U.S. Damned If It Does - Damned If It Doesn't

There’s an interesting article, Haiti for the Haitians: US troops out. The article quotes an unknown “former Haitian Defence Minister said: “We don’t need the soldiers in Haiti. There’s no war here.”” Something to think about – right! God knows Haiti’s had many Defense Ministers in its struggles throughout the years. Haiti’s also had help from the U.S. military during those years. So at what date in time was this statement made by the unnamed source? The article doesn’t say. There are probably other blogs denouncing the U.S. invasion of Haiti. Wow there are probably blogs just denouncing the U.S.

According to the U.S. Defense Department, as of January 22^nd, there were 13,000 military in the Haitian area, BUT only 4,000 of them were actually on Haitian soil. That’s hardly an invasion force with a population of confirmed dead numbering – 170,000+. There’s another 200,000+ estimated dead. An estimated 1.2 million plus are homeless. The 1.2 million in their preservation for survival could easily over power the 4,000 in no time. The other 9,000 military are on ships in the area.

The long history of U.S. military intervention in Haiti goes back to 1889. The U.S. left by 1891, leaving Haiti to the Haitians. In 1914, the U.S. Navy protected Americans during turbulence. From 1915 – 1934 U.S. military occupied Haiti under martial law. Yes many Haitians were killed in protesting the military presence. It was 60 years, in 1994 when the U.S. returned to Haiti, but not alone. The U.S. was part of a multi-national force. Again as part of a multi-national force, the U.S. military was in Haiti in 2004. The events are documented history, but I guess the U.S. can rewrite history too.

Just like now, in 2008 the U.S. military provided relief after the four hurricanes hit Haiti. All four branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. Coast Guard have personnel, ships and aircraft helping the earthquake victims. So again the U.S. has invaded Haiti.

U.S. ships produce 40,000 gallons of drinking water per day. The Haitians can take care of themselves. Clean Water for Haiti (CWH) is a volunteer run, faith based missions and humanitarian aid organization started in 2001, according to its website. As a registered non-profit organization in Canada and the US, CWH works to provide sustainable solutions to the water crisis in Haiti. That was nine years before this quake. The website states it provides successful and inexpensive solution to the lack of clean water sources for Haitian families. According to the blog, Haiti doesn’t need U.S. to provide clean water now under the pretense of helping. “But for the US there is a war; a war against the popular aspirations of the Haitians for peace and prosperity,” a quote from the blog. How do the 1.5 million+ homeless Haitians define peace and prosperity?

“In Haiti it is the lie of humanitarian aid. Let the Haitian people run their society. US troops out,” is another quote from the blog. Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency an international agency from Bulgaria-Netherlands reported at least 75, 000 bodies were buried in mass graves. A country in control would be able to house and identify many of the dead and/or have a means for family members to look for loved ones.

BBC.com reported gunfire and looting in some areas. The story continued there were witnessed reports of group of men armed with knives, ice-picks, and hammers fighting one another over clothing, toys and any other items they could find in destroyed houses and shops. So who is available to provide policing in the Haitian government? Who provides protection for the hungry, homeless people? Where do aid workers get their protection?

Associated Press article reported by wire services stated, Medicine running out at Haiti hospitals, clinics datedJanuary 29, 2010. Medical personnel are running perilously low of provisions in Haiti's capital and in the countryside. The situation is obscuring hard work to treat 200,000+ people requiring post-surgical care following treatment after the earthquake. If the shortage continues it will increase the likelihood of countless new deaths due to contamination and infection.

It would seem that the infrastructure needs for the Haitians to have “peace and prosperity” is lacking. Basic human needs of shelter, food, clothing and safety don’t exist for Haiti. So the U.S. efforts will not be labeled - “maintain its rule and its order, its dictatorship of capital and the continuation of the neoliberal destruction of the country” - we will continue the mission until the work is done!