US ships blockade Haiti coast to thwart exodus to America

[Prometheus Bound]

Haiti earthquake: US ships blockade coast to thwart exodus to America
Published: 8:53PM GMT 19 Jan 2010

US officials have drawn up emergency plans to cope with a mass migration crisis and have cleared spaces in detention or reception centres, including the Navy base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay.

The unprecedented air, land and sea operation, dubbed "Vigilant Sentry", was launched as a senior US official compared Haiti's destruction to the aftermath of nuclear warfare.

As well as providing emergency supplies and medical aid, the USS Carl Vinson, along with a ring of other navy and coast guard vessels, is acting as a deterrent to Haitians who might be driven to make the 681 mile sea crossing to Miami.

"The goal is to interdict them at sea and repatriate them," said the US Coast Guard Commander Christopher O'Neil.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7030237/Haiti-earthquake-US-ships-blockade-coast-to-thwart-exodus-to-America.html

US ships set up blockade to prevent a mass exodus
22 Jan 2010, 10:00
An American aircraft carrier was the spearhead of a blockade of Haiti's waters yesterday as the US prepared for an exodus of thousands across the sea, fleeing the devastated capital of Port-au-Prince.

US officials have drawn up emergency plans to cope with a migration crisis and have cleared spaces in detention or reception centres, including the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

The unprecedented air, land and sea operation, labelled Vigilant Sentry, began as a senior US official compared Haiti's destruction to the aftermath of nuclear warfare.

"It is the same as if an atomic bomb had been exploded," said Kenneth Merten, US ambassador to Haiti.

Officials estimated that more than 200,000 people were killed by last week's earthquake.

As well as providing emergency supplies and medical aid, the USS Carl Vinson, along with a ring of other navy and coast guard vessels, will act as a deterrent to Haitians who might be driven to make the 681-mile sea crossing to Miami.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/americas/us-ships-set-up-blockade-to-prevent-a-mass-exodus-2022667.html
http://www.last.fm/forum/23/_/596768

Haiti: a calculated impoverishment
.....In the last couple of days, another motivation has become clearer as the U.S. has launched a full-scale naval blockade of Haiti to prevent a seaborne exodus by refugees seeking sanctuary in the United States from the desperate aftermath of disaster. So while Welsh firefighters and Cuban doctors have been getting on with the job of saving lives this week, the 82nd Airborne Division was busy parachuting into the ruins of Haiti's presidential palace.
http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article87788.ece

[global1]

1. I Have A Feeling That This Isn't Going To Go Over Well At All For The Administration.....nt

[lazarus]

2. it looks to me

like the Navy is simply prepared in case the exodus occurs. No blockade has actually been set up, they have plans.

And that last link is nonsense. The Welsh firefighters and Cuban doctors couldn't have gotten there if the American military hadn't set up the airport for traffic. Anti-American garbage.

[EFerrari]

3. The Cubans were already there. n/t

[Prometheus Bound]

4. Yup, 344 Cuban doctors and paramedics were already working in Haiti.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/haiti/story/1441144.html

[lazarus]

7. okay

tell me why the blockade is a bad thing. And why the Americans' setting up the airport and fixing the harbor are bad things.

[Prometheus Bound]

27. You have a good question.

1. I understand why the US feels it needs to stop an potentially huge influx of refugees.
2. No one has suggested getting the airport and harbor back in operation is a bad thing. At least I've never read anyone here or anywhere else suggesting that.

However, when I saw the pictures of the US ships steaming off to help out after the earthquake, honestly, tears came to my eyes. I'm not American, but I still felt proud that the navy and coastguard were rushing into help with their massive transport, logistics and supply ability. But now knowing that a number of the ships were rushing to blockade the coast to prevent people leaving, my pride is diminished somewhat.

[lazarus]

29. Mine isn't

The blockade, if it happens, will be necessary. And there haven't been great gaps of time when nothing is being brought into the port or the airport because of all the wasted ships out at sea.

The OP was very harsh in its treatment of the US, ignoring the good that has been done by the US military. That was why I commented on some of the good things they have done.

[Prometheus Bound]

33. It was launched several days ago.

[EFerrari]

37. Our service people aren't making this policy.

That might be something to remember at times like when Gates says air drops would create riots and then, turns around and does air drops.

Gates is a career Bush fixer, remember? He's a guy that has covered up for a lot of really bad stuff. He is not our military. He is not our people that went into Haiti while it was still shaking.

