Extraordinary US military central to Haitian relief efforts

It is a multinational relief effort, Sir John. However only the US military possesses the capability of installing rapid communications for a non-operable airport in a matter of 28 minutes after arrival. The port and alternative docking... plus replacement of cargo cranes for unloading... are also being addressed simultaneously. However, as I said, you open the main and fastest route by air to get the aid flowing while working on the rest. The challenges are different, and can not be completed within the same timeframe. They are not, however, being ignored.

All the volunteers and workers from all over the world may show up in Haiti - ready to work. But without the US military, they couldn’t get supplies and heavy equipment into the country in a timely fashion. And as long as we have a superior military, we will remain the only ones capable of doing so with maximum results.

By the weekend there should be 3500 US troops in Haiti with various tasks. They are there not only for security (for Haitians, plus the relief workers of all nations, including our own), but also to assist in debris clearing, basic reconstruction, etal. I may be wrong, but I do not foresee this being some unwitting or long term “occupation”.

I fully comprehend the diversion of resources complaint. Having this discussion with an AFPAK friend parallel to this, as a matter of fact. However I do have to ask the same question here What strategic foreign policy wisdom is there to ignore our backyard - 750 miles from the Florida Keys - by refusing to pledge allegiance and aid for our NA hemisphere neighbors for budgetary reasons? Especially a nation where approx 45,000 American citizens (or estimated 5% of total population) were in residence?

And one might consider the broader repercussions. Considering that most theatres of war require military, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation internationally, what happens to future relations if we choose to turn a blind eye to humanitarian aid for natural disasters this close to home?

And have you considered the very real possibility that if we do not provide aid to our North American neighbors, some other undesirable source (ala Indonesia and the jihad movements with money) fills that void instead?

The Obama administration’s failure to emphasize, from the moment this crisis struck, getting a sea-based facility established to offload containers and establish large refugee camps will prove absolutely catastrophic to the Haitian people.

Mark my words.

I am not blaming the US military in the least, to the contrary I am lauding them for their magnificent effort.

However, for Obama go off politicking for some hack pol and dump the Haitian problem in the lap of some two-star admiral somewhere is an abdication of duty.

I don’t care if they have to get sub tenders, floating drydocks, a salvage vessels or whatever they can find in there that can offload supplies, the need to open up the sea-based delivery of supplies is paramount. They needed to start the effort days ago, and go round the clock to get it done.

I very much hope I am wrong, but it is looking to me like Obama’s failure on this score will become horribly and tragically apparent over the next few weeks in the lives of literally millions of people.

I was estatic when I heard our military would be in the disaster area so early. I was really pissed when I heard that logistics at the airport would be handled by some other Haitian organization, and that overall distribution logistics was going to be through some U.N. group. The U.N. has how many thousands of people in place? And they obviously had no plans in place to begin with. And many of those that live and work in Haiti are concerned about their own homes and families.

I fear that bringing our well supplied troops into a situation that is disorganized and with no sense of control will only bring more chaos. The example of the chaos of one truck showing up in an area with no plan or control in place but multiplied by a thousand.

I guess it would be harsh (and obviously not in the cards with Obama), but if it were up to me, it would be “Our military will aid and assist you, but it will be done our way. We will be in command, keep you in the loop and require your resources and local knowledge. But it will be us running the show.”

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