Haiti Disaster - Canada's Aid Effort Centred in Jacmel-Op Hestia

iim proud of canada, 

one advantage we have, i believe, is that a lot of our soldiers there speak both english and french...helps with the french speaking haitians....this is what we do best....help others in time of need       ty karl

Canada is also supporting the US. Or it would have send Police officers and rescue units that are far more needed then soldiers, even if those are well trained. And it would have send military as peace keeper under the UN banner, not as National invasion force in support of the US.

Why the International community is starting to see this more as an US occupation rather then a rescue effort.

""There are 200 flights going in and out every day, which is an incredible amount for a country like Haiti," the World Food Programme's Haiti officer Jarry Emmanuel reported.

"But most of those flights are for the United States military.

"Their priorities are to secure the country. Ours are to feed. We have got to get those priorities in sync," demanded Mr Emmanuel.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega recalled the history of US intervention, invasions and coups in Haiti, and questioned "the logic of sending American troops to a disaster zone.

"Haiti is asking for relief, it's not asking for troops. The US is taking over and manipulating a tragedy to install soldiers in Haiti and this is worrying," he emphasised."" www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/

"In Paris, French Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet expressed concern about the major U.S. military role in the country, saying it should be clarified: “This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti,” said Joyandet, who last week complained about U.S. handling of the airport.

EU member states also poured euro92 million ($132 million) in emergency aid, including 20 million pounds ($32.7 million) from Britain and euro10 million ($14.4 million) from France, which also said it was willing for forgive Haiti’s euro40 million ($55.7 million) debt."

Read more:http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/more_us_troops_un_peacekeepers_expected_k9pykGwdI3im4D8OQg3xUN/1#ixzz0d4LO68p5

I respectfully disagree with a concept of an operation and the inference that Canada is somehow part of a plot to occupy Haiti.

Unfortunately with 8 Million hungry, thirsty and homeless Haitians, someone had to open the airport and conrol it.

All of this has been coordinated with the Haitian government and the UN Headquarters in Haiti.

There aren't enough police officers available to provide the assistance that the military can provide. 

The military is not only providing security, they are purifying water, distributing food and water, operating field hospitals, providing surgeons, etc.

In the case to the US military they are also cleaning up the Port at Port-au-Prince. 

Where is the UN command structure that could handle all of these tasks and coordinate them.  I just have to look at the peacekeeping missions I have been on to see where that all leads without the military.

The former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and others are great examples of this.

Books written by General Romeo Dallaire (Rwanda) and General Lewis MacKenzie (Sarajevo) are great examples of UN dysfunction.

the US is not taking over anything...security is needed both for civilians abd those aid missions...........the air traffic control people could not handle the number of flights so the US stepped  in  i believe that those countries helping are not doing it out of self interest ......this is helping....... others can you imagine the logistical problems that are happening

i only hope that if canada suffered such a cakamity the coutries of the world would unite to help..........

we have had police officers helping in haiti for many years as well as other governmental workers stationed there....in fact some of our police were killed in the earthquake

get your facts straight please

good for Canada

i thought i was awake mr paschen....where are those who are critical of the US....paranoia is not perception nor is jealousy....a time of crises is a time to work together....not make unfounded assumtions or criticisms....the world i know is applauding all efforts to help haiti not putting down those efforts no matter who is helping........and by the way this article was about canadas efforts    we are a sesparate nation not part of the US...we have many groups helping  i applaud everyones efforts not criticise them nor look for hidden agendas

the french didnt do a lot for haiti wonder why they are critical of those helping now.......ban french fries again i say, drink canadian wine

I think we are working under the UN banner or at least in coordination with the UN.  This is a recovery mission where countries have coordinated with both the UN and the Haiti government.  It is a myth that things are done in isolation.  The Secretary General was there yesterday and I believe that is how he thinks it works.

mr pashen

the french occupied haiti for many years...that being said it is good to see support from the french, but to criticize another nation who is able to react with needed support and logistics quickly isnt warrented in my view....all relief efforts ARE being co ordinated through the UN........the US and canadian troops do much more than act as an armed force.......medical treatment hospitals search and rescue are just a few...who are clearing the roads, searching the buildings....those who are criticizing and not applauding the efforts of those on the ground in haiti should realize that when you point a finger at those efforts four are pointing back

Interestingly enough the United States just evacuated 54 Haitian orphans who are being taken to Pittsburgh children's hospital for treatment.  This was made possible by  Pennsylvania Governor Ed Randell, who flew to Haiti and cut through the red tape to get the children back to Pennsylvania.  I am glad they could do it.

same here wonder if the french are accepting refugees/orphans in an expedited manner

The US expects to have two alternate runways open to relief the pressure off the main runway.  Those runways should be able to handle C130 type aircraft.