Time magazine has a very compelling feature on the deteriorating situation in Haiti.
My heart and prayers go out to the people of that impoverished country.
Once Haiti begins to stabilize in the coming months with international humanitarian assistance the nations of the Americas and France will need to meet to find a solution or solutions to this quagmire of a country that hasn't developed economically since its independence from Napoleonic France in the early 1800's.
Since 1992, the United States has provided Haiti with $4B in foreign aid on top of billions more from other countries for infrastructure development. Where has the money gone? Why has there been a lack of accountability from the United States, France and the United Nations?
We can no longer continue to witness this nation in our own back yard slide deeper and deeper into misery thus affecting its island neighbor, the Dominican Republic, whom it shares a border with on the island of Hispaniola.
Haiti must change. Haiti must work. However, I do not think allowing the oligarchs to run Haiti again will be beneficial to any short or long term improvements. History shows us that allowing the Haitians to manage their own country's affairs will not help matters. It's far too corrupt. Far too inept. Far too poor. Far too complex.
The Americas can no longer allow the island of Hispaniola to have a failed state and a prosperous one living side by side. Such uncomfortable situations give rise to bitterness, disharmony and hatred towards the failed party and the people who allow it to happen. The Dominican Republic also deserves a better, more orderly and civil neighbor to its west.
Perhaps the time has come for France to dispatch its world renowned Legion Etrangere to impose order and civility to the people of this narrow stretch of land that have never experienced such ideals we take for granted in our own country.
What is also in order is the creation of a Franco-Americas Authority (under a United Nations mandate if possible) with the United States and France running the administrative processes, reforming the national police and army, and bringing in foreign investments under strict Authority regulation.
Certainly, such Authority is worth considering because the current situation is not working for either the Haitian people, the Dominicans next door, the United States, France and Latin America.
What's your opinion? I'd like to know.
I agree, Lee. In dire situations such as the one Haiti is currently facing... it is imperative to evaluate not only the current conditions, but rather the ones that existed before and the one's that lay ahead. As we all can see, Haiti is in grave need of help... but what the Haitians need to see... "Refusing to ask for help when you need it... is refusing someone the chance to be helpful" ~Ric Ocasek
ReplyDeleteLee, what goes on. I have to....disagree...to a degree. I do not feel that further involvement, besides with a rebuilding effort, from the USA would be beneficial. They were already part of the problem by enriching and empowering dictators such as Papa Doc and Baby Doc. Even Aristede was corrupt and allowed the country to further sink into hell. France should be responsible for the damage that they wrought to Haiti up and (again) where is the reparations for the USA supporting The monstrous Trujillo and his 'Antihaitianismo' (Anti-Haitian) movement which severely crippled Haiti even further? I personally feel that Haiti has had the international community turn it's back on them as retribution for the Slave revolts lead by Toussaint L'Ouverture, which released them from beneath the foot of Napoleon.
ReplyDeleteAgain, that's my personal feelings, but that does not make them invalid.
Hopefully someone else besides the USA steps up. Naturally it won't be out of the kindness of anyone's heart, but for their pockets.
Congratulations on your blog, my brother Lee.
Thank you Heidi and Corey for your responses. There is a saying: Strike whan the iron is hot, and it is hot right now as the attention of the world is focused on Haiti.
ReplyDeleteI know the history of the US, Haiti and the Dominican Republic having learned it at CCNY long time ago. History is jus that, history. I'm not into blaming the US or France or Papa Doc or Baby Doc or Aristide or Trujillo.
All nations have interests. It is in the interests of the USA, France, the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and the rest of Latin America, as well as the United Nations, to work to move Haiti around in the right direction.
It is obvious to the world that Haiti cannot move in a positive direction unless it is helped. The is far too much corruption and mindless gangsterism there to prevent stability from ever establishing itself. This is why the world has abandoned the republic.
Let's pray that the world can unite this time around before it is too late, and we allow the people there to wither on endless misery.
The US and France should create a partnership of nations called the Franco-American Authority on Haiti which would take over the entire governmental infrastructure. The US military and the French Foreign Legion would provide the security and train a new national police force (it can do without an army).
From there, the Authority would seek foreign investments, and only it would be in control of such investments.
This will take time. Maybe ten years or fifteen or twenty, but that is chump change given the two centuries of instability this nation have been mired in. Just look at how NATO and the US have been in the Balkans since 1995. Why not Haiti?
See, I have an issue with either of these 'rescuing' countries (France and America) coming back full circle to do the exact aame thing to Haiti that was done to it in the first place...
ReplyDeleteNeo-Colonialism.
They will come, they won't leave, America will set up a military base or a trade system to bleed what's left of Haitis natural resources and France will turn it back into a breeding ground for sex and tourism. That's not help. That's 'occupation'.
What happened to helping you neighbor out of compassion.
Corey, what do you actually propose short of a military intervention? The fact is that Haiti is a no-mans land. There is no law and order. It's a complete mess brought about by decades old corruption.
ReplyDeleteHaiti needs help. The UN has been there for over a decade with nothing to show for it. The US and France need to come up with a concise plan to implement. It may take a decade or two to rebuild Haiti with the necessary force of the two countries behind it. There are no alternatives in my opinion but a military occupation.