Haiti earthquake

[saddlebum]

Haiti is already the most diseased-ravaged, poorest and worst-governed country in the western hemisphere.
Usually they're suffering from hurricanes.

It's assumed that millions in aid in previous years was simply squandered/stolen by corrupt Haitian leaders.

This is about as horrible as the tsunami in Indonesia 6-7 years ago but it's in our backyard, and we'll be more able to assist.

45,000 Americans live in Haiti........WHY ???

[Phobos]

I have been to the Dominican Republic, on the approach to Punta Cana (on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, you could still see how horrendous Haiti is. One soldier I know even said that he would rather walk the streets of Baghdad without armor on than do anything in Haiti. Not only do they have the most corrupt government in the Western hemisphere, it is in the running for the world.

I pray for the people of Haiti, but I fear if the world just send funds, the people that actually need it when never see the benefit of it. The corrupt so called leader and politicians will most likely just bolster their personal forces or build a new house elsewhere.

[saddlebum]

So far it seems that it will be a 'hands-on' relief effort by the U.S.
Just starting up this relief effort is a tremendously complex operation.........there is no infrastructure nor large equipment..........they were still working on the airport today.
The aftershocks have to be terribly unnerving !!
First-aid for the injured, water. food and burying the dead will be the immediate priorities.

All of our humanitarian efforts and economic aid will simply vanish in a short time unless the Haitian people demand a representative government..........we shouldn't do it for them.

Haiti represents the problems resulting from generations of slavery.
After the slave revolt, there were no leaders with governing experience............chaos !!!!!! but perferable to slavery.

[truthseeker]

Evening All,

Well said, Sir Saddlebum. Well said. Now, don’t you think we had better get our @$$ down there and “help” this country before someone else does?

Truthseeker

[Kagan]

True, the Haitian populace deserves better government than what they've had. However, this is a horrible tragedy built upon tragedy. They have my compassionate prayers. When I find a place for contributions that won't wind up in the Haitian government's hands, I WILL be contributing.

Corrupt leaders aren't the only jackasses that the average Haitian has to deal with. The average Haitian also has to deal with the ones we have here in the USA.
Pat Robertson says Haiti paying for 'pact to the devil' - CNN.com

[saddlebum]

If I affend anyone I'm sorry...........what kind of sanctimonious jackass would say something like that at a time like this..........Pat Robertson !!!!!!!

All supposed christians and preachers are not necessarily GOOD people !!!!!!

OK, jump on me, I know people !!!!!!

[bilmo]

Originally Posted by saddlebum

If I affend anyone I'm sorry...........what kind of sanctimonious jackass would say something like that at a time like this..........Pat Robertson !!!!!!!

All supposed christians and preachers are not necessarily GOOD people !!!!!!

OK, jump on me, I know people !!!!!!

Agree with you. This reminds me of the supposedly TV Christian Pastor remarks after Katrina.

[Kagan]

Originally Posted by bilmo

Agree with you. This reminds me of the supposedly TV Christian Pastor remarks after Katrina.

It is the same dude...Pat Robertson said those things about New Orleans.

[81Tiger]

The Theo Ratliff Activity Center is hosting an all-day event on Monday, which includes a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community-minded seminars. Proceeds from that will benefit the Marengo County disaster relief fund. Now, they are inviting people who want to give to the Red Cross Haiti relief fund to do so at the Center. There will be a place where people can make donations to the Red Cross for the earthquake relief fund.

[saddlebum]

Frustrated Haitians will make a horrendous situation much worse.
It's impossible to reason with basically ignorant, undisciplined citizens who are hurting, starving, hopelessly frightened to death and without drinking water.
Looting is rampant, but what would you do to save your loved ones ?
The bottlenecks of the damaged port and single runway airfield are impeding relief efforts and causing a "logistical nightmare".

Those in charge should begin dropping water and food from the air to keep these desperate people from over-running the airfield, and causing complete chaos.
This is much worse than Katrina, and it's nearly impossible to prepare for.

[Kagan]

Originally Posted by saddlebum

Looting is rampant, but what would you do to save your loved ones ?

I'd be a-looting right after I finish stealing one of your horses as a getaway vehicle.

Those in charge should begin dropping water and food from the air to keep these desperate people from over-running the airfield, and causing complete chaos.

The carrier USS Carl Vinson will be on the scene tomorrow with 30 Navy helicopters.

This is much worse than Katrina, and it's nearly impossible to prepare for.

Much worse! Haitians didn't have anything or any hope BEFORE the earthquake. At least New Orleanians had something before then.

[Phobos]

Despite the presence of foreign aid, I am sure that the gangs will be stronger now more than ever. Gang lords will find a way to hoard resources, I am thinking a District 9 situation if anyone has seen that movie. It is a horrible situation and will most likely escalate before it gets any better.

[saddlebum]

Americans and all aid workers are in terrible danger in Haiti.
Possible riots and contagious diseases aren't the only problems.
Extremely dangerous (4000) criminals escaped from the collapsed prison.
Goodness, I pray this works out better than I'm imagining.

OK, I'm paranoid !!!!

[Phobos]

Originally Posted by saddlebum

Americans and all aid workers are in terrible danger in Haiti.
Possible riots and contagious diseases aren't the only problems.
Extremely dangerous criminals escaped from the collapsed prison.
Goodness, I pray this works out better than I'm imagining.

OK, I'm paranoid !!!!

This could potentially be another incident like Somalia, I know they need the relief, but Haiti has always been a quagmire and a crisis like this adding fuel to the fire.

[Kagan]

Originally Posted by saddlebum

Possible riots and contagious diseases aren't the only problems.

Those are pre-existing problems. The earthquake didn't start them.

Goodness, I pray this works out better than I'm imagining.

I think that it will in some way. Not everything can be fixed. We need to help all that we can, but we also need to be realistic that some things are beyond what money and effort can do.


Furthermore...
I've been thinking about what that fool Pat Robertson said. I don't want to get into his motivations, but he has a faulty view of history if he doesn't realize a basic truth. I've never heard of any Haitian "deal with the devil" (I think he made that up). However, the Haitian slave revolt which led to kicking out the Napoleonic French helped the USA in a great way. Napoleon realized that he couldn't fight the British in Europe and defend French colonies around the world. Thomas Jefferson took advantage of the situation and offered a price for the Louisiana Territory...the rest is history. I guess the fool should realize that the USA gained off that Haitian "deal with the devil" by making our own deal with the French "Anti-Christ of the 19th Century". Robertson is one fool that needs to get a real life.