarking at this article, I’m snarking at the world.
My suggestion is that we should send out a sign up list – in advance – to all the nations of the earth. [IN CASE OF DISASTER, we DO/ DO NOT welcome the USA to come and do whatever it takes to save our bacon.] Then we should respond ( or not respond) accordingly.
And that idiot Chavez still accuses us of occupying Haiti anyway.
The political reticence in “occupying” the airport just delayed getting aid flowing and, in the end, the US had to take over. Still, I’m proud of all the US does and tries to do.
But the difficulties laid out don’t explain why Israel has managed to setup a functioning field hospital in Haiti, while neither the US nor anyone else has managed to. It’s of course partly a matter of hard fought experience in this business. When the US embassy in Kenya was bombed by al’ Qaida in 1998, the first foreign emergency rescue team on site was Israel’s.
“But the difficulties laid out don’t explain why Israel has managed to setup a functioning field hospital in Haiti”
A major reason is that Israel is not hindered by affirmative action polices which guarantee the hiring and promotion of second-rate people. The 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Griggs vs. Duke Power, regretfully remains the law of the land. Some people reading my comments might wonder if I am losing my mind. What in hell do our affirmative action policies have to do with rescuing victims in Haiti? The problem is that incompetent employees and managers have become a major problem in the last four decades. We take incompetence for granted. This often proves tragic when emergency situations occur.
Well here we go again. Opening up our hearts and treasury to another world disaster. Hatti?? Haven’t we been there before. Why are we going there again? Should not the French be going instead of us? It was their colony not ours.
I am not indiferrent to human suffering but neither am I indifferent to the slurs and outrageous insults from other world leaders. Most of the economic an military aid will again come from the US. And whatever we do it won’t be enough and any problems will be our fault.
Unless we install a government under our control nothing will change there. The ruling rich will again gain control and siphon off most of the humanitarian aid. We should do everyhting we can to save lives but long term gains for Hatti will not happen until democracy is imposed.
“Unless we install a government under our control nothing will change there.”
That is most likely true. Haiti needs colonialism. What can I tell you? The country also requires the conversion of its countless citizens away from the fatalistic and anti-intellectual beliefs of voodooism. How soon can we find Baptist ministers, Orthodox rabbis, Mormon missionaries to send to Haiti? Heck, even Jehovah Witnesses might be a major improvement. At this moment in time, we should only help the Haitians with their immediate needs. Providing them with further financial help might be similar to giving the wino sleeping on the street a twenty-dollar bill.
The world can take a hike with their crticism since most of the world sits back again and watches the US military get things done. We will be a target one way or another. However we should just tell these idiot UN meddlers and others, that in the event of a catastrophe we will put the people who were hurt first not the feelings of the local government, not the feelings of leftists EU dip shits or anyone else. Just get our of our way. These people are more than worthless. The people of Haiti need help now sans payoffs to these scum bags.
Now as to accounting. Lets do a final tally when this is done of who gave what to whom how about it. I bet CUBA Michael Moores favorite enlightened country gives a big fat ZERO as does Venezuala and most of the other commies including Russia and China. As to the fat cat Euorpeans how much money do their people give? Another big fat zero. Why? Because they expect teh EU to do the giving. This is how they show their superiority. Don’t see any other aircraft carriers near by or any other major relief effort with a USA flag on it.
Any other questions about the heart of America?
Tommy Gunn
Most of the problems related to salvage and rescue in Haiti lie squarely with its government, present and past. Most of us, rightly, cannot comprehend a modern nation that has: No public schools. No public transportation system. No public health system. No welfare system. Vast neighborhoods without underground sewage systems. No zoning codes. No construction standardss. Police forces that are simply organized thuggeries. No infrastructure. No thriving entrepreneurial class, with fleets of trucks or modern construction and earth-moving equipment. A deliberately primitive and backward ruling class.
Class distinctions based on racial difference – those with European blood (creoles) are the professional and mercantile ruling class – those who are all black are openly regarded as “peasants”. This is as true today as it was 200 years ago, wit Toussaint, Petion and Cristophe. Haitian descendants of slaves live back in its eastern mountains in a manner unchanged since the 17th century. It is worse than most African nations.
Haiti remains locked in feudal despotism, with an unbroken succession of brutally uncaring, uncompassionate Presidencies, each bent on extracting as much personal wealth as possible during the short span they know they will have before they are replaced.
