The Militarization of Emergency Aid to Haiti: Is it a Humanitarian Operation or an Invasion?
by Michel Chossudovsky
Haiti has a longstanding history of US military intervention and occupation going back to the beginning of the 20th Century. US interventionism has contributed to the destruction of Haiti's national economy and the impoverishment of its population.
The devastating earthquake is presented to World public opinion as the sole cause of the country's predicament.
A country has been destroyed, its infrastructure demolished. Its people precipitated into abysmal poverty and despair.
Haiti's history, its colonial past have been erased.
The US military has come to the rescue of an impoverished Nation. What is its Mandate?
Is it a Humanitarian Operation or an Invasion?
The main actors in America's "humanitarian operation" are the Department of Defense, the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). (See USAID Speeches: On-The-Record Briefing on the Situation in Haiti, 01/13/10). USAID has also been entrusted in channelling food aid to Haiti, which is distributed by the World Food Program. (See USAID Press Release: USAID to Provide Emergency Food Aid for Haiti Earthquake Victims, January 13, 2010)
The military component of the US mission, however, tends to overshadow the civilian functions of rescuing a desperate and impoverished population. The overall humanitarian operation is not being led by civilian governmental agencies such as FEMA or USAID, but by the Pentagon.
The dominant decision making role has been entrusted to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
A massive deployment of military hardware and personnel is contemplated. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has confirmed that the US will be sending nine to ten thousand troops to Haiti, including 2000 marines. (American Forces Press Service, January 14, 2010)
Aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson and its complement of supporting ships has already arrived in Port au Prince. (January 15, 2010). The 2,000-member Marine Amphibious Unit as well as and soldiers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne division "are trained in a wide variety of missions including security and riot-control in addition to humanitarian tasks."
In contrast to rescue and relief teams dispatched by various civilian teams and organizations, the humanitarian mandate of the US military is not clearly defined:
“Marines are definitely warriors first, and that is what the world knows the Marines for,... [but] we’re equally as compassionate when we need to be, and this is a role that we’d like to show -- that compassionate warrior, reaching out with a helping hand for those who need it. We are very excited about this.” (Marines' Spokesman, Marines Embark on Haiti Response Mission, Army Forces Press Services, January 14, 2010)
While presidents Obama and Préval spoke on the phone, there were no reports of negotiations between the two governments regarding the entry and deployment of US troops on Haitian soil. The decision was taken and imposed unilaterally by Washington. The total lack of a functioning government in Haiti was used to legitimize, on humanitarian grounds, the sending in of a powerful military force, which has de facto taken over several governmental functions.
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About the only thing that comes to mind now is Haiti's "strategic" position in the drug-running trade from Columbia to the US.
http://www.wehaitians.com/drug%20traffi ... 0port.html
Ever think that the military is better equipped to handle the ammount of goods that have to be transported to an area that is as bad as a war zone, ever think that US and Canadian military forces are trained and equipped to deal with a long list of things such as crowd control, looters, policing an area that has no police force right now, logistics and distribution of supplies, medical aid ect...
If the US and Canada did not send anyone and just let the various aid agencies deal with it you'd be blasting them for not doing enough. Guess what, it's part of their SOP and will continue to be long after your in th ground.
I don't disagree that the US has had it's hands in Haiti for many many years now, but your truly alarmist opinions come out to the front when you fling this crap about an aid mission.
Take off the tinfoil hats for awhile folks, and try to see the good in the world we live in for once instead of looking for the alarmist imperialist angle on everything the US does.
As typical imperialist history has shown, the US military and their Canadian puppets are in Haiti for enforcement reasons only. The bulk of the people won`t receive the help they need. It was the US who 'exiled' the democratically elected Jean Bertrand Aristide from Haiti to Africa simply because he went against banker-corporate fascist globalist policy. And the US- Canadian militaries are nothing more than agents of global enforcement of banker slavery! Funny how our media doesn`t track down Aristide and get his take on all that is happening in Haiti now.
You seem to forget that his (Aristide's) own cabinet and family backed up US claims of his drug running, his human rights violations and his Embezzelment and corruption. You seem to forget that he is a politician and hence just as full of shit as any western politician. But he's anti Globailiation so he must conform to YOUR agenda. I suppose you believe everythign Chavez says too. Pretty sure if the US hadn't brought him to Africa he'd be dead right now
The majority of people in Hati right now won't get their assistance for 2 reasons
1. There isn't enough (and what have you contributed other than conspiracy theories)
2. They don't trust each other let alone aid agencies and governments, hence those that aren't in the most dire need won't seek aid, they'll just loot and pilliage as the chances arise.
By the way, Aristide issued a statement hours after the earthquake stating his remorse to Hatians for their losses and the desire to return and help rebuild, Like 1 man in exile can do more than the releif efforts going on now. He probably wants to come and see how much aid and building supplies he can supplant for his own needs.
Well its a funny thing. The US and Canada sent in the military to get rid of Aristide, an elected guy, wanted by most of the people.And even though, yes, he`s a politician, and therefore, not worthy of 100% trust, he certainly wasn`t Washington`s man! And if you want to talk about drug running, look no further than your own US administration! And from what I can see, most people don`t loot for the fun of it- they loot simply because indeed, there`s not enough aid getting through, even though those who rule the world could certainly help the Haitians way more than they are! But since fiat fractional reserve banking by the ultimate mafia rules the earth right now, you`ll see some token aid, just like with Hurricane Katrina, but most of the people will be left to twist in the wind. And there`s good reason not to trust these supposed charity agencies: they`re mostly corrupt. That`s exactly why i wouldn`t donate money to such a thing. As for what I give to, I may not have much to give, but it is to my fellow Canadians here at home! How about you?
I also give, but not money and not to recognized big business chrities for the same reasons as you. I give time, at shelters, food banks ect, 15-20 hours a week. While I do not deny there are issues with how things are done in these situations, I find it a rather large and blind leap to critisize the efforts simply because of US involvement, What you sound like is an exact copy of Aljazeera's coverage of the earthquake zone (typical and noted anti-western world bias). All I was saying is that anti-Globalists/capitalists, or simply those that are dead set against anything the US does tend to use situations like this to fuel their own propoganda. While sites are focusing on what is being done, you here tend to focus on 1. what is NOT being done and 2. Whatever the US's agenda is in the region.
Face the truth and realize that without US and Canadian military operations in this area right now, all aid will go to the strongest of those that can take it for themselves, they will riot and swamp aid depots like thugs and take it all, then who will be left to twist in the wind? Women, Children and the elderly, while strong authoritative Hatian Men will hoard it for themselves and sell it to the highest bidders.
Ed Deak.