Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor nation

Caedus · Jan 17, 2010

Re: Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor na

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60G2DW20100117

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the United States of using Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti as a pretext to occupy the devastated Caribbean country.

"I read that 3,000 soldiers are arriving, Marines armed as if they were going to war. There is not a shortage of guns there, my God. Doctors, medicine, fuel, field hospitals, that's what the United States should send," Chavez said on his weekly television show. "They are occupying Haiti undercover."
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Uncle Hugo knows the score! We don't want to help these people out, we just want our own real life District 9!

Bathier Maximus · Jan 18, 2010

Re: Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor na

RickDeckard said: ↑

Bill Quigley said:

Ten Things the US Can and Should Do for Haiti
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One.� Allow all Haitians in the US to work.� The number one source of money for poor people in Haiti is the money sent from family and workers in the US back home.� Haitians will continue to help themselves if given a chance.� Haitians in the US will continue to help when the world community moves on to other problems.
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Allow Hatians in Haiti to work too. I don't mind legal immigrants and guest workers sending money home, but it's more important long term for the dollars spent in rebuilding Haiti to go to Haitian construction workers, rather than forgein construction firms.

Two.� Do not allow US military in Haiti to point their guns at Haitians.� Hungry Haitians are not the enemy.� Decisions have already been made which will militarize the humanitarian relief - but do not allow the victims to be cast as criminals.� Do not demonize the people.
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What Haiti actually needs right now is security. There is no functional society in the country, a good quater of the popualtion may be homeless. Sounds like a breeding gournd for crimimality and the strong to prey on the weak. What good does it do to give haitians aid if it will be stolen by the first street gang that goes by?

Three.� Give Haiti grants as help, not loans.� Haiti does not need any more debt.� Make sure that the relief given helps Haiti rebuild its public sector so the country can provide its own citizens with basic public services.
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Once again security. These women and children are going to be targeted because we gave them food and aid. Unless you're willing to provide security, it's not going to work that well. And build the private sector moreso than the public sector. An empolyed Haitian can rebuild his own life, and if far less likely to resort to criminal behavior if his SS check is late -- to say nothing of the fact that these companies will rebuild Haiti in the process.

Four.� Prioritize humanitarian aid to help women, children and the elderly.� They are always moved to the back of the line.� If they are moved to the back of the line, start at the back.
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Beware that the goods aren't stolen. See Above.

Five.� President Obama can enact Temporary Protected Status for Haitians with the stroke of a pen.� Do it.� The US has already done it for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Sudan and Somalia.� President Obama should do it on Martin Luther King Day.
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Temporary status is de facto amnesty. If you feel the need fine, but don't prenend that they'll actually leave when the TPS is up. It hasn't worked on any other group.

Six.�� Respect Human Rights from Day One.� The UN has enacted Guiding Principles for Internally Displaced People.� Make them required reading for every official and non-governmental person and organization.� Non governmental organizations like charities and international aid groups are extremely powerful in Haiti - they too must respect the human dignity and human rights of all people.
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How about safety first, then UN treaty. The entire country is pretty much in anachry right now. The first priority must be the return of the rule of law. If that requires curfews and so on, fine -- It's better to have the stability that comes with having a sherrif in town, even if it means that you can't be out at 2AM. Security and food and shelter are the big priorities, even well intentioned policies that interfere with getting those things in place are hurting the Haitians.

Seven.� Apologize to the Haitian people everywhere for Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh.
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Private citizens have free speech. Even the freedom to act like douchebags. No appologies.

Eight.� Release all Haitians in US jails who are not accused of any crimes.� Thirty thousand people are facing deportations.� No one will be deported to Haiti for years to come.� Release them on Martin Luther King day.
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First off, if this is about helping Haiti, why does MLK Day have to do with anything? It's nothing but a show of black solidarity and an empty gesture. If it's a good idea, it would be any day of the year, if it's a bad idea, then even doing so on MLK day is a bad idea. Secondly, Stopping these deportations is not going to be just "for a few years" but forever. Nobody will leave volentarily when time expires.

Nine.� Require that all the non-governmental organizations which raise money in the US be transparent about what they raise, where the money goes, and insist that they be legally accountable to the people of Haiti.
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This is good. But add to it the requirement that as much of the paid labor as possible be done by locals to jumpstart the economy. Donate equipment if you like, but if the work is done by forgeiners, you're using Haiti as a jobs program for Americans and Europeans, not giving aid.

Ten.� Treat all Haitians as we ourselves would want to be treated.
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True, but bear in mind that Haiti isn't in the same situation as the USA. What might be abhorent to fat-cat americans watching on TV may be necessary and desirable for Haiti. Rebuilding a whole society isn't easy, nor pretty.
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Sean the Puritan · Jan 18, 2010

Re: Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor na

Diacanu said: ↑

There, did that make your peepee feel bigger?

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I bet you'd love to know what that feels like.

Don't be jealous.

Tuttle · Jan 18, 2010

Re: Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor na

At this point the only reasonable reply is Fuck Haiti.

And fuck too the background buzz of WF, that incessant hum that's returned, that static borne of a little one with absolute nothing to say about the topic but who can't resist the compulsion to be noisy.

oldfella1962 · Jan 19, 2010

Re: Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor na

The UN has enacted Guiding Principles for Internally Displaced People.�
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Guiding Principles...like "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed" when it comes to raping the local populace!

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Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor nation

Caedus Fresh Meat Formerly Deceased Member

Bathier Maximus Fresh Meat

Sean the Puritan Endut! Hoch Hech!

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

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Fleet of US warships, incl. an aircraft carrier, troops, head to another small poor nation

Caedus Fresh Meat Formerly Deceased Member

Bathier Maximus Fresh Meat

Sean the Puritan Endut! Hoch Hech!

Tuttle Listen kid, we're all in it together.

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

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