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Haiti: US Troops Land "We Are Here for Security"

by Christina 123 | January 19, 2010 at 01:25 pm

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American soldiers and paratroopers in full combat gear have landed in the centre of Port au Prince by 20 Black Hawk helicopters. The US Army state that they are there "to provide security" and to work with the Haitian government.

The troops landed at the presidential palace and other key points.

Large parts of the devastated capital have been taken over by gangs of looters. There are fewer than 2,000 police as the area descends into lawlessness and disorder. Fights break out over scarce food and provisions although supplies are now beginning to get through to the earthquake survivors..

US troops met with a mixed reception from hundreds of Haitian earthquake survivors gathered outside the palace's iron railings to await aid handouts.

Most welcomed the turning point as the American military effectively took control of Haiti with cheers of "great, here they come".

"We would not wish to see foreign military disembarking in our country but given the terrible situation we are in, their presence is necessary," said Moline Augustin.

But others in the crowd saw the US arrival in Port-au-Prince as an affront to sovereignty, a reaction highlighting strong anti-Western sentiments in Haiti.

"It's an occupation. The palace is our power, our face, our pride," said Feodor Desanges, one of the onlookers.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 14:21 on January 19th, 2010

This is indeed a good story. The fact that the UN contingent was already involved in riot control this will help speed up aid. The US will also open another two runways to permit cargo aircraft the size of C130s to land and take the stress off the main runway at the Port-au-Prince Airport.

HumbleJulio (not verified)

at 20:40 on January 19th, 2010

Uh... anybody here listen to or watch DemocracyNow? 'Looting' this is not. Many reports are coming out of Haiti - including some on the ultra pro-military CBC - stating that while there are some instances of desperate, starving people doing desperate things, the vast majority of people are cooperating and banding together to help each other in this terrible situation. The idea that because there is no operating police presense or government that the society will therefor fall into anarchy is just not the case. At least that's what the people there are reporting. The country is devastated, essentially destroyed, and the infrastructure is nonexistent, so some people will do stupid, violent things, but not the majority.