Clear away the rubble and there will be nothing left worth restoring or rebuilding – not even the cathedral, whose wonderful murals will have been destroyed. But the evil government and its murderous thugs will make every effort to grasp control and divert every possible gourd into their French bank accounts. Neither the U.S. nor any other nation wants to take over the governing of Haiti. The Creoles don’t want anyone to take it over, so they can bleed it dry once again.
We are stuck, not with a one or two or ten year rebuilding job, but with what can be done to break a small nation with pitiful resources out of the permanent thrall of primitive despots posing as modern politicians.
Have to agree with number 2 toady and most all the others on this one.
It is very, very difficult to coordinate a comprehensive when there is no system available to do it. First, the system will have to be re-invented and/or created.
It takes time. I know some do not have time, but its impossible to snap your fingers or click your heals on this one. And the french and that clown chavez should be ashamed for critisizing America. At least America is there..”leading” and doing something instead of spouting, whining and dreaming of doing something….but that is what most other “jealous” third world countries do… just bellyache and dream…
Same as it ever was.
I heard an apt comment yesterday morning. I can’t remember who the interviewer was talking to, but when asked about the problem of providing clean water he answered “we’ve been trying to get clean water to haiti for 20 years – now we’re trying to do it in an hour”. I thought that was a nice answer. Haiti is a country with obvious problems. If it didn’t have those problems, maybe things might be running more smoothly now. There are real security problems – the same guy explained how most of his aid workers had to be in secure zones by 6PM, they didn’t consider it safe to work at night and there were actual “no go” zones in the capital. I can provide a link to the interview if anyone’s interested.
Journalists on the ground pointing out the problems is fine by me. That’s what journalists are for. If nobody’s watching, then nobody will ask the questions that allow us to know if our systems work. Everyone has an interest in our aid being used effectively – just because it’s a crisis doesn’t mean we should be happy with a shambles, particularly if it’s a shambles that might cost lives. That’s not a reflection on the people providing the aid – it’s a question of the systems we use to manage it, which can pretty much always be improved.
Meanwhile, there will be bozos who try to score cheap points from the sidelines. Sometimes they’re opposition political parties, sometimes they’re miscreant national leaders with a chip on their shoulder. I wouldn’t worry too much about them. When people are back in warm beds and the rubble is cleaned away, those people will remember who it was who helped and who just mouthed off.
And a response to that nut, rush limbaugh – yes, this might be a “made to order” opportunity for obama. But it’s also a made to order opportunity for america. Stop bitching. Don’t squint at a chance to unquestionably be the good guy.
Let’s don’t forget that while foreign media may critcize, the US media will not. Because they favor America? Um, no – because they favor the current President’s political party, and no coverage that could be interpreted as questioning his perfect performance can be allowed.
“The country also requires the conversion of its countless citizens away from the fatalistic and anti-intellectual beliefs of voodooism. How soon can we find Baptist ministers, Orthodox rabbis, Mormon missionaries to send to Haiti?”
I’m not sure how replacing one form of anti-intellectualism with snake handlers will change anything.
It is the nature of governmental entities and large NGO’s to tread carefully and deal with the highest authorities around. In otherwords, to act bureaucratically. Fortunately, the US military is a bit better than most at getting things done even with this requirement.
When I helped out in Mexico City after the 1985 magnitude 8.3 earthquake, I observed that small operations often were able to find and fill the gaps left by the “organized” relief. For example, the Southern Baptist Conference, whose numerous semi-trailer disaster relief trucks (specially outfitted for the purpose, with trained crews) simply located areas where feeding was needed, and set up camp.
Hence it may be appropriate to contribute to some of the smaller organizations.
Thanks for a well written article and well stated, Stuart Williamson. Many of the dead and many of the people who are dying now are dying because of their own government’s past sins and ommissions. While I support the relief effort, it will not fix the ongoing disaster that is Haiti.
To move the massive quantities of supplies needed in Haiti, you need ships. However, ships need a functioning harbor or specialized equipment and they take time to arrive. OK, that means we send in the supplies by air. However, Haiti’s airport has a single runway and sufficient concrete to handle about 16 planes on the ground at any one time. Military transports like C-130s can be parked on grass but modern airlines generally don’t work well on dirt. Once the planes land and park, they have to be unloaded. That takes time, personnel, and folklifts. Once you unload the stuff, you have to get it to the people. Unfortunately, so many buildings have collapsed that the roads are blocked. So, you end up using helicopters to deliver the supplies the last few miles. Helicopters are great but they’re an inefficient way to move thousands of tons of supplies.
