As you can see from my post, I prefer American forces remain in Haiti until the relief effort is largely finished, for the protection of the aid workers & restoration of some semblance of order.
I don't believe that will happen until basic services (water, sewer, & elec.) are largely restored in PaP & other population centers. To do that, the streets & damaged buildings have to be cleared, which will be slow work because of the possibility of victims still alive in the rubble, & because of dead body removal. As with the WTC, that alone could take months.
I must say, though, that our military has years of experience securing & rebuilding Iraq & Afghanistan that will serve them well in Haiti. And Haitian thugs will likely be scared of our battle hardened troops.
Look. Sh&t happens! Often! To you, your friends, neighbors, relatives, & strangers; at very inconvenient times. Sometimes, you have to do what it takes, for as long as it takes. Now is the time for saving lives. Exit strategies can be considered later.
I guess the question for our Leader (nobama) is: should the US taxpayers rebuild it to where it was (a slum without much) or to our standard. As to the “our standard” why should the US do that? Shouldn’t the Haitians work hard, stop being corrupt and socialistic and do so themselves? Why does the US taxpayer have some sort of obligation to that country????? Shouldn’t the “elite” of Haiti open their Swiss bank accounts and help their lousy country and its people?