Earthquake - 7.0 Magnitude in Haiti

[bob saunders]

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The last 8 years (pre-2009) have been a disaster for US foreign policy with friends and allies (as well as an excellent recruiting tool for enemies), and spending a few million in Haiti is not going to magically fix that (as he seems to think). This should just be the start.

Don't get carried away, Obama and Team totally screwed up in Honduras and will continue to make a balls up on many things. USA is doing a great job in taking charge in Haiti. Canadian troops are now in charge of refueling at the airport, but we working together all the time so no problems. 4 more Canadian Hercules loads today, troops carriers...etc.

 

[ExtremeR]

Don't get carried away, Obama and Team totally screwed up in Honduras and will continue to make a balls up on many things. USA is doing a great job in taking charge in Haiti. Canadian troops are now in charge of refueling at the airport, but we working together all the time so no problems. 4 more Canadian Hercules loads today, troops carriers...etc.

In who's mind? By team you mean the world right?

 

[Frank the Tank]

The last 8 years (pre-2009) have been a disaster for US foreign policy with friends and allies (as well as an excellent recruiting tool for enemies), and spending a few million in Haiti is not going to magically fix that (as he seems to think). This should just be the start.

Says you? Are you even an American? Anyways, it's more than a few millions, by the time it is said and done, it will be 100s of billions when you calculate the costs of keeping the naval ships and soldiers on the ground there. And when the publicity dies and Chavez and many European nations go away, the US will still be there. And just as an aside when did the US have to get approval from the EU to defend itself and act in our best interests?

 

[IslandDreaming]

Someday the Us will just say "Screw it" and then who will they call?

Says you? Are you even an American? Anyways, it's more than a few millions, by the time it is said and done, it will be 100s of billions when you calculate the costs of keeping the naval ships and soldiers on the ground there. And when the publicity dies and Chavez and many European nations go away, the US will still be there. And just as an aside when did the US have to get approval from the EU to defend itself and act in our best interests?

 

[tomas2]

Says you? Are you even an American?

Not sue why it matters, but yes, I am an American.

"And when the publicity dies and Chavez and many European nations go away, the US will still be there"​

I hope you are right.

 

[eddieo]

to all who advised me on the road conditions to Port-au-Prince, thankyou. I leave Monday am. I can inform you all when I return.

 

[socuban]

to all who advised me on the road conditions to Port-au-Prince, thankyou. I leave Monday am. I can inform you all when I return.

Godspeed............

 

[Ogre of the Caribbean]

Once the American Military arrives, order will be restored. The Haitian criminal gangs are afraid of the US Marines. When they were briefly there (PAP) in 2004, PAP was secure. Hatians have told me that they preferred US troops to the Brazillians,etc (UN Forces) because the criminal gangs would not risk messing with them(the Americans).

 

[greydread]

Boots on the ground

Once the American Military arrives, order will be restored. The Haitian criminal gangs are afraid of the US Marines. When they were briefly there (PAP) in 2004, PAP was secure. Hatians have told me that they preferred US troops to the Brazillians,etc (UN Forces) because the criminal gangs would not risk messing with them(the Americans).

The number of U.S. troops set to deploy by Monday rose from 5,500 this morning to over 10,000 at last report.

U.S. troops start distributing aid in Haiti - Haiti earthquake- msnbc.com

There will be order in Port au Prince.

 

[Dolores1]

Tel for Red Cross person location in Haiti, call in the Dominican Republic Tel 809 334-4545 Ext 246/292

 

[Lambada]

to all who advised me on the road conditions to Port-au-Prince, thankyou. I leave Monday am. I can inform you all when I return.

Some advice has been circulated for those travelling to Haiti:

Advertencia para los que quieren viajar a Haiti


A las personas que est?n planeando viajar a Hait? en las pr?ximas horas y d?as, a llevar alimentos y ayudas humanitarias, deben tener en cuenta algunas precauciones:

En Hait? no hay combustible, deben llevar suficiente combustible, y si aparece, un gal?n de gasolina podr?a costar 500 pesos en el mercado negro
Tenga cuidado en ponerse a distribuir por cuenta propia las ayudas, podr?a ser un caos, mejor entr?guelo a las autoridades del COE u otras encargadas de su distribuci?n.

Trate de buscar ayudas en la frontera con las autoridades para seguir hacia Puerto Pr?ncipe

La seguridad no es garantizada, podr?an ser objeto de atracos para robarles las ayudas
Llevar alimentos para comer, all? un botellita de agua o referesco podr?a costarle 15 d?lares
Llevar mascarilla y guantes desechables por el brote de epidemias
Vacunarse antes de salir
Llevar alcohol para desinfectarse o limpiarse las manos
Entre otras precauciones que usted podr?a tomar

Take sufficient gasoline, there is little in Haiti & what does exist on the black market could cost RD$500 a gallon.

It is better to give your goods for distribution to the COE or other recognised organisation to avoid chaos/being mobbed etc.

Try to get help from the authorities at the border in order to get to Port au Prince safely. Your security is not guaranteed & those with goods could become the objects of attack.

Take own food & water: a small bottle of water in Haiti could cost US$15. Take masks and gloves. Have vaccinations before you leave. Take alcohol to disinfect hands.

