For "normal" couples international adoption is also a sea of red tape and waiting time, not to mention $$. Celebs make it look so easy, both domestic and international adoption.
All you need is $$$$$
"For "normal" couples international adoption is also a sea of red tape and waiting time"
In the 90's one could do direct adoptions with a VN orphanage. You had to provide all the U.S. financials, U.S. police clearance, etc., but didn't need to go through a U.S. agency (although there were several there).
After a 4 year embargo, looks like the new rules do require an agency, which as you know is more expensive (last I looked $10 to $20 K).
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_349.html
Wifey and I were going to adopt under similar circumstances to Jolie's kid (spousal abandonment and poverty), but the new rules weren't in place at the time so my wife's sister in VN adopted the infant rather than have her sucked into the VN orphanage system.