I don’t believe we should even be speculating on why they didn’t go, all I know is I have heard the father speaking and he is absolutely heart broken.
Two approaches are possible in these circumstances. One is to build up an infrastructure capable of handling the crisis, This is, basically, a bureaucratic approach. Immediate help is delayed to insure that adequate resources are available to meet demand at some point in time.
The second is to send small teams of rescuers ahead instantly. Israel did this with their field hospital, set up on day one.
Fire Departments and other emergency responders bypass bureaucracy to provide instantaneous help. Governments and most agencies are more concerned with planning, organization and structure.
Both responses are necessary. Sadly, our administration’s interest in UN bureaucratic procedures does not allow for instant response.
The families are right. Our government’s response to Haiti has been strategically incompetent by failing to provide instantaneous rescue activity.
I guess I agree, everybody handles things in his own way and I do, of course, have the deepest sympathy for him and his wife.