Haiti earthquake: France criticises US 'occupation'

Haiti earthquake: France criticises US 'occupation'

www.t elegraph.co.uk

France has criticised America's relief efforts in Haiti by claiming that aid programmes should be about helping the country, not 'occupying' it.

(visit the link for the full news article)

www.abovetopsecret.com...



[edit on 18-1-2010 by enca78]

United Nations officials must investigate and clarify the dominant US role in the earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Bernard Kouchnet, the French minister said.

US forces last week turned back a French aid plane carrying a field hospital from the damaged, congested airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince, prompting a complaint from the French co-operation minister, Alain Joyandet. The plane landed safely the following day.


Oh in relation to my other post apparently i was just imagining it obviously france sees it the same way as i do

www.t elegraph.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

I would say that France is just a little 'sensitive' to the word occupation, then add to that the idea that France probably feels that if anyone should 'occupy' Haiti, it should be them... After all, it was theirs once upon a time...

Until I see a reliable source that states that the Haitian Government does not want US assistance, or wants the US to 'go home', this is much ado about nothing... Just France rattling their sabre...

You know what. This is a clear case of: Damned if you do. Damned if you dont Either the US does too much or they dont do enough. It does not matter what the US does - there will always be people to complain about it.

I guess France is now feeling guilty of leaving Haiti to become the mess that is now, perhaps if they have stayed in Haiti thing would have been better.

Now many countries do no like the Idea that US when it comes to this side of the world it has a responsibility to respond to this type of disaster due to is role in the world.

What other nation can mobilized such amount of resources in such a short amount of time, but the US.

Still we all know the problems with the airport so maybe they can get their own people to think that US is an evil occupation force in Haiti, but we know better.

Sorry France but you got it all wrong be glad we are there right now.

reply to post by greeneyedleo


You know I am always a big critic of our American government, but right now with the disaster in Haiti I be darn if I am going to allow some to put down the American effort in Haiti.

This no about invasion or take over this plain and simple humanitarian efforts.

We may have economic problems but darn we still have resources to act fast and get to the source.

Lets bash the government and do the conspiracies after the facts. I will be the first to speak if I see that things are not what it seems.

French military rescuers help their search dog exit a plane as they arrive in Port-au-Prince on Thursday.

Oh my God, you mean we have let a French plane land.

U.S. military air traffic controllers are scrambling to keep earthquake aid flowing into the Haitian capital without the use of a control tower or radar, and amid struggles over fuel, tarmac space and even staircases to access planes.

With all the hurdles facing rescue and relief efforts in this shattered city, it appears the first to overcome are at its major entry point for supplies. U.S. federal officials halted nonmilitary flights for eight hours Thursday at the request of the Haitian government, leaving dozens of planes circling.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Wake up! It's only one freaking airport. US is closest to Haiti so it makes sense for US to secure and operate the airport.

How dare they try to organize the mess that is the airport. It's all very well and good to want to fly in supplies and people to help...but there's got to be some sort of organization in place to make sure it gets where it needs to go quickly.

What good does tons of aid do if it's stuck under the sun at the airport?

France needs to have a little hush. Those folks at the airport are doing the best they know how to do.

France needs to have a big cup of STFU!
Instead of being critical they need to send over aid, resources and money to bear on this disaster.

Pot meet Kettle!

France is kind of hypocritical of this, but you can also say that that is the past and this is the future.

However as I read responses in this thread I find that many seem to have a knee-jerk answer to Haiti.
Let's just not think and just help them out.

No, because of Haiti's past and present it has to be dealt with responsibly. People are saying just send money like the poster above me, that is incorrect. Money should be given by the citizens of given countries and the govt. of that country should match it with no strings attached.

If you want to give loans to haiti, keep it.

Bottom line... in today's space, France has a better track record than the U.S.
I'm sorry it's just the truth.

Furthermore your support for helping Haiti should be overshadowed by your opposition to the IMF loaning money.

I think France (and also Venezuela) have a point.

Why wern't UN peacekeepers sent in?

Or is it because they can't really do much?

I don't know.

But yes the Americans are helping.

As long as in the end the military leaves Haiti and doesn't establish some military base there then fair enough.

As long as in the end the military leaves Haiti and doesn't establish some military base there then fair enough.

In the end. But that's a worry for another day. Given that the full scope of the disaster is still unfolding, I suspect that the U.S. and all the other countries helping will be there for some time.

Knee-jerk responses is right

Guess we'll see a lot of this sort of waffle in weeks to come

Well, I hear the airport is a mess over there, and perhaps, they couldn't handle the inbound French flight at the time? The French have always criticized this, that, and everything else. . . They didn't complain when the Allies in WWII, led by the United States, removed an unpopular occupation from their country; so why now?

The security situation over there is a nightmare and there are convicts roaming the streets freely. Not to mention, before the US got their the port was out and the airport. So, a large force was needed to get some semblance of order and infrastructure in place to streamline aid distribution.

If they have a complaint, take it up with the UN. Oh yeah, if the effort by the US is so sinister why hasn't the UN Secretary General said anything about it? So, maybe the French should think twice before complaining. Here is a little humor to lighten things up a bit about the bickering of the French, and a friendly greeting.



