[SirJohnBarleycorn]

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasized the importance of the first 72 hours

Yes, immediate response is necessary, but it's week 3 and 4 they needed to especially plan for as well.

That is when large numbers of people will start dying from infections, disease, lack of clean water and violence.

They needed to move round-the-clock from minute one in order to reopen the seaport and have a sea-supplied massive refugee camp operating by week three, from which large numbers of people in the city can be supplied with water, food, medicine, safety and sanitation.

I hope I'm wrong, but the failure of the Obama admin on this score may cost the lives of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the coming weeks. Tragically, the result seems to be baked in the cake at this point.

[TXnMA]

If the port is totally long-term non-functional, (water/wharves blocked by collapsed cranes, etc.) surely the US has in place a plan for an amphibious assault on an unoccupied beach near PortAuPrince. Just charge ashore, offload bulldozers and road equipment first, and punch through to the nearest existing road. Then start rolling trucks loaded with supplies, field hospitals, expert troops, etc.

Of course, conditions might require a few Marines and Air Assault troops to lead the way and provide security, but if we treat this as a valuable military exercise -- then tell the UN and other bi+(#3rs to "shove it", we should be able to inject some serious help.

Of course, that would require a CIC with brains and b@lls -- and that, we ain't got... :-(