The earthquake that devastated Port au Prince on January 12 offers a superb excuse to justify the umpteenth invasion and military occupation of Haiti, held since 2004, but now directly by the main promoters of the occupation, without intermediaries. Reasons, political and strategic, not missing. By the way, serve to castigating the main broker of the current occupation, Brazil, despite the good service in Haiti has not behaved in the same way in relation to the recent coup in Honduras.
What we've seen so far seems to corroborate the thesis that it is preparing a new military occupation, not humanitarian. Several items indicated as friction with the current occupants, the peacekeeping mission (MINUSTAH), UN especially with Brazil, which has the military command, obstruction of humanitarian assistance and promoting a state of chaos, and a media campaign consisting of the creation of an image of chaos and violence that would justify an occupation to the public. As we shall see below, all these components appear to be present.
There is reason to suspect that it is deliberately allowing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Haiti. For example the known lack of coordination in relief work, widely disseminated by the media. In theory, this corresponds to the UN to conduct such tasks, but apparently it has been disavowed by the United States, occupied from early in one of the key points for the coordination of rescue efforts, the airport. Without the leadership of the UN, and a Haitian State "failed" or, less Orwellian language, broken in a premeditated manner, there is no one to direct the rescue work efficiently. Certainly not the NGOs, who have been receiving international funds to perform many functions that should correspond to the Haitian government. The NGOs are not allowed to require the same responsibilities as a government, a fact perhaps convenient at this time.
Another element is the lack of haste in sending aid by the U.S., in contrast to the speed shown in the mobilization militar. Incluso la distante China parece haberse adelantado a los Estados Unidos en el envío de auxilio. Así, el teniente general retirado del ejército estadounidense, Russell Honoré, que participó en las tareas de rescate tras el huracán Katrina en 2005, declaraba acerca de la situación de Haití tras el terremoto: “pienso que eso ya hemos aprendido durante el Katrina, llevemos agua y alimentos y comencemos a evacuar a la gente… Pienso que deberíamos haber comenzado con más premura” (1). Por ejemplo, mientras las fuerzas armadas de EEUU parecen haber sido movilizadas con bastante rapidez, un buque hospital de la marina se está preparando con más parsimonia: “es un buque lento, something old, take a week to arrive once you have tuned, "says a spokesman for the Pentagon (2). Maybe they can not do better with the old ship, but there should be other ways to speed aid. For example, you could follow the suggestion somewhat heretical Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of Defense, to leverage the expertise of the Cubans in the rescue efforts: "We should stop and think that our neighbor Cuba has some of the best doctors in the world ... We should try to move them there on our flights "(3).
All this leaves the impression that, at best, the rescue not a priority for the U.S. government, unlike the purely military, such as sending "3500 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, whose mission" is unclear, "the Christian Science Monitor (2) . But it may be clearer with this explanation of the spokesman of U.S. State Department Philip Crowley: "We are not Mastering Haiti. We are helping to stabilize the country. We are helping in providing relief material to save lives, and we will stay there long term to help rebuild Haiti. "(3) And also the later words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, assuring that U.S. forces would remain in Haiti today, tomorrow and the foreseeable future. "
diplomatic frictions with other countries, especially Brazil, which has command of UN troops in Haiti, they soon become apparent, suggesting also that the "mission" American in Haiti goes beyond the purely humanitarian. Even today, Brazil had diligently fulfilled the role that was designated in Haiti. His troops were engaged in controlling and sometimes terrorizing the Haitian people, especially the poorest, in a way that had perfected the favelas of Brazil. As reported in an interview the journalist Kim Ives, Haiti Liberté, the alleged mission of UN peacekeepers in Haiti, led by Brazilians, "is extremely frowned upon [by the Haitian people]. People are sick and tired they are spending millions on it, to see how the boys they spend walking around everywhere in huge tanks and pointing their guns. And, as you know, this is a force whose mission is to bring the country "(4).
U.S. is expected to come into conflict with Brazil if the intention of the first is to assume a military role in Haiti. The conflict soon to occur. In the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on Jan. 14, "would be quite desirable that all these forces were coordinated by the commander of MINUSTAH there" (3). But the U.S. did not accept this proposal. U.S. government officials have indicated that its forces "coordinate" their actions with the direction of MINUSTAH, and nothing more: "We will operate under U.S. command in support of a UN mission on behalf of the government and people Haitian, "says Crowley (3).
