Emotional Haitian President to Obama: Thank you, thank you, thank you

[ProSense]

Emotional Haitian President to Obama: Thank you, thank you, thank you

by blackwaterdog

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After launching what AP called: Obama ordered a relief effort of historic proportions
the president finally managed to reach President Preval of Haiti, for what he described as an "emotional moment":

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President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Haitian President René Préval in the Oval Office, Jan. 15, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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AND MORE: President Obama will meet Bill Clinton and George Bush tomorrow at the White House. Obama also got authorization from Cuba to have U.S. medical evacuation flights through Cuba air space - cutting the time by 90 minutes a trip, and He will Pen Cover Story on Haiti and the Earthquake for Newsweek.

more

[Phx_Dem]

1. Thanks ProSense That diary really choked me up.

If only we'd reacted this way to Katrina when all those people were pleading for help. It still breaks my heart to think about it.

At least we got it right this time. The President is doing an outstanding job, as is President Clinton.

[Fire1]

2. THIS man is a President of the highest quality. n/t

[stevedeshazer]

3. Excellent.

Bush would still be clearing brush if he were president.

[cutlassmama]

11. and playing the guitar.

[Peace Patriot]

4. I'm glad to hear of the cooperation with Cuba. Cuba has top notch rescue teams, doctors

and emergency response capabilities, and is very close to Haiti. It worried me that political tensions between the U.S. and Cuba might in some way interfere with aid in the horrendous catastrophe in Haiti (and frankly I wouldn't expect such behavior from Cuba, but from the U.S. with its quite insane policy on Cuba), and I am VERY GLAD to hear of at least this cooperation--on Cuba's air space. And I hope to God that the Pentagon doesn't take advantage of their welcome in Cuba's air space. Just a few weeks ago, Obama's loosening of Cuba travel rules resulted in the USAID (CIA) trying to provide aid to the rightwing opposition in Cuba. Multi-millions of our tax dollars go from our pockets, through USAID and other agencies, to rightwing groups all over Latin America, coup plotting groups, as in Honduras, Venezuela and Bolivia, groups that oppose health care, education and other benefits to the poor, groups that sell their countries out to foreign corporations; believe me, this is NOT even-handed aid, and it should either be stopped or given to all political and civic groups.

Anyway, the good news is that the Pentagon worked something out with Cuba, to help Haiti. And, whatever my differences may be with President Obama, and with U.S. policy in Haiti and Latin America--and I have many grave objections to both--it certainly gladdens my heart to see President Obama personally involved in getting aid to this utterly devastated country. He acted on it very quickly, and his statements on it have seemed heartfelt and sincere. What a contrast, eh?--from Junior (who not only seriously fucked Haiti over in 2004, so did his Daddy, back when). (--not to mention New Orleans.)

[politicasista]

5. Great job, Mr. President

:patriot:

[HopeOverFear]

6. oh, man...

:cry:

[Jennicut]

7. I heard Obama say this today and it brought tears to my eyes.

[JNelson6563]

8. Same here.

Very touching.

[Cha]

9. Very informative and

hearttugging diary by blackwaterdog..since this had to happen I'm so glad Obama and his team are in charge.

Edit~ And, I too was glad to see that Cuba is helping the US with the air space to expedite the help that Haiti needs now.

"Cuba has agreed to let the United States military use restricted air space for the purposes of medical evacuations out of Haiti, Reuters reported Friday.

The deal shaves 90 minutes off the flight time it normally takes from Port-au-Prince to Miami.

Disaster relief teams from the U.S. military have been taken injured quake survivors to the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay. Some victims have then been taken to south Florida from Guantanamo."

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/15/world/worldwatch/entry6099838.shtml

[Cali_Democrat]

10. That's my Prez!!!

Nobel Peace Prize winner!!

[vaberella]

12. I love my President. Obama I mean, and not Preval. Preval is the worst kind of jackass. n/t

[dsc]

14. I hope your family is OK

I know we have had our hassles on DU but still I hope all is well.

[mzmolly]

13. I love my President.

:kick:

[ShortnFiery]

15. Wow, as good as what President Obama is doing, I don't love ANY politician.

Fellow democrats would be wise not to fall into such a "cult of personality." :(

It's not healthy for our democratic republic to "LOVE" any public servant because "they work for US - and are not our idols and/or celebrities."

[mzmolly]

16. I still love my President.

:hi: This does not mean I love everything he does, every day. But TODAY his actions are worthy of my thought.

[ShortnFiery]

17. Then I extend my sincere sympathies. IMO, life would be so empty LOVING a stranger

and/or someone who truly does not give a damn about you or yours.

However, it's a free world and you can love "the cookie monster" if it makes you happy ... it just won't happen to pay the rent. :shrug:

[mzmolly]

18. I think you read a bit too much

into my comment?

[treestar]

19. Your life is pretty empty as it is

I guess you would not "love" an abstraction like your country either?

Hopefully you "love" whoever pays the rent.

You're mincing words - love is a word with many meanings.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. He must not have heard: Barack Obama doesn't like black people

:sarcasm: