It’s true that the US government completely failed in its responsibilities to our own people in the wake of hurricane Katrina – however, keep in mind that a different president was in charge then. Also, I suspect that the world community would have failed as spectacularly in noticing the destruction in Haiti were it not for Partners in Health. Paul Farmer’s world-renowned aid organization has the ear of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, and it began and largely centers in Haiti. Doctor Farmer has the ear of a lot of very powerful and influential people, and I think his influence combined with the way communications have been revolutionized by Twitter in only the last few years make a big difference in our capacity to mobilize assistance now as compared to in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Another thing people may be forgetting is that the military is really the only federally-funded program that is set up to deal with high-risk situations, including a debris-strewn and disease-ridden disaster scene. The Peace Corps, for example, holds the safety of its volunteers as utmost in importance and doesn’t operate in regions that are politically volatile or dangerous. If anyone has seen videos of Haitian earthquake victims struggling with one another to get food as it’s being handed out, you might understand how a sudden catastrophe combined with limited resources could make for a volatile and potentially dangerous situation for aid workers. In addition, members of the U.S. military are in shape, well-coordinated and trained for rapid response, and have already pledged to risk their lives – there are no liability issues with sending the military, and deployment can be quick and efficient.

It’s frustrating that George Bush didn’t explain his rationale in requesting cash, but it doesn’t mean that he’s asking for handouts for his own pocket. He’s a rich man, from a rich family, and while I’m no fan of his politics, I do believe he sincerely thinks of himself as a good person and wouldn’t conscientiously steal money from dying people just to steal money. Certainly it is true that cash is an easier thing to manage in a chaotic situation than goods. In general, cash is a better form of aid than goods, because when foreign foods are shipped in, for example, it hurts the business of local farmers, thus weakening the economy in the long-term. Those with an eye on long-term recovery and development would understandably be concerned if local producers were to lose their livelihoods due to foreign products flooding the market.

As for the decisions to send away planes full of desperately needed supplies and food, I really don’t know what to make of that, but I’m willing to chalk it up to miscommunication and human error – it is a chaotic scene in Haiti, and when big bureaucratic institutions try working together in ways they never have before, inefficiencies and red tape do tend to get in the way.

The only good thing that has come out of this tragedy is that the world seems to be finally working together out of a sense of compassion. There isn’t much partisan bickering here, and individuals and governments all around the world are reaching into our pockets and giving what we can to help. It shows a lot of promise in the potential of our technology to help us work together to solve problems, and demonstrates the compassion and goodness in human nature. We are all people, and I just can’t believe that anyone would intentionally turn a tragedy like this into an entrepreneurial or imperialistic venture, though devastating human mistakes are very possible in an atmosphere of such chaotic devastation.

Now, it seems as though I know nothing and you Heywood, know the full story. Care to elaborate? I’d love to hear your view. Why not share information rather than bash people…?

Do you work for a living? Why don’t you take your money, and ‘give’ it to countries that have no industry, no manufacturing, no production, no order, … so they can sustain themselves. You are an uninformed, raving lunatic. You take stories and quotes, and you use them out of context. If you knew the ‘full story’, you’d understand how mentally insane and foolish you appear to those who read and strive to uncover the real story.

You’re a mess. And as they say… “You can’t argue with a fool’s sick mind. They drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience.”

Go drink some Kool-Aid…!

“SO we have this slum full of people who still have their homes, have guns and control, rape and kill at their desire, and the UN walking around with guns to enforce the law is a problem? It isn’t at all possible, that armed gangs with guns might try to take supplies, had the UN with guns not shown up?”

They both have guns. Period. How do you call one side a gang and a thug and the other side what? The “good guys”? Isn’t that contradictory? Who is one to judge another? Our world leaders, such as the UN, send troops to fight wars over oil lands but yet no one calls them a gang or thugs because it’s just become accepted in society. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Those people carry guns because it’s a part of their culture in order to survive. If the UN really gave a shit about stopping the “gangs” they would take the trillions that is spent on war every year and give countries like Haiti enough money to sustain a comfortable life for all citizens. It’s not about dismantling these gangs for civilian safety. It’s about dismantling them for the safety of our world leaders and them being able to implement their laws in countries that are looked upon as “rebel” countries to the new world order that they want in place.