[Dustoff45]

Saw vegatation everywhere. Sure, Port au Prince is overrun by people, but plants grow in that moist hot environment.

Took one trip up the mountain to see Ft. Jacque, and saw a lot of hillside planting, terracing like you would expect to see in Asia. Many people farming. It is not as depressing as it seems.

Visited a small church in the bush that meet in a hut made up of palm fronds, about 20 x 50 feet. Our local church has been helping them erect both a permament church site, as well as a school. For most youngsters, the local christian school is their only opportunity for an education.

Visited the homes of several people of that church and saw many animals, cows, pigs, donkeys tethered in the fields to graze.

It was explained that the cow was the man's bank account. Having grown up on the farm, I understood the concept. A farmer does not need cash, as much has he needs an opportunity for crops to grow and calves to mature.

Meet one amish family that have been down there for years helping the local people with agricultural methods.

[not-alone]

I have been following this thread with interest and thanks for your comments. I have hesitated to post because of very mixed feeling and I am questioning my personal feelings. I lived and traveled in the Caribbean for over 35 years and have very different feelings about different Islands, as I have about European countries. My thoughts this morning were of how different St. Martian , an island with two governments, and the situation with Haiti and Santo Domingo.

I heard Julian on Fox this morning say, "we owe Haiti because without Haiti we would not have gotten the Louisiana Purchase." PLEASE!

This is one situation where I trust Pres. Bush and Colin Powell to make the best decisions.