France and Brazil
are complaining about U.S. control of Toussaint L'Ouverture airport in Haiti. As usual no good deed by the U.S. goes unpunished. In the chaos after the earthquake, the Haitian government formerly transferred control of the airport to the U.S., obviously recognizing that someone needed to take charge, and that the U.S. was in the best position to do so. But the French and Brazilians aren't happy because some of their aid flights have been diverted to the Dominican Republic. Never mind that the damaged airport has a low capacity, that flights have to be prioritized, and that unorganized relief efforts aren't going to do much good. They've chosen to take offense at U.S. leadership. The Brazilian reaction:
Brazil, which saw its leadership of the UN peacekeeping mission as a calling card of its burgeoning influence, was also indignant when three flights were not allowed to land. The foreign ministry reportedly asked Hillary Clinton to grant Brazil priority over chartered flights. Nelson Jobim, the defence minister, said Brazil would not relinquish command duties and suggested it, not Washington, would continue to lead UN forces.
Yeah, because Brazil's influence is just more important than actually getting relief efforts organized. Brazil has so much experience leading massive international relief efforts. I'm sure they'd be much better suited for leadership than the U.S. And then there are the French.
Paris complained the airport had become a US "annexe"
Instead of working with us, recognizing that the Haiti is right in our backyard, the French would rather whine, snivel and cause problems. I guess that's something you can always count on no matter what the situation.
Totally one sided, childish and uninformed post in which the most important details were left out...
ReplyDeleteThe protest aren`t because of the fact of the americans being in control of the airport, but because they are prioritizing every american plane without regard to what they are bringing, what in the american case involves lots of military personel. while much of the food, water and medical aid are being sent to the dominican republic where they aren`t needed. If france has any less importance because of the distance, i`d love to know what the US are doing in iraq, or do you consider them as your backyard too... Well anyway brazil is as near as the US and has been there for years, being the country with the most troops there at the time of the quake. And it is this Monopoly view of the world much like yours thad draws the criticism. And you believe that the US is the only selfless country supporting the Haiti, everyone seeking political gains, but the US?
well if you say so..
Forgive me for the relatively poor english, but i believe its understandable.
and don`t take it on the personal side, i wish all the best for you and your family.
with best regards
Kai
"Totally one sided, childish and uninformed post in which the most important details were left out..."
ReplyDeleteNonsense. The article is linked for anyone to read.
"The protest aren`t because of the fact of the americans being in control of the airport, but because they are prioritizing every american plane without regard to what they are bringing, what in the american case involves lots of military personel. while much of the food, water and medical aid are being sent to the dominican republic where they aren`t needed"
Aid is useless without security and the ability to distribute it. Otherwise you have people fighting for it. The French should understand that. Their complaints are ludicrous and deserving of my ridicule.
"If france has any less importance because of the distance"
France has far less importance for obvious reason, of which distance is only one of them.
" i`d love to know what the US are doing in iraq, or do you consider them as your backyard too."
Completely irrelevant as it's an entirely different situation.
" Well anyway brazil is as near as the US and has been there for years, being the country with the most troops there at the time of the quake"
And if you read the linked article, you would note that the UN mission, led by Brazil, was in disarray and accomplishing little. And Brazil has nothing like the disaster relief experience and resources of the U.S.
" And it is this Monopoly view of the world much like yours thad draws the criticism."
What's a Monopoly view?
"And you believe that the US is the only selfless country supporting the Haiti, everyone seeking political gains, but the US?
well if you say so.."
Nice strawman. I didn't say that at all. That criticism applies only to Brazil in this case, based on the words of their representative.
"Aid is useless without security and the ability to distribute it. Otherwise you have people fighting for it. The French should understand that. Their complaints are ludicrous and deserving of my ridicule."
ReplyDeleteAnd military personel aren`t necessary if there is no one left to aid
"France has far less importance for obvious reason, of which distance is only one of them."
What about haiti being an french speaking country, which was an french colony?
"Completely irrelevant as it's an entirely different situation."
I agree, it was just to show that distance has long since left to be barrier, and to remember that flights who com from farther away should have priority...
"And if you read the linked article, you would note that the UN mission, led by Brazil, was in disarray and accomplishing little. And Brazil has nothing like the disaster relief experience and resources of the U.S."
Remind me which UN missions works well. It`s not only a problem in this one, but since the brazilian presence there, much had been achieved, even if not as much as wanted. You can`t say katrina, was the most well organized relief effort of all time, even though it was in the US, and no one has experience in tragedies like the one in Haiti. Brazil had its south devastated by rainfalls two years ago, and aid was fast and well distributed, and many of the teams that worked on the mudslides on new year here were sent there...
"What's a Monopoly view?"
I meant this view that the US for some reason has more rights then others..i`ve never been able to fully practice my english..
"Nice strawman. I didn't say that at all. That criticism applies only to Brazil in this case, based on the words of their representative."
what did you mean by "As usual no good deed by the U.S. goes unpunished." then? And i`m not saying brazil is not trying to gain political influence from the matter, i know for a fact they are, they want that seat at the security council. But the USA want the political gains just as much as every other country.
"And military personel aren`t necessary if there is no one left to aid"
ReplyDeleteTrue, but irrelevant to anything I wrote.
"What about haiti being an french speaking country, which was an french colony?"
So what? France is welcome to help, and I'm sure they could make a good contribution. But their whining is still ridiculous and uncalled for.
"Remind me which UN missions works well."
True, but you are helping make my point.
"what did you mean by "As usual no good deed by the U.S. goes unpunished.""
I meant that the U.S. is doing something positive in aiding Haiti, and is getting attacked for it from certain quarters.
"But the USA want the political gains just as much as every other country."
Yes, but the current Haiti situation is not an example of that. The U.S. has nothing much to gain in Haiti. And we will be spending a massive amount of taxpayer money, and tying up significant military resources. It's a humanitarian effort, not an effort to increase influence. The last thing the U.S. needs is another nation-building project.
So predictable... I saw and heard the same reactions when the carrier Abraham Lincoln arrived offshore during the Indonesian Tsunami.
ReplyDeleteI saw the UN managers initially devoting more time to ensuring their Land Cruisers were delivered with up market options, and that their accomodation had satellite TV installed..
The UN is a shambles,typically they deliver only $0.35 to £0.40 on the dollar to people who really need the aid.. The rest is swallowed by administration expenses..
BRAVO the USA don't listen to this politically charged nonsense...
Still not convinced that it is in any way better to give priority to every american plane independent of what is on board...
ReplyDeleteand i find the way the original post was written is offensive to the brazilian and french aid efforts
ReplyDelete