We need to differentiate between the real work being done by real people and the policy that handed them that job. They aren't the same thing.

[elehhhhna]

35. I doubt Hatians would try to float all the way to Florida

when they're closer to various other islands, like Cuba, the Caymans, and many more.

[Merchant Marine]

5. This is humanitarian

Nobody is going to make it 681 miles across open ocean without navigational tools. I'm not even going to comment about the quality of whatever boats they might scrounge up.

Anyone being returned to land by the US navy is being spared the agony of dying at sea.

[Prometheus Bound]

6. Why would they call it "Vigilant Sentry" if that were the case?

Officials try to prevent Haitian earthquake refugees from coming to U.S.
Monday, January 18, 2010
As a massive international relief effort lurches into gear, U.S. officials are stepping up measures to prevent last week's earthquake in Haiti from triggering a Caribbean migration not seen in two nearly two decades.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/17/AR2010011701893.html

US gears up for Haitian migrants
Jan 19, 2010
MIAMI - AUTHORITIES are stepping up contingency plans for a potential mass migration of Haitians, though there's no immediate sign such an event will happen.

The migration plan, known as 'Operation Vigilant Sentry', calls for clearing space at Miami's Krome detention centre by moving existing detainees to other facilities. Officials say some migrants could also be housed temporarily at the US Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

So far officials say there's no indication of a Haiti migration.

The earthquake has triggered no change in US policy regarding Haitian migrants who are caught trying to reach this country by sea; with few exceptions, they'll be sent back. -- AP
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_479242.html

[pscot]

8. You could do a doctoral

dissertation on the semiotics of the naming of military operations. I think they have a hundred chimps banging away at word processors in the basement of the Pentagon, and just use whatever comes out. :rofl:

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. And scary you're close

[Merchant Marine]

9. Oh boy.

Vigilant- ever awake and alert
Sentry- a member of a guard or watch.

Oh no, the sinister subtext!

[Prometheus Bound]

11. There's nothing sinister about it, for heaven's sake.

The intent couldn't be clearer. No one's trying to hide it. Except you.

[Merchant Marine]

16. Of course it's clear

The Navy's going to keep a sharp watch out for people trying to make it across 600+ miles of open ocean in a goddamned aluminum skiff and turn them around so they don't die a painful death by drowning or dehydration.

[Mojorabbit]

15. We have had 5000 come into

Orlando via plane.
http://www.wesh.com/news/22317751/detail.html
I am not at all against having many immigrate here but it will need to be spread out. Florida is in pretty bad shape economically.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Man I wish I had seen the 82nd parachuting in there

mostly since well shit, they did not...

:banghead:

And the prevention of movement in disasters across borders is COMMON... but oh wait, how many Haitian patients are NOW at US hospitals?

Oh never mind me.

[Prometheus Bound]

13. OK, so the 82nd helicoptered in.

Haiti earthquake: US soldiers land at presidential palace
Published: 8:52PM GMT 19 Jan 2010
In a symbolic operation, 20 Black Hawk helicopters landed US paratroopers to secure key buildings, such as the general hospital, in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.

"We are here to provide security. We work with the government of Haiti. We have rules of engagement, but we are on a humanitarian mission," said Sergeant Bill Smith of the 82nd Airborne Division.

.....The arrival was the most spectacular deployment so far in the US military's operation to bring relief to Port-au-Prince, but was not welcomed by some in the crowd who saw the arrival as an affront to Haitian sovereignty.

"I haven't seen the Americans in the streets giving out water and food, but now they come to the palace," said Wilson Guillaume, as some of the homeless living rough in the Champ de Mars square before the palace shouted abuse.

"It's an occupation. The palace is our power, our face, our pride," said Feodor Desanges.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7030223/Haiti-earthquake-US-soldiers-land-at-presidential-palace.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Scary they set up a triage and distribution pont

but that's ok...

What is scary is that most are actually missing the macro political reason for this... and if it works... oh boy, it will make you even angrier.

:-)

No, I don't care to explain it. Suffice it to say... thanks prof...

[TxRider]

20. You know you cannot

Throw a teaser out there like that without spilling the beans now..

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. You got a PM

And yes, yes I can... mostly I have explained it before

Two words

Marshall Plan

[TxRider]

18. Wow

"In a symbolic operation, 20 Black Hawk helicopters landed US paratroopers to secure key buildings, such as the general hospital, in the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital."