It never ends. Meanwhile, we’re enduring carping from the international peanut gallery who couldn’t do nearly as well on their best day.
Thanks for a well written article and well stated, Stuart Williamson. Many of the dead and many of the people who are dying now are dying because of their own government’s past sins and ommissions. While I support the relief effort, it will not fix the ongoing disaster that is Haiti.
Yeah, but we can’t let the chronic disaster stop us from coping with the acute disaster.
Very interesting about the UN’s involvement.
But I can’t help but think that the U.S. Military effort was aided considerably by the fact that – unlike Katrina in New Orleans – there was no inept local goverment issuing constant wish lists and contradictory orders.
The U.S. Military is well acquainted with dealing with foreign governments – or not dealing with them selectively. What it can’t do is roll into an entrenched political plantation and shove a US State government aside. That was the initial problem with Hurricane Andrew in south Florida and was far worse with Katrina.
A well known adage in the U.S. Military is that “It is better to ask for foregivess than to ask for permission.” The government of Haiti eliminated the need to ask for permission by being under tons of rubble.
David Thomson:
“What can I tell you? The country also requires the conversion of its countless citizens away from the fatalistic and anti-intellectual beliefs of voodooism. How soon can we find Baptist ministers, Orthodox rabbis, Mormon missionaries to send to Haiti? Heck, even Jehovah Witnesses might be a major improvement.”
I agree with Lol@14′s response, but I’d also like to point out that voodoo is 1/2 catholicism – so why not send catholics?
Haiti is a toilet. Has been for generations. I assume its people are for the most part victims of corrupt regimes. Its a sign of the self-hate of america’s left that giving aid to another country after an earthquake can be the occasion for anything but praise.
We must examine our first world messianism. For my entire life the First World has lavished trillions in aid dollars, medicine, food, and technology without demanding in exchange that they jettison their third world backwardness, barbarism, and limit their birth rate. We now have a planet exploding with humans who posess no framework to stop their corrupt malfunctioning dysfunctional ways. This Third World population’s hold on life is tenuous at best. We’ve done them, and ourselves no favors. What is worse, our existence will increasingly be threatened by their demographic time bomb, their growing and insatiable desperation for consumables, and the explosion of their inimical ideologies (mostly Communistic / Islamic). All of these are a gathering hurricane which is now sending very tangible successive tsunamis to our shores with increasing frequency.
How long before we wake up and question the premise under which First World aid is provided? America raised over $2 billlion in tsunami aid to the Aceh region of Indonesia. Today one can read how the place is just another Taliban Islamic hell hole. We demanded nothing in return for our aid, and got nothing in return. Over $2 billion in aid has gone to Haiti since Clinton. During that time, their population has soared from 5-6 milliom to over 10 million! (on our nickel) During that same period, the number of Haitians, both legal, but mainly illegal, has swelled in the US from nearly zero to nearly 500,000. All we seem to accomplish witnh our limitless do-goodism is to swell the ranks of the hopeless, swell the ranks of the incompetent, swell the ranks of our enemies,nd place our resources and the dwindling resources of Earth under unnecessary strain.
Our messianism may engender warm fuzzies, but it is well past insane.
Sorry forgot link goodness plus quotes…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7020908/US-accused-of-occupying-Haiti-as-troops-flood-in.html
“This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti,” The French minister in charge of humanitarian relief Mr Joyandet said.”
tommy gunn
the US : $ 100 millions
the EU : € 400 millions (not included what the different countries gave individually and the donations to charitative associations)
Raymond in DC wrote: “But the difficulties laid out don’t explain why Israel has managed to setup a functioning field hospital in Haiti”
David Thompson replied that: A major reason is that Israel is not hindered by affirmative action polices which guarantee the hiring and promotion of second-rate people.
WRONG! WRONG! and WRONG AGAIN! Israel’s פז”מ “pazá”m” system of seniority assures that all the wrong people will get all the wrong positions, and insures rank inflation as well here. Israelis are very good at three things: security, rescue and doctoring. This crisis in Haiti allows us to shine in our glory. But unfortunately, much of the Israeli military is more glory hole than glory – or even competent. The IDF (this is a largely IDF effort in Haiti) is packed with generals who can barely be captains, captains who should maybe be sergeants, and sergeants who should be privates. But in the three areas noted, the IDF (as well as much of the rest of Israeli society) shines forth. All those years of having to rescue Jews bears some small fruit.
