There is going to be a LOT of frustration and anger over how Haiti is being handled

[DainBramaged]

over the next few weeks. From the MSM to the Right-wing media (aren't they really the same?) to the UN and US Government, to the countries in Central and South America who may or may not step up to the plate to help. Thousands more will die because of the magnitude of the problem. A LOT of assholes on the Right are going to push buttons and we will react. I myself am too impatient, but other than donate money, there is nothing I can do and I am angry about that.

As a Christian, I find it difficult praying in times like these, because it seems my God always brings the most pain and suffering on the poorest and most needy among us, and people living in glass houses like Rush Limbaugh who are clueless, skate all of their lives without any consequence for their actions.

I was VERY angry yesterday, I am frustrated today. And I am sure I am not alone. Thanks for reading.

[Romulox]

1. k/r. nt

[Billy Burnett]

2. I've been working Haitian relief here in Little Haiti in Miami. Just heard that ...

Just heard that the US closed down the airport yesterday to prioritize the evacuation of Americans who wanted to get out. Corporate staffers, students, etc.

The local Miami TV news is showing all of the white and smiling faced Americans who are all relieved to be out of the hell hole AKA Haiti.

The result of this prioritizing for American evacuees (who are mostly all fine and uninjured) is the delay of the most urgent relief deliveries. Has people pissed off all over the place, including Haiti.

[DainBramaged]

4. There was a group of 12 'missionaries' from a few towns over

who were on the news this morning who were 'relieved' to be home. They claim there was nothing they could have done to help.



I think I would have stayed just to hold the hands of the injured and dying if I could.


The hypocrisy of the those creamy White Christians knows no bounds.

[sharesunited]

7. If I saw gangs of machete wielding marauders in the streets

I too would question what help I could be.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. No in a disster unless you do have certain skill sets

and they are very specific, I want you out... that includes these guys.

[laughingliberal]

37. Agree. People unequipped to help in the crisis hinder efforts

As you have pointed out in other posts, keeping them in food and water is a use of resources better spent on the truly needy. The longer they are there, the more they use and the more chance they will be injured and divert medical attention that is in short supply, right now. People don't get it.

[KittyWampus]

14. "hold hands of injured and dying". And when you got hungry and thirsty?

[TornadoTN]

6. Things are getting better though.

The US Air Force was able to get control of the ground yesterday and start directing air traffic and coordinate ground logistics. Previous to that, the Haitian government was still in charge of the airport and understandably didn't have a full handle on the situation. That may have contributed to the problems that were encountered with the traffic overwhelming the airport and perhaps even what was prioritized.

The USS Carl Vinson has arrived with 19 Helicopters, so things are going to start moving a lot more quickly now with more air assets on the scene. An undertaking such as this isn't something that can just happen at the snap of a finger.

Not making excuses at all, I share in the frustration of many here that can only watch and send money.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. From what I hear it was shut down because they were running out

of room for all the relief supplies that were coming in. There aren't enough trucks, the roads are jammed and they need security to prevent a riot from breaking out when a truck shows up and tries to pass stuff out.

[dgibby]

10. Acording to the reports from the AF (per CNN),

There was a very large cargo plane that had to be refueled before it could take off.

The tower is not functional.

There is only one runway, and very little space to park planes.

It takes a lot of time to unload supplies.

They are running low on jet fuel,so some planes were diverted

They normally only handle 25 flights/day. Yesterday, there were more than 50 flights processed.

There were no night flights until last night due to lack of power.

Families with young children, the elderly, and the injured are being encouraged to leave.

Unless you are there with a self-contained rescue mission, you are more of a burden on an already broken infrastructure than an asset.

Finally, they are loading empty planes with evacuees, but I have not seen any report saying that flights are being delayed for that reason.

I'm sure people are very upset. I was in Charleston,SC when HUGO hit. People were very upset, scared, angry. We had no contact with the authorities for awhile due to lack of power, tv station towers down, etc. Rumors were flying left and right, and only added to the angst and confusion. It looked like a war zone.

Even having been through HUGO, I cannot even begin to imagine what people in Haiti are going through right now. We were stateside, had a solid infrastructure, etc. My heart goes out to everyone there and everyone here who has friends and relatives there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Here is a free clue since you do need it

planes are comming in loaded to the rafters, not just from the US by the way, they are leaving with their nationals.

Jeesus age do people need this explained? Oh and they may not be injured but that is one less mouth I have to feed and give water to.

