Posted on 01/15/2010 4:22:37 AM PST by nuconvert
You knew it was just a matter of time before partisan angles emerged about the disaster in Haiti. The Huffington Post takes umbrage at Rush Limbaugh: "Limbaugh also seems to feel we've done enough already for Haiti: 'We've already donated to Haiti. It's called the U.S. income tax.'"
Obviously, when people are struggling to crawl out from rubble and with meager medical systems stretched to the breaking point, you've got to mobilize. But on the facts, Rush is right.
The tale of U.S. foreign aid to Haiti is maddening, as well-meaning Americans dump more and more money to alleviate suffering, only to see little or no actual improvement in the living conditions on the ground.
Since 1973, the United States has been the world’s largest foreign-aid donor to Haiti, which ranks among the world’s poorest countries.
From 1990 to 2005, the U.S. sent $1.46 billion to Haiti in aid from development assistance and children's health through the Economic Support Fund, the U.S. food program, the Peace Corps, and foreign military training (although that was only $4.6 million, with $3 million coming in 1995). More recently,
(Excerpt) Read more at campaignspot.nationalreview.com ...
Did you see this?
That place needs a lot of prayers.
Laura Ingram said it well last night as a guest on O’won’tshutup. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Well Ok that wasn’t exactly what she said. Closer would be money can’t change the will of the people. The bad government is also part of the problem.
Facts do not matter to desperate Liberals who see their dreams of remaking America on the Venezuelan model crumbling out from under them. The real Earthquake is in Mass. They are grasping at straws.
I also wonder, WHERE has all the money, U.S. taxpayers been spent? WHERE did it go? Will MORE money finally get to the Haitians that need it?
I hadn’t seen that. Thanks.
My question has been, they have the water and MRE’s and rice, etc, why couldn’t they start dropping it by helicopter in different parts of the country 2 days ago when they first flew it in?
peaking of crooks, isn’t Bill Clinton some kind of a good will ambassador? Will he be raping women there when he goes?
peaking of crooks, isn’t Bill Clinton some kind of a good will ambassador? Will he be raping women there when he goes?
Speaking of crooks, isn’t Bill Clinton some kind of a good will ambassador? Will he be raping women there when he goes?
I beleive they have been waiting for the helecopters that will be arriving with an aircraft carrier today.
Anybody notice ‘’Clinton’s Foundation’’, money goes to his FOUNDATION’’ first then it may or may not get to Haiti,,,,money grab.
Where did all the money go sent to New Orleans? The levees are still not fixed after billions of $$$.
“I beleive they have been waiting for the helecopters that will be arriving with an aircraft carrier today.”
That’s just too long. They need a better plan.
Because with no law and order the thugs would grab the supplies.
Law & Order needs to come with the supplies.
You sure don’t see any helicopters in the news coverage so far.
If Clinton fails to do the raping, the UN will take care of that for him.
Both have reputations in that matter.
Not to appear totally cruel here, but at what point does the government of Haiti bear some responsibility for the lack of preparation?
When do the people of Haiti get it through their heads that you can’t continue to breed like rabbits when the environment won’t support you?
When do the various world governments stop enabling this country?
The picture in Haiti is the very picture of hundreds of other areas in the world where the environment can not support the population, where they are on the razor’s edge of calamity when natural disaster strikes.
Lets say we have torrential rains in the driest parts of Africa with flooding all over - they would quickly descend into chaos. They depend so much on the rest of the world for sustenance yet they continue to produce offspring at rates well above what can be supported.
While I hate to see the images of suffering, my logical brain tells me there isn’t enough money in all of the US to make Haiti whole, bring stability to it and turn a desolate, inhospitable island into a paradise that can self sustain. Like an alcoholic that needs to hit rock bottom, that country needs to do some collective soul searching to figure out how they get through the next 100 years.
Hi...
Part of the problem is the fact that they have a barely functioning government as it is. Think of Somalia minus the muslim warlords.
My suggestions to all people is the following:
1. Don't live on a active fault line or where earthquakes are likely to hit. If you do, expect tragedy and death.
2. If you live on a coastal region or, as in New orleans, beneath sea level, then expect hurricanes, massive flooding, and death.
3. If you choose to live in a flood plain, expect the consequences of your actions.
4. If you live in an area prone to tornados, don't live there unless your willing to accept the consequences of your actions.
