Obama Gets It Mostly Right on Haiti, So Far
I admire Barack Obama for a lot of what he’s been saying and doing in response to the disaster in Haiti.
He’s reacted swiftly, he’s struck the right moral tone, and he’s pledged $100 million in aid.
But he hasn’t done everything right.
For one thing, he’s appointed George W. Bush to head up the U.S. relief effort there with Bill Clinton, the same George Bush who backed the coup that expelled Aristide, the democratically elected president, from Haiti.
And I’ve got a couple worries going forward.
What if the U.S. troops that Obama sent down to Haiti start doing not just relief operations but security operations? Are we going to see U.S. troops firing on looters in Haiti? I sure hope not.
And how heavy a hand is the United States going to use in rebuilding Haiti to fit the free market model so beloved in Washington?
As Naomi Klein has warned us on Democracy Now, the Heritage Foundation has already called for using this crisis to “reshape Haiti’s long-dysfunctional government and economy.”
The Heritage Foundation doesn’t care about the people of Haiti. It cares about ramping up U.S. corporate profits there.
We can’t let Haiti be another proving ground for Naomi Klein’s theory of “disaster capitalism.”
That won’t help the people of Haiti, who need help so badly today.
Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine. To subscribe for just $14.97 a year, just click here.
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Comments
Matt,
Of course, they will shoot to kill, but your Mainstream News will not cover it, so it will not have ever existed, so don't worry about it.
I disagree with the implication in your question; "And how heavy a hand is the United States going to use in rebuilding Haiti to fit the free market model so beloved in Washington?"
I am still waiting for Washington to build a "Free Market" model, anywhere, and certainly do not expect one in Haiti.
They will build their model, but it will be anything but "Free Market", as I view a free market, anyway.
But, will this be a proving ground for "Disaster Capitalism"?
No, that has been proven time again.
This will be "Disaster Capitalism", in practice, fully functional.
I would imagine, Talent Management Firms, already
on the lines to famous clients, working out the details on benefit concerts, to rejuvenate many slumping careers.
And obviously, donations will be flowing into coffers, never to see the light of any Haitian day.
But, what you gonna do? Do nothing?
And it is your Big Gov operation, that you favor so much.
And, the Big Gov., that Greg and Chihare favor, as long as the military are up in it, with the chance of shooting some folks.
I'll leave it to Greg, Chihare, etc., to root for, what is supposed to be, "our" military team, over there, and keep my mouth shut, other than say about that military; "better over in Haiti, than on US soil".
I saw what they did for New Orleans.
So, count your blessings.
And it is outside of FEMA's jurisdiction, I think.
And that is a blessing for the Haitians.