[edit on 18-1-2010 by Jakes51]

reply to post by Jakes51


I was waiting how long it would take an American to bash the French and bring up the Second World War.

First off as the rest of the world has long since established it wasn't just the United States fighting that war.

Secondly the French had many forces fighting in the Allied armies, even after France's defeat.

However that is another subject entirely. This thread shouldn't turn into the usual bashing of the French and for that matter bashing of America either.

reply to post by ModernAcademia


Apparently you didn't read my entire post.
I didn't say to just send money.

The country needs aid and resources first. Money from donations so that people can get food and clothing. And this money can be sent in to aid groups that specialize in this sort of thing.
Also money is needed for materials to build homes for those that do not have any.

And it's not a knee jerk reaction Like it or not haiti needs money. We shouldn't wrap things up in so much red tape that the people of haiti wait for aid till we hammer out a deal amongst countries. they need aid now.
if they don't get it people will die while waiting for aid.

[edit on 18-1-2010 by grey580]

Is a reason why UN was not first reponder, that is because UN force in Haiti was having problems with missing personnel.

US have what is call the Southern Command force like we have the Norther Command force this forcers for oversea Operations

This is the role of the US in western hemisphere, UN will be call as needed but US is first reponder no matter what.

People tend to forget that US plays a big role in the Southern Command

U.S. Southern Command
The Commander in Chief of SOUTHCOM is responsible for all U.S. military activities on the landmasses of Central and South America, the island nations of the Caribbean, and the surrounding waters south of Mexico. The dimensions and diversity of this theater are often not well understood by US citizens. From north to south the distance is approximately 7,000 miles, and from east to west more than 3,000 miles. Brazil is larger than the continental United States; Peru is three times the size of California. There are 32 sovereign nations in this theater, each one committed to the development of social and political systems appropriate to its culture and circumstances. SOUTHCOM is a joint command comprised of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine elements. Headquarters SOUTHCOM has approximately 850 men and women of all services and 130 civilians. It is the smallest of all the unified command staffs. The headquarters includes representatives from the Department of State, DEA, DIA, NSA, the Coast Guard, and Customs.

There is one subordinate Joint Task Forces (JTF) and one Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) within SOUTHCOM. JTF-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, operates a C-5 capable airfield and supports regional confidence building activities. Joint Interagency Task Force-East (JIATF-E) is an interagency organization designed to facilitate coordination of military counterdrug efforts in the Source and Transit Zones. (JIATF-South, which was located in Panama, merged with JIATF-East effective 1 May 1999.) JSSROC is a fusion cell for sensitive reconnaissance missions. It reports counterdrug radar and link information and provides radar control to aircraft during contingency operations. Finally, there are 26 Security Assistance Organizations (including one in Mexico, even though it is outside the command’s AOR) representing SOUTHCOM on U.S. country teams throughout the region. (NOTE: SAO in Guyana established summer 1999.)

Read more of the role of US in Global security

Actually the role of the US in Haiti was expected and a duty for the US.

www.globalsecurity.org...


[edit on 18-1-2010 by marg6043]

reply to post by Kram09


You are right, and they contributed to the war effort during the Second World War. Yes, that story is for another time and another thread. I never meant to make it look as though I was bashing the French, because I was not. However, you cannot deny that the bulk of the liberation force that removed the jackboot from the throat of France was the US.

Plus, the last video was in jest and to lighten things up. However, the US had to react as quickly as possible, as well as, other participating nations. So, for them to come out and criticize the efforts of the US is kind of childish, given the serious nature of things on the ground in Haiti.

Why hasn't the UN mission that has had continuous presence in Haiti been criticized for not doing enough to get the impoverished nation on their feet to somewhat handle a situation as devastating as this, on their own? For the French to come out and call the effort of, one, a military build-up, and so soon; is kind of ridiculous. Lets wait a little while before calling the effort an occupation or build-up, because it so soon in the disaster.

[edit on 18-1-2010 by Jakes51]

reply to post by JaxonRoberts


Typical American!
Please read my sig!

America is playing an overtone!
Why, and why not after Katrina?
Did they cause the Earthquake?
Indeed they did!
It will probably result in something like microchipping the entire population in case such a disaster happens again.

Down with the NWO!
Brainwashed USA, PLEASE WAKE UP!!!

Originally posted by grey580
The country needs aid and resources first.

yes aid and resources FIRST, not giving priority to military aircrafts!

Originally posted by grey580
Money from donations so that people can get food and clothing. And this money can be sent in to aid groups that specialize in this sort of thing.
Also money is needed for materials to build homes for those that do not have any.

I agree, just not in the form of loans or strings-attached emergeny aid.
That's all i'm saying.
Just saying "money" is dangerous imo.

Originally posted by grey580
And it's not a knee jerk reaction Like it or not haiti needs money. We shouldn't wrap things up in so much red tape that the people of haiti wait for aid till we hammer out a deal amongst countries. they need aid now.
if they don't get it people will die while waiting for aid.

Being responsible does not have to mean red tape delays.

I am only concerned of not putting Haiti into further debt, that's all
That is what is behind my thinking here

U.S did act fast, this is good, it acted faster than it's reponse on Katrina.

And enuff about France's past
France is not what it once was and neither is the United States.

[edit on 18-1-2010 by ModernAcademia]