Posted on 01/14/2010 9:06:06 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Shaul Schwarz, a photographer for TIME magazine, said he saw at least two downtown roadblocks formed with bodies of earthquake victims and rocks.
"They are starting to block the roads with bodies, it's getting ugly out there, people are fed up with getting no help," he said.
President Barack Obama has promised Haitians they would not be forgotten, offering $100 million in immediate earthquake aid and the backing of every element of US power.
A large-scale US military and civilian aid operation has gained momentum with Washington sending rescue teams, ships, helicopters, planes, a floating hospital, emergency supplies and more than 5,000 ground troops.
However, there was little sign of the aid effort on the ground in the capital, where chaos ruled.
Gunshots were heard throughout the night and looting was commonplace as desperate survivors scrambled to find scarce supplies of food, water and medical equipment.
Gangs were also reported to be roaming the streets, making up rumours of a looming tidal wave so that they coudl steal from fleeing families.
Complicating the relief effort, the city's airport was closed for several hours due to severe overcrowding and a lack of airport fuel.
The Pentagon has rejected criticism that it may have acted too slowly to deploy its military might in the first 24 hours of the disaster, saying it moved in assessment teams quickly.
But the relief effort faced serious challenges, Mr Obama said, with roads in Haiti impassable, communications rudimentary, and aftershocks still rumbling.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Perhaps they are using the bodies as sandbags?
I think the worst thing about being a Haitian right now is the fact that there’s nowhere to go. Yeah yeah until Obama brings all the Haitians here yadda yadda blah blah blah
My organization is asking for volunteers to deploy to that area. I feel safer in Iraq.
OBAMA HATES BLACK PEOPLE! Including Rod Blagojevich.
we should evacuate the entire population of Port au Prince
to Venezuela
Katrina x 1000.
I feel sorry for the people. Unfortunately they are starting to behave like New Orleans survivors. And I don't mean that in a complimentary way.
what is ticking me off is the MSM reporting of the Haitian’s lack of patience when half the frikkin’ free world is there to aid & comfort.Haitians have their own political&religious leaders who need to step up to the plate.yeah,from whomever’s left.....
I have this gut-wretching feeling that our “earthquake relief” will result in thousands of new voters in the United States who will be dedicated followers of Obama.
“Unfortunately they are starting to behave like New Orleans survivors. And I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. “
Please elaborate.
“The first US Army troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were expected to arrive late last night.
About 100 troops will find locations to set up tents and make other preparations for the arrival of roughly 800 personnel from the division today and a full brigade of some 3,500 by the end of the weekend.
They come on top of some 2,200 Marines, also due to arrive by Sunday or Monday.”
A full brigade from the 82nd being deployed to the island. Does this affect our national security?
No elaboration necessary. Behavior speaks for itself.
Plus Governor Blanco refused to let the army trucks in and “federalize” her state.
I would assume they can set up some drop zones for C-17s to drop pallets of food and water. Cause it won’t be safe to transport the stuff via roads pretty shortly once those people reach the point of absolute rioting and fighting for survival. I hope our troops there will have adequate protection once this turns into mad max world. But I have a feeling maobama will leave them out to dry.
No matter what the US does for Haiti, they will complain.
Never let a crisis go to waste.
Actually, probably in the millions.
I expect that the approach will evolve fairly quickly into massive refugee camps, and given the widespread destruction and poverty and collapse of central authority, that eventually a significant percentage of the population will end up in the US. Obama administration and congress will authorize refugee resettlement in the US in large numbers.
Uh...I'm afraid to ask...But why are they blocking the roads?
Mariel boatlift
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