"American soldiers, in full combat gear, unloaded equipment, boxes of water bottles and food rations to create a forward base at the palace as the US took the lead in getting aid relief to increasingly desperate Haitians."

"Colonel Greg Kane, operations officer for the Joint Task Force Haiti, said: "Their responsibility will be to support the US embassy and other embassies."

"The surge in US military operations came as the UN Security Council approved a US resolution increasing the size of the international peacekeeping force in Haiti by 40 per cent.

The 2,000 extra troops, mainly from Brazil and the Dominican Republic, and 1,500 additional police, including European Union gendarmes, will be used to secure aid corridors in Port-au-Prince, and routes from northern ports and the neighbouring Dominican Republic."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7030223/Haiti-earthquake-US-soldiers-land-at-presidential-palace.html

[TxRider]

14. ROFL

Like it's an awesome idea to let refugees take off in rowboats into the ocean without food and water to try to go 600+ miles..

The ships are supplying aid, by the hundreds of tons.

As for the 82nd airborn landing at the collapsed palace, the grounds made for a good helicopter landing area and forward distribution base, and on the side of hill there are about 50,000 refugees in a tent city they are delivering food and water to and have been since the day the landed there. But never let facts get in the way of good conspiracy theory.

Not to mention backing up the state hospital nearby by flying out the most critical wounded to the huge hospital ship offshore with 11 state of the art operating rooms and 1000 bed capacity.

[Liberal In Texas]

22. Conspiracy Theory?

What conspiracy? We've been intercepting Haitian refugees for decades and sending them back. They find anything that can float and try for the states. Many times the USCG picks them up, rescues them actually, and they intern them until they can be sent back to Haiti.

What on earth makes you think this still isn't happening?!

[TxRider]

24. I was speaking

To the second link in the OP to the Hindu.

Of course we're going to stop people going out to sea to die in little boats, to not do so would be silly.

[Liberal In Texas]

25. The Hindu is the FOURTH link by my count.

And I still take issue with your characterization of some "conspiracy theory". We tend to act unilaterally and with an iron fist. There is precedence.

[TxRider]

36. Yeah there is some precedence

And if we sent in troops after say, an election, some riots, maybe even after a hurricane, there may be a point.

But when an earthquake kills 100,000+ people, and 3 million are at risk of dying from starvation, lack of water, and disease it just might, possibly, in the farthest stretches of one's imagination, be lurking a possibility that they may be there with at least a tiny little iota of good intentions.

Don't ya think?

Do you know how much food and water 3 million people need to eat and drink in a day?

How much sanitation 3 million people need?


You see the problem I have with these people, is they seem to care more about criticizing anything the U.S. does, than they do about the people in Haiti.

[Liberal In Texas]

19. There was a time when strangers were welcome here...

Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2KDj1A-QLU

Apparently no longer.

Neil Sedaka. What a great song.

Harbours open their arms to the young searching foreigner
Come to live in the light of the beacon of liberty
Plains and open skies bill boards would advertise
Was it anything like that when you arrived?
Dream boats carried the future to the heart of America
People were waiting in line for a place by the river

It was time when strangers were welcome here...
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet, and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere...

Now he arrives with hopes and his heart set on miracles
Come to marry his fortune with a hand full of promises
To find they've closed the door they don't want him anymore
There isn't anymore to go around
Turning away he remembers he once heard a legend
That spoke of a mystical magical land called America

There was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear...
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

It was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

[Dappleganger]

23. We don't want desperate people drowning

due to overcrowded boats trying to get here, either.

[Prometheus Bound]

26. Do you really think DUers are naive enough to believe that is the reason for the blockade?

Especially when US officials have made it clear it is to stop a mass exodus to the US, not for humanitarian reasons.

[susanna]

28. You, my friend, are hilarious. n/t

[Prometheus Bound]

30. And why do you say that?

[lazarus]

31. In that case

if it's desirable that we let the Haitians come here rather than stay in Haiti, why not abandon the relief/rebuilding efforts and just airlift them all into Miami? Surely Miami can absorb another 2-3 million people.

[Prometheus Bound]

32. I did not say it was desirable for you to let Hatians go to the US.

I even said in an earlier post that I understood the US position.

I did not say that it was desirable to abandon relief/rebuilding efforts and I pointed out ealier that I had not read a single post on DU that said it was desirable.

So I'm not sure what your point was.

[lazarus]

34. I may have responded to the wrong post

it's late, and I probably made a mistake. Sorry.