As U.S. Troops arrived in Haiti they were forced to become the only police force in the chaotic country. The troops were being sent to perform a rescue mission, but given the state of affairs, they had to establish law and order before any major aid initiative could take place.
With hardened criminals roaming the streets of the city in ruins looking for targets of opportunity to rob and rape, the situation was getting much worse by the minute.
Armed with machetes, the inmates escaped when the local prison collapsed during the first earthquake, and with the local police nowhere to be seen, the devastated city of Port-au-Prince became theirs for the moment.
Facing a difficult distribution of food and water, many of the relief agencies in the city had to retreat to safe places to escape the violence, and there were even reports of famished residents throwing stones at those who were trying to help them. As in New Orleans, the desperation level found an outlet in violent and criminal behavior.
U.S. troops have been forced to conduct a "compassionate invasion" to establish some kind of order until the local police and Haitian government can gain control of the mad crowd which turned into a rioting mob.
The goodwill of the American people will be tested as the months go by and many will begin to wonder why the U.S. has to be the policeman and benefactor of the entire world. Some are talking about staying in Haiti for years to rebuild a country that refuses to survive. In the meantime, senior citizens are choosing between food and medicine right here in America.
During the last 70 years, the U.S. and the U.N. have heaped billions of dollars in Haiti and it all has been to no avail. Without a decent government and an economic base that can be sustained over the long term, there is no hope for that country to be saved. Even with thousands of U.N. representatives there to help them, it does not seem to make much difference.
In the meantime, we have 30,000 Haitian criminals in U.S. prisons waiting to be deported, what shall we do with them?
LOUIS GINESI DOMINGUEZ
Warrenton
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