5. Don't live near an active volcano. If you do, accept the consequences.
6. Don't build your homes on coastal hillsides where you know annual mudslides destroy them.
7. Don't live in areas where annual fires occur or are set which destroy countless homes.
Just wait, they're coming.
I see that the news is reporting scattered gang fighting is breaking out.
Maybe someone can help..I have tried to google and haven’t found the answers to my questions concerning Haiti. When the news first broke about the quake..there was concern about a tsunami that could possibly arise from the quake...Did the tsunami happen? Also...what kind of damage did the Dominican Republic sustain in this quake? Looking at the map, part of that country is within miles of Port Au Prince. Just wondering how localized this disaster is....we don’t hear about the surrounding areas...was it just the capital that got hit? Thanks for enlightening me.....
I also wonder, WHERE has all the money, U.S. taxpayers been spent? WHERE did it go?
Questions that the entirety of the American people ought to be asking Congress. But then those foreign aid dollars are chump change when compared to the slush fund, oops stimulus money. Questions, questions, questions, and virtually NO answers.
Someone with a brain needs to be in government. I have made this statement on numerous occasions, “we need a sabbatical from the Federal government for one year. Except for funding the military. It would point out a few priorities.
In reality, it would make every state stand on its own two feet, and fund their own budget. Without all the spending in Washington, I think it would be easily done. When welfare stops people start earning their way.
Best thing Rush could do now is set up a Haiti Emergency Fund and bring in millions for those poor folks. He stepped in it this time IMHO.
How disgusting that Katie C. is down there! What the h@!! for!
It's only a guess but I suspect there are a few very wealthy people in Haiti. It's the same everywhere the U.S. government throws our money in aid.
“Did the tsunami happen?”
No, not that I know of. The warning was called off not long after it was issued.
“what kind of damage did the Dominican Republic”
All I’ve heard is that they felt it and had power outages, but no serious damage.
Only a naif would think that Iran is not sending its own missionaries. Look what happened in lawless Chiapas.
That thinking is what’s causing the delays, which is causing more suffering and more likelihood of desperation & chaos.
I believe the distance is like 800 miles away. It’s not 1/2 way around the world. Why not run a “Berlin airlift” food & water drop from Miami to many areas across Haiti? You drop enough stuff and it doesn’t matter if thugs grab some of it.
With all of the money we have poured into Haiti for the last 30 years we should just go in and take the place over.
We contribute to the Salvation Army, and made a special donation for Haiti, knowing that the money will be put to good use.
Can’t say that about other charities.
My church went two days ago and my friend is still there looking for her mom and nephew. They took loads of food and I have to check and see what happened with food ‘other countries DID bring’ there. I know she called me yesterday mad about people selling food aid to others... so mad she was crying.
I’ll get back to you.
Indeed, you’ll love this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Skrg2lrRo
FYI
http://www.islamawareness.net/Fastest/haiti.html
http://www.islamicfinder.org/getitWorld.php?id=76973&lang=
The obvious solution to the problem is for France to re-take Haiti. It’s quite evident the Haitians are totally unequipped to do it themselves. If that makes me a retro-colonialist, so be it.
Think what you wish.
Starving and thirsty, a female with a baby in her arms trying to make it to a bag of dropped rice as shes trampled and beaten with a couple of thugs taking everthing.
Being inside a food riot is not fun.
If they’d dropped it in the 1st 24 hrs, they wouldn’t be starving & thirty. Drop enough and no food riots are necessary
Red Cross probably does good work, but only after large salaries and perks are paid for. Whatever is left gets out into the field.
I know that no one is getting rich at Salvation Army, and I know they are the true first responders.
You said “If they’d dropped it in the 1st 24 hrs, they wouldn’t be starving & thirty.......”
Does your plan use Fixed wing or rotor wing Aircraft? Fixed wing is faster so you'd need to round up enough parachutes to cover all the drops. How many towns, big cities, villages hamlets and isolated homes will need supplies. Do they all need supplies? Only some? Which ones. Riggers to pack and rig the bundles, parachutes, pallets, containers, etc, etc, etc.
Aircraft flight times, where are they, how long to get them to the staging area? Crew rest? Round trip flight time? Crew rest - again? Will that strip operations in the middle east and other parts of the world?
Where are all the supplies? Will they have to be moved to the staging area where the bundles are being packed? How long will that take?
I could go on but I hope you get my point.
Large Scale Military operations do not happen with a snap of the fingers. 24 hours to blanket a country with food, water, medicine and supplies for millions of people? Ain't going to happen.
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