 

[Conchman]

Are US Marines supposed to go on land in Haiti, to establish law and order and protect relief supplies and foreign aid workers? I have not heard much news on this, it would be interesting to know. This could be a delicate subject. One thing is for sure, you can't rely on the Haitian army/police for this task.

 

[IslandDreaming]

The US Marines, along with 82nd airborne are being tasked with humanitarian duties, including protecting life and property in conjunction with US Peacekeepers already in country.

The US forces (Marines and Airborne) will be under US command in supporting UN Peacekeeping forces, given that I would expect some "friction" as to who is truly in command

The UN has approximately 9,000 people in Haiti (Or did, many are unaccounted for) the US troop strength will be around 6,000 initially with a cohesive C & C Infrastructure, something the UN currently lacks as they can't account for their own people and their headquarters collapsed

It would be my 'hope" and thoughts that the US troops would initiate immediate control until order is established, given that they will liley be working with primarily US troops and equipment (You can expect 15,000 US troops in following weeks) and better suited to working together

Once the initial recovery effort is established control would likely be returned completely to UN with US security support

Are US Marines supposed to go on land in Haiti, to establish law and order and protect relief supplies and foreign aid workers? I have not heard much news on this, it would be interesting to know. This could be a delicate subject. One thing is for sure, you can't rely on the Haitian army/police for this task.

 

[andy_089]

Swede gives millions to help Haiti children
Swedish businessman Roger Akelius is to donate 100 million kronor ($14.1 million) over a 25-year-period to help children in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that hit the country.

 

[Chip]

I think it's really impressive the amount of concern by the Dominican people for their Haitian relatives. This is a poor country but the radio is full of programs during the day collecting donations for the Haitans affected by this disaster. I really think we are at the dawn of a new day in relations between the two countries.

 

[wuarhat]

Are US Marines supposed to go on land in Haiti, to establish law and order and protect relief supplies and foreign aid workers? I have not heard much news on this, it would be interesting to know. This could be a delicate subject. One thing is for sure, you can't rely on the Haitian army/police for this task.

I've been bouncing between CNN and MSNBC since Tuesday and have noticed that whenever a US General or Admiral has been interviewed their response to the security question has been to very carefully to emphasize that their troops would be responsible for aid, logistics, demolition and repair of the port, medical assistance, and other relief operations. They have been very emphatic about the idea that security will be the responsibility of the UN and Haiti. One would hope that is just the official position.

I have seen a report that a drone diverted from Afghanistan has taken thousands of aerial photos of the area since Thursday to be used in the planning of the whole operation. This might also, help with the security situation.

 

[IslandDreaming]

I have seen a report that a drone diverted from Afghanistan has taken thousands of aerial photos of the area since Thursday to be used in the planning of the whole operation. This might also, help with the security situation.

USN P 3 Orions have been overflying Haiti since about two hours after the quake, first providing infrared and now high resolution images to identify every conceivable aspect, from trapped people to road access to areas for setting up logistic supply depots

Not really sure why they would task a drone with this as the Orion has far superior "cameras' and not exactly threatened by enemy activity, but whatever works. Could be cost effectiveness and or operational assessment of the asset, but again: Whatever works and helps

If that "drone" was moved from Afghanistan it would likely be a Global Hawk, maybe they wanted very high altitude returns for a complete assessment, one thing is certain, we won't ever know

 

[aegap]

I have seen a report that a drone diverted from Afghanistan has taken thousands of aerial photos of the area since Thursday to be used in the planning of the whole operation. This might also, help with the security situation.

Air Force intelligence agency officials support Haitian relief efforts

Among other things, they also use them to spot where best to send the helicopters, from the American ships now off the coast of Port au Prince.

Hi-Res

An aerial view of the damaged National Cathedral in Haiti from a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aircraft Jan. 14. Aerial images are providing U.S. military planners valuable situation awareness as they coordinate U.S. military support to the Haiti relief effort. (Release by U.S. Southern Command)

Hi-Res

An aerial view of the damaged Presidential Palace in Haiti from a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aircraft Jan. 14. Aerial images are providing U.S. military planners valuable situation awareness as they coordinate U.S. military support to the Haiti relief effort. (Release by U.S. Southern Command)

Hi-Res
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An aerial view of earthquake victims gathering in a soccer field in Haiti from a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aircraft Jan. 14. Aerial images are providing U.S. military planners valuable situation awareness as they coordinate U.S. military support to the Haiti relief effort. (Release by U.S. Southern Command)

A U.S. Navy helicopter takes off after throwing bottles of water near the beach in Port-au-Prince January 16, 2010. Tensions rose among desperate Haitians awaiting international aid and hunting for missing relatives on Saturday as aid began to trickle in four days after an earthquake that Haitian authorities say killed 200,000 people.

People gestures as a U.S. helicopter makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Jan. 15, 2010) A Naval Air Crewman from the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returns to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) after delivering supplies to the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) off the coast of Haiti. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Haiti in response to the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake disaster. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael C. Barton/Released)

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) operating off the coast of Haiti as part of humanitarian relief efforts.

 

[mountainannie]

Barahona

The US military has taken charge of the airport at Barahona per the agreement between Preidents Obama, Fernandez and Preval. Supplies are being received through there.

 

[eddieo]

i have just recieved word that i cant cross into haiti. i have 2 trucks of supplies. can anyone help with info on a convoy with proper security and papers that i can join asap? thankyou.