Just to give some perspective on what 30 Megatons means. The atomic bombs dropped in WWII were about 10 kilotons each. This earthquake had kinetic energy equal to about 3,000 of those bombs.
how unkind for the comment of a previous commenter to say ‘even a Jehovah’s Witness might be an immprovement.Unbeknown to the majority of people,J.W’s go about their help WITHOUT advertizing that fact,when ANY disaster strikes.but any way,those that do know of this,appreciate the aid they give and without any charge also.also,they are a legal charitable organization.there will always be those who would not wish to advertize that fact.
Marie Claude, that $100 Million figure from the US only includes that from the *government*. It doesn’t include private contributions, which already exceed $150 Million by one accounting. Americans are a generous people. Europeans expect “the government” to do charitable works on their behalf. It’s what comes from a socialist mindset.
Any other questions about the heart of America?
Tommy Gunn
Yes i have one.What are you talking about?
http://www.thenewstribune.com/apheadlines/world/story/1028635.html?storylink=mirelated
Other countries don’t have the same size ego as some American’s.
So don’t need to go on and on and demand recognition for humanitarian aid.
Cuba, the communist Caribbean island under a United States embargo since 1962, is allowing the US to use Cuban airspace for medical evacuation flights from Haiti,
Cuba already had over 400 doctors posted to Haiti to help with the day-to-day health needs of this poorest nation in the Americas, and that those doctors were the first to respond to the disaster, setting up a hospital right next to the main hospital in Port-au-Prince which collapsed in the earthquake.
Cuba, the communist Caribbean island under a United States embargo since 1962, is allowing the US to use Cuban airspace for medical evacuation flights from Haiti,
Cuba already had over 400 doctors posted to Haiti to help with the day-to-day health needs of this poorest nation in the Americas, and that those doctors were the first to respond to the disaster, setting up a hospital right next to the main hospital in Port-au-Prince which collapsed in the earthquake.
An overall lesson for all people to take from this and other big relief efforts is that governments can only do so much in a given period of time.
It really is a personal responsibility for everyone to be somewhat prepared for emergencies by having enough food and water stored to survive until relief agencies can get into full swing.
If you rely completely on a government to get food and water to you in times of crisis,you’re going to be very hungry and thirsty by the time they get around to you.
“Be prepared” is a good motto to live by.
What’s the EU? Thanks for pointing out how the US is outspending every Euro country individually. And individual Americans will give even more generously. Vive La France, eh! It’s their salle de bain.
Raymond
France alone alloted €20 millions, (plus annullation of the debt ~ €75 millions)
individuals during last week, €15 millions
(population : 65 million)
so ya see, cahritable big government is one of your favorite chimeres
“demographic time bomb”
Population growth will take care of itself if the population becomes more affluent. The Haitians have been hurt by white race guilt. Too many politically correct Westerners foolishly embrace multiculturalism. They don’t want to seem disrespectful toward indigenous Haitian values. I agree with Matthew Arnold that Western Civilization is merely the best that has been said and written. Racial and ethnic classifications have nothing to do with it. Unfortunately, the postmodernist mindset perceives Western Civilization as nothing more than a bunch of white imperialists telling darker skinned people what to do.
the biggest questions will not be answered …here or in any government/state department.
I think the world needs to help the people of this and any disaster.
That said the problem in Haiti and many other countries is the corruption. One way the USA is trying to solve this is make the USA the same corrupt dysfunctional type of country (but that is a different topic)
before the earthquake Haiti was a corrupt dysfunctional state. The USA, the UN and many many NGO’s were there. There were police from many countries trying to “teach” and train the police force there. …and the results …the envelop please ….things were not getting better and more likely were worse.
this isn’t different then Iraq or Afghanistan. or Zimbabwe and soon South Africa.
if you want to “fix” these countries you need to go in and provide law and order and education (not the marxist indoctrination the west has been subjecting itself to) …and plan to be there a long time. and give them the american constitution for at least 25 years, sans the right to bear arms.
after that if they (the people in those countries wish to let the strong man rule again) they can make their choice.
it isn’t going to happen.
so there you have it …maybe I will start an NGO ..the administration perks can be sweet !
“That said the problem in Haiti and many other countries is the corruption.”
You are only addressing half the problem. The reactionary and backward belief systems these Third World people are embracing are ultimately the most serious challenge. You can’t even touch the corruption problem until this matter is resolved!
