CNN repoetrer lashes US tardiness in Haiti

[Sickko]

A CNN reporter was almost in tears today when she visited a field hospital operated by the Israeli that was operational in a short matter of time while the US was yet to even get their started.

She said she could not believe her eyes when the Israelis who came long after the Americans and "from all the way on the other side of the world" had their's up and running.

[Mosiah]

Meanwhile, they have taken control of the airport and prevented others from coming in.

But, when the massive hospital ship gets there, we'll all be impressed. Don't ask how many might have died while they revved its engines.

THANK YOU, USA!

[Mosiah]

Maybe the cameras were not in place yet, so the Americans had to hold off likkle bit.

[Assasin]

CUT OUT THE NEGITIVITY.
everybody a try work to get the best in such situation. While everything may not be 100% people are working.

I just came from the supermarket where they are asking for direct contribution. I have never seen it and they make sure to say 100% contribution to the relief effort. Many US private and public organization and others from all over the world is responding. Now is not the time for the political criticism, but support.

[Mosiah]

so true, assasin. i could not agree more!

if only some countries and their zealots would quit with the nonsense!

[Hortical]

Scores of unidentified bodies...........

[Bricktop]

Mi dun tell unnuh already dat Haiti is a cash cow for the First World. Haitians are more valuable to the USA in a state of helplessness.

[Hortical]

Most of the projects administered by foreign NGOs are not well managed. Yuh nuh see dem quick fi use dem agents fi attack's Wycliff's charity when dem see money a roll it. The criticism of his group is without merit.

[Hortical]

French minister criticizes US aid role in Haiti

French minister criticizes US aid role in Haiti

2 hrs 59 mins ago
PARIS – The United Nations must investigate and clarify the dominant U.S. role in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, a French minister said Monday, claiming that international aid efforts were about helping Haiti, not "occupying" it.
U.S. forces last week turned back a French aid plane carrying a field hospital from the damaged, congested airport in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, prompting a complaint from French Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet. The plane landed safely the following day.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned governments and aid groups not to squabble as they try to get their aid into Haiti.
"People always want it to be their plane ... that lands," Kouchner said Monday. "(But) what's important is the fate of the Haitians."
But Joyandet persisted.
"This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," Joyandet, in Brussels for an EU meeting on Haiti, said on French radio.
In another weekend incident, 250 Americans were flown to New Jersey's McGuire Air Force Base on three military planes from Haiti. U.S. forces initially blocked French and Canadians nationals from boarding the planes, but the cordon was lifted after protests from French and Canadian officials.
The U.S. military controls the Port-au-Prince airport where only one runway is functioning and has been effectively running aid operations. However, the United Nations is taking the lead in the critical task of coordinating aid.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday the U.S. government had no intention of taking power from Haitian officials. "We are working to back them up, but not to supplant them," she said.
Joyandet said he expects a U.N. decision on how governments should work together in Haiti and that he hopes "things will be clarified concerning the role of the United States."
Other French officials sought to calm diplomatic tensions over aid. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero insisted the plane incidents were "minor problems" to be expected during such a difficult relief mission and said that Kouchner and Clinton have been working since the quake on coordinating help.
Both nations have occupied Haiti in the past.
France occupied Haiti for more than 100 years, from 1697 to independence in 1804 after the world's first successful slave uprising. More recently, U.S. Marines occupied the country from 1915 to 1934 to quiet political turmoil.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he intends to travel to Haiti "in the weeks to come," though no date has been set. Former Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has cautioned that Sarkozy shouldn't go too soon because it could divert attention from aid efforts.
U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said, "Clearly it can be a problem if every leader in the world wants to turn up. It will inevitably cause problems, particularly for the leadership of these operations, although not, of course, for the humanitarian workers on the ground."

[Sickko]

Trust me I wondered who made the US the bosses here and how did they just walk in and take over to the point where they are now telling who can and who cant land...time for a multi-national group be set up to make decisions

[Jawge]

So you don't want your beloved USA to run the show?

[Mosiah]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he intends to travel to Haiti "in the weeks to come," though no date has been set. Former Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has cautioned that Sarkozy shouldn't go too soon because it could divert attention from aid efforts.

Hmmm...what a novel thought!

[Mosiah]

Yuh nuh hear say is Rene Preval cede over authority to the US to run di show!? Like him nuh know di history of Haiti.

[MdmeX]

Not fair - yes the Israeli may have them hospital up and running. But look how much work people from the US military who are on the ground have been doing.

That was just an over-emotional reporter.