US Col. Gregory Kane addressed reporters at the increasingly militarized Haitian airport today to dismiss reports that the United States is in the process of occupying Haiti.
“That’s ludicrous,” insisted Col. Kane, “this is humanitarian relief.” Yet several aid groups have complained that the growing US military presence is actually blocking aid flights into the country and French Minister for International Co-operation Alain Joyandet chided the US over the weekend for acting like an occupying force.
Though domestic media coverage of the military operation has been glowing, with reports of Haitians greeting the Americans as liberators, there is growing international disquiet over President Obama’s pledge for a ‘swift and aggressive’ campaign in the nation. The blocked aid flights have only cemented opposition to the US military taking charge of a humanitarian disaster.
Today the military poured into the ruins of Haiti’s presidential palace, establishing it as an additional base of operations for an American force soon to approach 10,000 strong. For the time being the Haitians are hopeful this will mean a speedy distribution of aid, but if medical aid flights continue to be diverted away from the ruined nation, that hope will likely turn to cynicism.
Why use the Presidential Palace as the military base? The damaged structure should have been protected against looters, but some form of respect should have been shown to the nation down on its knees. To barge in, and take possession of the nation documents, intelligence and military, basically all the sensitive data of a sovereign country — is tacky at best. I am deeply disappointed with Obama administration. If indeed it is true, and not just unconfirmed reports, that the aid flights have been diverted and not allowed — that would be a catastrophy. It is bad enough that US was nowhere to be found on the ground in the critical first few days, that is doctors, rescue teams, and food distributors. Now, it will appear that all we want is to take over. I hope this is not the case.
Tells us a lot that Cuba was there with aid (delivered very efficiently from what I hear) within hours of the earthquake …
This is what the United States does best is occupy. The US has never been good at humanitarian work. They always create a bigger mess then there needs to be and the rest of the world either benefits from it or has to clean up the mess and the people of the country being saved/occupied pays a huge price. And we have to remember that the current Haitian government was put in by the United States after the 2004 coup.
If thousand of live people were trapped under rubble . getting orphans or loved one out of Haiti should have had the lowest priority . getting food , water ,power equipment , medical personel , rescue dogs and rescue workers .and security personel in Haiti should have had top priority . I'am hoping it did , I have heard a lot of complaining and I'am assuming its coming from the people that got the lowest priority . I'am hoping the americans running the little airport followed the above priority program . And I think they may have becuase I here today that some of the orphans and american citizens have finally arrived here in the United States . I know people were sleeping on the ground with no shelter ,and I agree this is not good , but it is a lot better than being trapped under rubbish with no food and no water for a week . If the US government made some powerfull people mad thats OK providing they set priorities for the most in need first .
I was happy to hear of the Cuban medical teams comming to Haiti . Cuba may do a lot of things wrong , but their high class medical personel always seem to make a most impressive showing . And there seems to be a lot of them comming from such a small poor country .
Those in power (the New World Order supporters) CAUSED this earthquake. It's called H.A.A.R.P. Look into it. Look into the New World Order. Inform yourselves and those you love. We've been deceived for decades. Look into concentration camps in the United States. Wake up. Another holocaust is upon us.
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You may want to look up basic high school physics principles and energy balances and stuff instead of clicking through the Internets looking for conspiracy crap.
How long will it be before we see the establishment of permanent military bases in Hiati? The military industrial/congressional complex will never miss an opportunity to garrison another country.
This is indeed an OCCUPATION and complete and total take-over of Haiti. With BLOODYISRAEL already on the ground, we should be seeing some 'Unique Financial' Opperturnities being offered soon on beach front property., and water. It will become a forward base of operations for 'subdueing' Cuba, and attacking Venzuela………………………………….The New World Order can't have a leftist leader sitting on all that OIL, no, no, no,no; NO!!! Just watch the proper 'Provacation' from Chavez will do the trick. All war, all the time, war, war, war, war,
As Col Kane's wife I can assure you that not only did the US not cause this earthquake but the only reason we are currently there is to offer humanitarian aid. Further, The Haitian airport that usually handles about 13 flights a day is now handling over 140 with only 1 runway and 12 "parking spots", very little equipment to download cargo and no way to distrubute without US helicopters. Aircraft are stacked 6 deep in the skies over the airfield and priorities must be made. Aid comes first.
you people are the most ignorant, brainwashed idiots i have ever read on the internet. you have got to be kidding me. what the hell does haiti have that anyone would want. the reason the helos landed in the presidential compound was because it was safe and debris free. the aircraft carrier was on its way to san diego it was diverted because it can feed people and has a hospital for 200 on board. it can also do aircraft control tower ops. you tin foil hat wearing morons disgust me to no end.
wallace you are just another brainwashed produce of offical media such as cnn, fox news and etc. You think what your government tells you to think just like a cattle, they say: jump ! and you say : how high ? Good boy ! Goood Boy wallace !
Haiti is only few miles from Cuba and that is a perfect opportunity for United states to act and invade Haiti to be just next to Cuba, that's what Haiti has you dum ass ! United States in invading a sovern country ! And if you think they are bringing the billions of dollar worth aircraft carrier to haiti ''just o feed poor bastards'' you absulately have a brain equal to a bird! Wake up you idiot ! just wake the hell up !
david- Your arguments are tired and ad hominem based, nothing of merit in them. CNN, Fox, etc are brainwashing media because they are "official"? Wow what an airtight argument. You seem to be unable to comprehend that any invasion of Cuba could be done from the US. They are only 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Please, we aren't China, we have the ability to project power from that distance (actually China would have that too if the US wasn't vouching for Taiwan's defense). You are further unable to comprehend that if the United States ever wanted to invade Cuba, there was certainly plenty of time to do so after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Your argument against the US using a carrier that has the ability to feed and hospitalize many people is that those who believe the government would use this have "a brain equal to a bird" another ad-hominem with no refutation of the facts. God knows we've wasted far more money on less significant things.
It may be hard for you to believe that the United States " are bringing the billions of dollar worth aircraft carrier to haiti ''just o feed poor bastards'' , after all that wouldn't fit into your world view that Americans are evil monsters. Nonetheless its true. You can either cover your ears and scream "la la la la im not listening!", or you can accept that the United States is not an evil entity and revise your view of the world.
You also have never been in a disaster zone I assume. In desperate times, the strong steal from the weak. Security is needed to distribute food and water fairly, otherwise things are stolen by gangs and desperate mobs swamp hospitals, possibly destroying their ability to treat patients. You also ignore that the United States came on the explicit INVITATION of this sovereign country's president. Your conclusion is to "wake up…. wake the hell up!". We are all very awake thank you, but you seem to be having nightmares and jumping at shadows.
Get rid of your bile against the United States and look at things with a clear eye. You will be astounded at how foolish you have been thus far.
United States has no damn right to invade a sovern country, there are 20000 troops and more coming ! This must be stopped !