Haiti

[Happy Face 29]

The US has said it will send up to 3,500 soldiers and 2,200 marines to Haiti to help rescue efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

 

The first party from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division should arrive later.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8459444.stm

 

You think to yourself "how generous of them" to spare all those service people when they've got wars to fight on five fronts. That is until you read the press release from the Heritage Foundation...

 

"The U.S. response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti earthquake offers opportunities to re-shape Haiti’s long-dysfunctional government and economy as well as to improve the public image of the United States in the region."

 

Which they've since taken down, but there's still a lot of incredible self interest in what remains...

 

The U.S. government response should be bold and decisive. It must mobilize U.S. civilian and military capabilities...While on the ground in Haiti, the U.S. military can interrupt the nightly flights of cocaine....counter the ongoing efforts of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez....prevent any large-scale movement by Haitians to take to the sea to try to enter the U.S. illegally...Congress should immediately begin work on a package of trade, and reconstruction efforts....

 

...The U.S. should implement a strong and vigorous public diplomacy effort to counter the negative propaganda certain to emanate from the Castro-Chavez camp.

 

http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/13/things...-helping-haiti/

 

The Shock Doctrine applies to EVERY disaster.

Edited January 14, 2010 by Happy Face

[Guest alex]

Fucking hell. Mind, lets hope some good comes out of this. I heard Haiti was the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Which is even worse when you think of all the tourists sunning themselves on the same island.

[NJS 4446]

The CIA staged a coup against the elected government in 2004 from what I've read - so it's rich to whinge now.

[Guest alex]

I think they're just 'seizing an opportunity'.

[Happy Face 29]

The CIA staged a coup against the elected government in 2004 from what I've read - so it's rich to whinge now.

 

That's commie propaganda and no mistake. The US is ALL about democracy.

 

The planned diplomacy efforts will show you up for being in bed with Castro and Chavez.

 

[Park Life 71]

Probably did the earthquake innit. [9/11]

[Zathras 296]

Haiti truly has been in absolutely dreadful shape in terms of corruption for at least a decade. While I'm not really a fan of US troop involvement and interference in most places, the situation in Haiti was downright depressing and not very well publicized. If some good comes out of the situation, meaning that Haiti ends up differently than Antigua, then I'm for it.

[Park Life 71]

Haiti truly has been in absolutely dreadful shape in terms of corruption for at least a decade. While I'm not really a fan of US troop involvement and interference in most places, the situation in Haiti was downright depressing and not very well publicized. If some good comes out of the situation, meaning that Haiti ends up differently than Antigua, then I'm for it.

 

Voodoo ftw.

[AgentAxeman 199]

DEMOCRACY RULZ!!

[NJS 4446]

There's a link from pharyngula where Pat Robertson say's it's all their own fault for making a pact with the devil to free themselves from the French - that's also why they're poor as fuck.

[Happy Face 29]

There's a link from pharyngula where Pat Robertson say's it's all their own fault for making a pact with the devil to free themselves from the French - that's also why they're poor as fuck.

 

 

 

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/01..._needs_help.php

 

Christing hell! Those christians eh? They've got so much love for their fellow man.

 

Mind, anyone watching CBN probably thought as much in the first place.

[Happy Face 29]

On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed. Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath. If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them. His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster. They have sent a shipment of millions of dollars worth of medications that is now in Haiti, and their disaster team leaders are expected to arrive tomorrow and begin operations to ease the suffering.

 

Chris Roslan

Spokesman for CBN

 

[NJS 4446]

Yes but the fuckers love tragedy because it gives them a chance to "do good" and feel good about themselves as well as run a recruitment drive.

[Happy Face 29]

[NJS 4446]

I'd also add that it was either him of Falwell who did say that Katrina was definitely God's wrath for New Orleans' immorality.

[Bombadil 0]

 

@ 00:55: "True story!" :icon_lol:

[Happy Face 29]

The best bit of that statement is

 

This history, combined with the horrible state of the country, has led countless scholars and religious figures over the centuries to believe the country is cursed.

 

 

If someone thought it in the eighteenth century then it must be true.

 

All the best doctors still use leeches too.

[Meenzer 15871]

I'd also add that it was either him of Falwell who did say that Katrina was definitely God's wrath for New Orleans' immorality.

Seems harsh - "Walking On Sunshine" wasn't that bad...

[Rob W 0]

well the Yanks are trying to help but Haiti is such a dump I doubt it'll make much difference in the long term

[AgentAxeman 199]

I'd also add that it was either him of Falwell who did say that Katrina was definitely God's wrath for New Orleans' immorality.

Seems harsh - "Walking On Sunshine" wasn't that bad...

 

 

[sniffer 0]

The US should have sat back and done fuck all.

 

Left it up to the chinks and camel jockeys to get it sorted. They have all the money.

 

Or the UN.

[The Fish 11080]

Don't think the Haitians really give a shit who is digging them out of their collapsed homes.

[Park Life 71]

Well at least there'll be plenty of skulls to go round next all nighter.

[The Fish 11080]

Well at least there'll be plenty of skulls to go round next all nighter.

[Happy Face 29]

well the Yanks are trying to help but Haiti is such a dump I doubt it'll make much difference in the long term

 

Howay Rob, you must have been around when the French raped the shit out of the place...

 

The appalling state of the country is a direct result of having offended a quite different celestial authority -- the French. France gained the western third of the island of Hispaniola -- the territory that is now Haiti -- in 1697. It planted sugar and coffee, supported by an unprecedented increase in the importation of African slaves. Economically, the result was a success, but life as a slave was intolerable. Living conditions were squalid, disease was rife, and beatings and abuses were universal. The slaves’ life expectancy was 21 years. After a dramatic slave uprising that shook the western world, and 12 years of war, Haiti finally defeated Napoleon’s forces in 1804 and declared independence. But France demanded reparations: 150m francs, in gold.

 

For Haiti, this debt did not signify the beginning of freedom, but the end of hope. Even after it was reduced to 60m francs in the 1830s, it was still far more than the war-ravaged country could afford. Haiti was the only country in which the ex-slaves themselves were expected to pay a foreign government for their liberty. By 1900, it was spending 80% of its national budget on repayments. In order to manage the original reparations, further loans were taken out -- mostly from the United States, Germany and France. Instead of developing its potential, this deformed state produced a parade of nefarious leaders, most of whom gave up the insurmountable task of trying to fix the country and looted it instead. In 1947, Haiti finally paid off the original reparations, plus interest. Doing so left it destitute, corrupt, disastrously lacking in investment and politically volatile. Haiti was trapped in a downward spiral, from which it is still impossible to escape. It remains hopelessly in debt to this day.

 

It's not inherently a dump, it's what foreign governments have made it and could be improved with debt cancellation. Unfortunately, I can't see the aid that reaches the country being entirely in the form of grants as it should be, it'll be another 'for profit' loan with conditions of corporate contracts so they'll be forced to borrow even more.