Like that "coordination" is running it can be deduced from the reaction of the Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim control criticizing the "unilateral" U.S. on the airport in Port-au-Prince, which he said was taken without that other countries were consulted, and would hinder the landing of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) loaded and maintenance personnel (5 .) As the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo, this situation "has caused a small diplomatic problem between Brazil and the U.S.. In addition to hinder the landing of aircraft in the FAB, Brazilians complain that American control would have prevented the access of the MINUSTAH (Mission of UN peacekeepers in Haiti led by Brazil) to the local [the airport] " (5).
Despite later statements by Hillary Clinton to Jobim, stating that "U.S. forces will comply with essentially humanitarian, without interfering in the country's public security" (6), the fact is that these tasks "humanitarian" will be commanded "not by civilian agencies of the government ... but by the Pentagon through SOUTHCOM (Southern Command United States), whose mission is to" conduct military operations and promote security cooperation to achieve the strategic objectives of the States together ", as stated Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, (7).
Otro elemento importante es la aparente instrumentalización de un supuesto estado de caos en Haití, al que también podría contribuir la quizás premeditada descoordinación en la distribución de la ayuda humanitaria. El objetivo aquí sería el de crear una imagen de caos y violencia que justifique la invasión ante la opinión pública, y para eso hay que contar con la colaboración estrecha de los grandes medios de información. Al menos los medios más afines al gobierno norteamericano parecen no haber perdido tiempo en este sentido. Desde el primer momento han tratado de dramatizar la situación, por ejemplo a través de la difusión de rumores de ráfagas de supuestos tiroteos, que nadie more in Port seems to have heard, or the formation of new gangs. So a couple of days after the earthquake could read in an article entitled "criminal gangs will take control of Haitian chaos?" The following ominous words: "when darkness covered the city of Puerto Principe, ravaged by earthquake, residents reported that they heard shots. That was hardly a surprise: in Haiti, during emergencies - natural or political - can be as ubiquitous shots at night as the barking of dogs, armed bands taking over the streets " (8). The fact that nobody seems to have heard those shots not seen such gangs taking over the streets, may indicate that the intention here is to create a false image of chaos that makes it more acceptable to public opinion a possible invasion and occupation of the country.
Most of the media crush now with images of chaos and violence. But there are exceptions. Thus, explains the coordinator of the Canadian Haiti Action Network, Roger Annis, referring to a BBC report that shows nothing of the alleged violence, this "contrasts sharply with warnings of looting and violence that fills the airwaves news channel such as CNN, "and that "Are being played by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (9). Questioned by the media about why they were not releasing supplies from the air, Gates replied, "I think that air drops are just going to cause riots," it seems that Gates considered worse than the lack of supplies.
The most macabre of all this is that the aid may not be reaching the victims because of a deliberate intention to cause the same state of chaos and violence that seems not to exist so far. According to Roger Annis "is growing evidence about a monstrous negligence toward the Haitian people following the catastrophic quake 3 days ago. As vital medical supplies, food, chemicals for water purification and vehicles are piling up at the airport in Port au Prince, and the media are reporting a massive international effort to provide emergency assistance, the inhabitants of the devastated city wonder when they will see some kind of help "(9).
The BBC reporter says Andy Gallagher also walked through all parts of the capital during the Friday, January 15, and "not seen anything but courtesy of Haitians found. Everywhere was taken by the residents to see what had happened in their neighborhoods, their homes and their lives. And then ask: where are the grants? "(9) A statement of the U.S. defense secretary that the grounds of" security "would prevent the distribution of aid, Gallagher replied that" I'm not seeing anything like that "(9) . On the situation at the airport, reports that "there are a lot of material on the floor and many people there. I do not know what's wrong with the delivery "(9). Similarly, in the words of one local observer, "the agents of the media are looking for stories of desperate Haitians are acting hysterically. When in fact the most common is when they act in a calm, while the international community, the elite and the politicians are insane with that issue, and none seems to have the slightest idea what is happening "(9) Not only
no plans to carry Cuban doctors to the island, but the occupation of the airport was immediately after the arrival of 30 Cuban doctors to join the 300 already on the island for over a year. And many suspect that something might have to do with the occupation of the airport. Trinidad & Tobago Express, for example, reports that "an emergency aid mission Caribbean Community [CARICOM] to Haiti, including heads of government and technical officials stressed, could not get permission to land Friday at the airport in that devastated country, now under U.S. control. "Furthermore," inquired about whether the difficulties encountered by the mission of Caricom could be related to reports that U.S. authorities would not be eager to facilitate the landing of planes from Cuba and Venezuela, Prime Minister Golding [of Jamaica] said that 'only hope not there is no truth in such immature thinking, in light of the appalling extent of the tragedy of Haiti '... " (10).