Yes talking as a Former Logistics officer that did this shit for ahem real

Oh and it was down because they had TOO MUCH STUFF coming in, and nowhere to put it.

In the bizz this is called a secondary disaster and it happens EVERY TIME.

[Tailormyst]

38. Thank you so much for your posts.

It's nice to hear how things are from a rescuers point of view.

[jbnow]

16. I heard it another way. It was shut down because

there had been so many flights waiting to come in with needed supplies and the area they had to put unloaded items became over full. It is a small place without extra space. They were concerned with the time it would take to take care of all of this and clear new spaces might be just wasting fuel for the circling planes.

Every plane that comes in with supplies goes out with evacuees. I don't know how they prioritize them. (If I had to guess the country that came in with supplies would take people from their country out)
I do know there was a problem evacuating many seriously wounded because the pilot can't care for them, they need some trained personnel who were mostly too busy to leave. Some flights came in (with medical supplies to drop off) with trained people for the purpose of medical evacuations.The ships that would be arriving would ease the whole situatiom.

I do know they prioritized flights and flights without urgent relief deliveries had no priority. Those white and smiling faced Americans got on planes emptied of those urgent supplies, not planes that just flew there to get them. People might be angry about untrue rumors.

[Ex Lurker]

39. flights were restricted yesterday because too many planes were in the air

and there was no room for them to land at the airport. I know this is frustrating, The magnitude of the disaster means that a lot of people have died and will continue to die. But all the evidence I see points to the US and the world community doing the best they can in an impossible situation.

[HeresyLives]

3. I think the world needs to change how we handle

these things. Everybody means well, and everybody chips in, but it always results in chaos and very little help to those in need.

[C_Lawyer09]

5. I look well upon the generosity of the American people

as well as the basic good nature of most of human kind when it comes to collectively coming together during tragedies. It happens at the community level, all the way on up. There will always be what I feel to be a relatively small percentage of jackasses that feel they are appointed to spew vitriol, lies, riddles and half truths. The response to Inonesia and Katrina from "citizens" was amazing, as will be the donations of time and money to Haiti. Unfortunately, the location of Haiti is doubly horrific for a place that is so lacking in infrastructure. This is one instance where I don't believe Limbaugh gets much traction, even from the die hard ditto heads. Most of my buddies and neighbors, even those who I totally disagree with on several issues, usually safety net stuff, are just as apt to grab a glove and get in the game, when it comes to personal genorousity. I also take heart in the fact that so many were diligently trying to avert this disaster before it happened, anchoring projects and stuff like that. Maybe the good that can come of this, is that it will inspire a greater sense of urgency in those in govt.

[Billy Burnett]

8. The American people are generous. But ignorant of their own gov's disastrous policy re: Haiti

You might want to check this out...

How Washington’s Plot Against Haiti Worsened The Earthquake Disaster
http://maxblumenthal.com/2010/01/how-washingtons-plot-against-haiti-worsened-the-disaster/

[C_Lawyer09]

18. I agree with most of the article

Especially the sad fact that a ruthless and worthless head of state is sometimes better than none at all, or that liaisons with corrupt figureheads like Chalabi, never bode well. An analagous thing happened just prior and during the rebuilding phase in Iraq. The ouster of Hussein, coupled with the dismantling of the Iraqi Army and debaathification process which decimated the working technocracy created twice the problems an ineptitude that existed before.

Most Americans aren't interested in our foreign politcal adventures, installation of Pinochet, versus the democratically elected Allende, the list goes on and on. The part where I'd disagree with you, is being against free market policy as a way of evolving from 3rd or in Haiti's case, damn near fourth world status.

Having said that, there needs to be a distinction drawn between "true free markets" and artificially created free markets that are meant to enrich far flung corporations at the detriment of poorly treated workers, and/or sweetheart deals brokered by govt. influenced and bought contractors. The free market needs to be based from work and creativity of the indigenous population. The fact that what I just mentioned is never the foundation is evidenced by the floundering of Africa, regardless of USAID, WTO&IMF Structural Adjustment Programs(SAP)and efforts of countless NGO's. At the basic level it is profiteering.

It will be interesting to see the results of the current Africa project which is community based, initiated by the Princeton Economist, Steve... ? Lastly, other than medium industry, which we and other richer nations could help to introduce, repatriation is the biggest help to the Haitian economy. As long as it is vulnerable to every environmental malady under the sun, that will probably not change much. Thank you for the insightful article.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. So you think people are going to be critical because? And you think we are the

only ones helping?