The politically correct establishment feels yucky and uncomfortable when dealing with corruption in the Third World. Why should white people tell these darker skinned folks who should be their leaders? Would an American want to be advised by an outsider on who should be their political bosses? Don’t we trust them to make these key decisions in their lives?
35. David Thomson:
“That said the problem in Haiti and many other countries is the corruption.”
You are only addressing half the problem. The reactionary and backward belief systems these Third World people are embracing are ultimately the most serious challenge. You can’t even touch the corruption problem until this matter is resolved!
The politically correct establishment feels yucky and uncomfortable when dealing with corruption in the Third World. Why should white people tell these darker skinned folks who should be their leaders? Would an American want to be advised by an outsider on who should be their political bosses? Don’t we trust them to make these key decisions in their lives?
AGREE WITH YOU …but I don’t think the line you put in there ..”should white people tell …” should be in there. I think there is a race component to the problem but it isn’t a simple one.
even now we can see how leaders are using race to blame one problem after another on the past sins of some white people. it is an effective way to prevent the real issues from being addressed. unfortunately a lot of people get crushed by that type of leadership. …the USA is hurtling down this path.
that is why I said “it isn’t going to happen”
“AGREE WITH YOU …but I don’t think the line you put in there ..”should white people tell …” should be in there. I think there is a race component to the problem but it isn’t a simple one.”
This is how the leftwing intelligentsia subconsciously, if not even consciously, perceives the situation. These individuals are obsessed by race. In their myopic and echo chamber world, it’s all about white imperialists bossing around the dark skinned inhabitants of the Third World. They don’t believe the West possesses values and knowledge that are mandatory if any society is to grow and prosper. I have said it before, and I will say it again: we are doomed if white guilt is not eradicated. It is a cancer destroying our ability to fight back against our enemies and inhibiting our further economic and intellectual evolution.
Not just $100 million in cash from the United States but military support mostly from U.S.Navy and Marine Corps.
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson
The frigate USS Underwood
The destroyers USS Higgins & USS Bunker Hill (arrived yesterday)
The cruiser USS Normandy
The Fleet Oiler USS Big Horn
The Salvage Ship USS Grasp
The Amphibious Ships USS Battan, USS Carter Hall, USS Fort MeHenry
Hospital Ship USNS Comfort with over 600 medical personnel and 1,000 beds, digital radiological services, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, a CAT-scan and two oxygen producing plants.
To see the entire military operation just for Haiti go to the following link:
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=44017
This is well over one billion dollars in assets and personnel. The $100 million is just cash money, not total support like all the assets we have in the area, what do the other countries have in the form of hard assets, not much money is no good when you need to treat people and to be able to get to them and we have the assets there that can do that.
31. Thomas_L…….:
Why is it so important for American’s to believe they are the most generous country and far more superior then others around the world.
What do you expect in return? If the U.S sends help then all countries around the world must agree with your foreign policy.
Just because you help an old lady across the road does not mean you have the right to rape her grand daughter.
This ia about the people of Haiti not some male pissing contest.
39. Anonymous:
31. Thomas_L…….:
whoa …slow down there. I don’t think anyone but you mentioned raping someones daughter BUT YOU ! stay anonymous …please !
32. Marie Claude:”(plus annullation of the debt ~ €75 millions)”
Yeah thats going to put fresh water and food in their mouths…
Wrote David Thompson (6):
“A major reason is that Israel is not hindered by affirmative action polices which guarantee the hiring and promotion of second-rate people.”
I do not agree. Israel does not accept the concept of second- rate people.
Remember that IDF is a conscript army. There is a job for anyone who can do one. It is not optional for most. If it were not for that Israel would not exist today. Israel has been on the forward edge of incorporating women, gays, all races, anyone who can do something when it comes to defense and national security.
That being said, yes there are sometimes issues but I think less so than here.
Spindok
41
Robotech,
I know, your TV show Clinton doing that !
Naturally you are the good people !
“I do not agree. Israel does not accept the concept of second- rate people.”
But America does! The politically correct establishment in this country believes that blacks and other officially protected minorities must be graded on a curve. They are to be hired even if they are the second best candidates. As matter of fact, it is against the law in the United States to hire the best and the brightest. The awful 1971 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Griggs vs. Duke Power remains the law of the land. Some constitutional scholars even say its “settled law” which means that mediocre employees have little to worry about. Their jobs are generally protected regardless of their incompetence.