The following testimony of the director of the Institute of Jacmel Ciné, David Belle, also refutes the image of chaos and violence spread by the media. "I am told that many American media paint Haiti as a powder keg ready to explode. I have said the main stories the mainstream media only talk about violence and chaos. Nothing is further from reality ... Not once have I witnessed one act of aggression or violence. On the contrary, we saw neighbors helping neighbors and friends helping friends and strangers. We've seen neighbors digging in the rubble with their bare hands to find survivors. We have seen traditional healers treating the wounded, we have seen collective solemn ceremonies to funerals, as residents waited patiently under the scorching sun, with nothing more than a few belongings that were left. A city mutilated two million people waiting for help, medicine, food and water. Most have not received anything. Haiti can be proud of its survivors. His dignity and decency in the face of this tragedy are themselves amazing. " (11)
All these factors justify the suspicion that is running a macabre strategy of chaos to justify an invasion and occupation that apparently have nothing to humanitarian.
(1) "Pentagon Defends Aid response time of Haiti efforts ", Christian Science Monitor, January 15, 2010. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/0115/Pentagon-defends-response-time-of-Haiti-aid-efforts (site consulted January 16, 2010).
(2) "Why is it Taking so long for Aid to Reach Haiti Pentagon?", Christian Science Monitor, January 14, 2010. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/0114/Why-is-it-taking-so-long-for-Pentagon-aid-to-reach-Haiti (site consulted 16 January 2010 .)
(3) "Marines to Aid Haitian earthquake relief. But who's in command?, Christian Science Monitor, January 14, 2010. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/0114/Marines-to-aid-Haitian-earthquake-relief.-But-who-s-in-command (Site consulted el 16 de enero de 2010).
(4) Kim Ives, offering the same transcriptional interview Democracy Now, 13 de enero de 2010. http://i3.democracynow.org/2010/1/13/haiti_devastated_by_largest_earthquake_in (site consulted el 16 de enero de 2010).
(5) "send U.S. troops to Haiti 10 000; Brazil criticizes U.S. control of the airport," Folha de S. Paulo, 16 de enero de 2010. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/mundo/ult94u680243.shtml (site consulted el 16 de enero de 2010).
(6) "After tension with U.S., five FAB airplanes with supplies and teams into Haiti", Folha de S. Paulo, 16 de enero 2010. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/mundo/ult94u680260.shtml (site consulted January 16, 2010).
(7) Michail Chossudovsky, "The Militarization of Emergency Aid to Haiti: Is it a Humanitarian Operation or an Invasion?", Global Research, January 15, 2010. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17000 (site consulted January 16, 2010).
(8) "Will Take Criminal Gangs in Haiti's Chaos Control?", Time, January 14, 2010. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0, 28804.1953379 _1953494_1953819, 00.html? cnn = yes & hpt = T2 (site consulted January 16, 2010).
(9) Roger Annis, "Where is the Aid in Haiti?", January 16, 2010. http://canadahaitiaction.ca/?p=1055 (site consulted January 16, 2010).
(10) Robert Singh, "CARICOM BLOCKED ... as U.S. Takes Control of airport ", Trinidad & Tobago Express, January 17, 2010. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161583443 (site consulted January 17, 2010).
(11) "The director of the Institute of Jacmel Ciné, David Belle, reports from Port-au-Prince, January 17, 2010. http://www.cineinstitute.com/news/2010/01/17/cine-institute-director-david-belle-reports-from-port-au-prince/ (site consulted January 17, 2010).
- Sergio Peralta
The Neighborhood 
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