Ok... there are days this is what I want to do

:banghead:

I cannot, nobody can, throw some pixie dust and make all better in an instant.

[Fire1]

15. As a christian you know very little about YOUR God.

Devastation is not the handiwork of a loving and benevolent God. This earthly realm is NOT of God. It is of Satan, thus his handiwork. The wrathful God, of which you speak, is of the Old Testament and does not apply to the christians of the New Testament.
Please stop blaming catastrophes, tragedies and devastation on God. This is why alot of people become agnostics and atheists. Ignorance.

[KittyWampus]

17. As an erstwhile Christian, I respectfully disagree with your definition of God too

:)

Devastation is the working of Nature and is neither good nor evil. It is part of Reality and not to be demonized.

God is the capacity to be consciously aware of natural processes that lead to devastation and preparing in advance for eventual catastrophes and also organizing relief efforts when they inevitably happen.

If we really need to have a Satan, Satan is either the willful Ignorance of natural processes or the intentional withholding of that information for personal gain to the detriment of the greater good.

I left the Church and organized religion because my take on God is quite different from accepted dogma but by no means unique.

[Fire1]

19. Then I wouldn't be addressing your definition or "your take." n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. So then why did God make Satan cause the earthquake?

[Fire1]

24. It is far beyond me to argue with atheists. Sorry. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Boy, I'll say.

Looks like there's a lot that's beyond you.

[Fire1]

29. Thank you! n/t

[DainBramaged]

22. Sorry my opinion upsets you, but it's MY opinion, not yours

and I still disagree with your analysis.

[Fire1]

26. Granted, it is your opinion, just ill informed. n/t

[DainBramaged]

31. (sigh) I get one benefit as a man that God doesn't have

I get to put you on ignore for YOUR ignorance because you think your opinion is, like most Fundie brains, the end all be all of Christianity.


buh bye.

[Fire1]

33. Bye, indeed. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

35. "...just ill informed"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

i always get a kick out of christians arguing about whose interpretation of fictional myth is more correct.

[Fire1]

42. And I get a kick out of 'dysfunction.'

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[dysfunctional press]

43. thanks.

:hi:
there's a story behind the screen name, but i'm not going to go into it now.

[Wind Dancer]

23. Get a grip......

Jeez....there are many reasons why people are agnostic or atheists. I find your response to the poster mean spirited and hateful. Many would claim YOU to be ignorant for believing in something based solely on faith, without proof.

[Fire1]

28. I love you, too! n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Maybe you should go to Haiti.

They sure could use your expertise in emergency management. They're obviously lazy and don't know what they're doing. What they need is a keyboard warrior telling them how to do things.

[Texasgal]

30. ZING!!!!

:thumbsup:

[rucky]

25. And there won't be a single real-life example to hold to their expectations.

Because they're playing on the "perfect is the enemy of good" meme - and plenty of Obama critics will munch up that bait and ask for more. But there isn't a real-life example of a global crisis where there wasn't some logistical chaos. They don't have any solutions - as usual. Just straight fucking back seat driving, monday morning quarterbacking.

[Jennicut]

32. People who do not have major expertise need to get out and stay out

They will end up taking more food and water away from the people who need it or at least add to the burden of the system.
The problem is that it is one big logistical nightmare there. How do you get supplies in when roads are buckled and un-passable? This was shown over and over again on CNN last night. They had tons of supplies waiting at a pier but the road out of there had buckled up and was over 5 feet high. Choppers will start to come in and that is how they will have to get supplies to people. This is why the deaths were predicted to be so high. Some people die instantly during the earthquake, others are trapped and die while waiting for help, and the rest may die from lack of food and water. That last part is what has many worried.

[DainBramaged]

34. It amazes me how, when you just try to make a statement, some come just to throw shit

this place is getting more fucked up every day. And the assholes are increasing in number. no wonder there are so few of us old timers left here.

Do what you want with this thread.


Fuck it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

36. It's almost like you can't stick your foot in your mouth anymore without getting called on it.

Sheesh!

[stray cat]

40. of course -its a disaster. However, the mobilization effort is vigorous

if imperfect in making gas for cars and law and order for distribution and rescue team everywhere they are needed at once is difficult.

[Matariki]

41. This sounds like something from the rumor mill

that Nadinbrzezinski mentioned in her excellent post yesterday.

It really does seem that aid is being moved as fast as possible given the difficulty of the situation.