To 43. Marie Claude
Speak english please… I don’t understand.
David Thomson:
Practically every time I scan the comments on PJM, you’re there with a reference to Griggs vs Duke Power. You may or may not be losing your mind, but obsessive-compulsive disorder is a distinct possibility.
Reading the comments here, you do know that the US occupied Haiti from 1915-1934? During that time, all but 2 currently existing bridges were built; the Peligre Dam (source of 1/2 of the electricity) was started; Port-au-Prince was the first city in Carribean/Latin America to have an automatic dialing phone system; General Hospital of Port-au-Prince was built; 1000 miles of roads were built; the first and still main Agricultural College was established in Damiens; etc.. When the Americans left, Haiti was not a bad place; of course, it soon started to
slide down.
Shortly after WW2, many Jamaicans immigrated to Haiti since – at the time – Haiti was more promising. At least 2 became millionaires there; 1 of them became a Haitian citizen but was forced – in 1964 – to hand over more than $5 million (us currency) to the Duvaliers. Many Jamaicans left Haiti in the 50′s and 60′s; some went back to Jamaica.
The main problem is land property rights, thus the peasants cannot build credit and sustain any enterprise. Now, one builds temporary shelters, and then what?
The second main problem is deforestation and attending water problem. Most of the rivers are dry. The biggest river, the Artibonite has its source in the Dominican Republic (DR); if DR was as bad as Haiti, the Artibonite would be dry. There was an area of Port-au-Prince where mud flowed down the road after a heavy rain; then, a few years later, no more mud but rocks were then washed down the road.
Culturally, the elite focused too much on the past and wax nostalgic about the War of Independence (it is indeed a glorious story). Indeed, out in the countryside many Haitians have Greek or Roman names because slaves cannot have Christian names. The French colonial legal system had 16 racial grades, going from pure white to pure black. Some intermediary grades: mulatto, grimeau, quadroon, octaroon, etc… The fine racial distinctions are still pertinent today socially.
Is voodoo a cause of Haiti’s poverty? Do not think so. Voodoo did play an important role in Haiti’s independence and it is one of the few cohesive organization in Haiti. Although Jean-Francois (papa Doc) Duvalier was born and raised in Haiti, his parents were from Martinique: he was an outsider. In order to have any political future, he allied himself with the voodoo network of hongans and mambos: he would still have won the 1956 election without the fraud.
10. stuart williamson: “Neither the U.S. nor any other nation wants to take over the governing of Haiti.”
Back in the 70′s someone asked the Cuban ambassador to the UN why Castro did not send any communist agent to Haiti. Haiti is about 100 miles away, more than 50,000 Haitians were trapped in Cuba when the OAS embargo against Cuba was established. The ambassador replied: “We do not want to inherit the problems of Haiti.”
I know it would be a huge number, but does anyone have data on the relief provided by the world’s Islamic Paradises? Surely they would help the Infidels in their hour of need, just as the Infidels helped them after the tsunami in 2008.
48. Paul -Indiana:
I know it would be a huge number, but does anyone have data on the relief provided by the world’s Islamic Paradises? Surely they would help the Infidels in their hour of need, just as the Infidels helped them after the tsunami in 2008.
THEY generally do not help infidels as one of the religious tenets is to kill them.
WHY HAITI IS SO POOR?
1- French empire gave Haiti slavery and exploitation
2-The USA empire has invaded the country 3 times. Rule the place like a colony, grabbing land and installing the genocidal PAPA DOC and later his son BABY DOC. The USA empire gave him the TUNTUN MACUTES a bloody army, like the Guardia Nacional given to SOMOZA in Nicaragua in 1927, dedicated to kill civilians.
3-The IMF and WORLD BANK arms of the USA empire have employed SHOCK tactics to the HAITI people with promises that if they fallow the USA DIKTAK they all would be rich. In reality, the farmers lose their land and move to Port DU Prince. They have now died in the earthquake.
Now the USA Empire adventurers are invading Haiti again, and the media present them as heroes. They are the same killing civilians
far away places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan . This is a small detail ignored by the MEDIA controlled and at the service of the USA empire. I hope they don’t indulge again in their favorite sport: Bombing another third world country.
50. Carlos:
that rant is so full of crap it is comical.
you forgot to blame Cristobal Colon and the spanish …and don’t forget Bush. es verdad tu nombre es Carlos ? parece es Segundo Culo
What about the overpopulation there?