"the country of Haiti, as we knew it, probably does not exist any more"
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Geopolitical speculations about Haiti
Haiti is about the size of Maryland and a big chunk of the population lives in or near Port-Au-Prince, maybe a third of the total, depending on what you count as a suburb. So the collapse of Port-Au-Prince is a big, big deal for the country as a whole. It's a dominant city for Haiti. Plus Jacmel seems to be leveled. From the reports I have seen, my tentative conclusion is that the country as a whole is currently below the subsistence level and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Hundreds of thousands of people have died, the U.N. Mission has collapsed, the government is not working (was it ever?), and hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of people are living in the streets without reliable food or water supplies. The hospitals and schools have collapsed. The airport is shut down. The port is very badly damaged. The Haitian Penitentiary has collapsed and the inmates -- tough guys most of them -- are running free for the foreseeable future. There is no viable police force or army.
In other words, it's not just a matter of offering extra food aid for two or three years.
Very rapidly, President Obama needs to come to terms with the idea that the country of Haiti, as we knew it, probably does not exist any more.
In what sense does Haiti still have a government? How bad will it have to get before the U.N. or U.S. moves in and simply governs the place? How long will this governance last? What will happen to Haiti as a route for the drug trade, the dominant development in the country's economy over the last fifteen years? What does the new structure of interest groups look like, say five years from now?
Is there any scenario in which the survivors, twenty years from now, are better off, compared to the quake never having taken place?
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2010/01/geopolitical-speculations-about-haiti.html
What ya'll think? Is Haiti destined to become the next Somalia unless the U.S takes over?
Haiti is about the size of Maryland and a big chunk of the population lives in or near Port-Au-Prince, maybe a third of the total, depending on what you count as a suburb. So the collapse of Port-Au-Prince is a big, big deal for the country as a whole. It's a dominant city for Haiti. Plus Jacmel seems to be leveled. From the reports I have seen, my tentative conclusion is that the country as a whole is currently below the subsistence level and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Hundreds of thousands of people have died, the U.N. Mission has collapsed, the government is not working (was it ever?), and hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of people are living in the streets without reliable food or water supplies. The hospitals and schools have collapsed. The airport is shut down. The port is very badly damaged. The Haitian Penitentiary has collapsed and the inmates -- tough guys most of them -- are running free for the foreseeable future. There is no viable police force or army.
In other words, it's not just a matter of offering extra food aid for two or three years.
Very rapidly, President Obama needs to come to terms with the idea that the country of Haiti, as we knew it, probably does not exist any more.
In what sense does Haiti still have a government? How bad will it have to get before the U.N. or U.S. moves in and simply governs the place? How long will this governance last? What will happen to Haiti as a route for the drug trade, the dominant development in the country's economy over the last fifteen years? What does the new structure of interest groups look like, say five years from now?
Is there any scenario in which the survivors, twenty years from now, are better off, compared to the quake never having taken place?
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2010/01/geopolitical-speculations-about-haiti.html
What ya'll think? Is Haiti destined to become the next Somalia unless the U.S takes over?
Comments
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the US has nothing to gain... YET.... so i doubt the same amount of "devotion" they've had in the middle east will be shown for Haiti. plus, they're black folks... poor black folks. oh, and they're devil worshipers too. let's not forget that.
so much hate. -
What do you mean YET?the US has nothing to gain... YET.... so i doubt the same amount of "devotion" they've had in the middle east will be shown for Haiti. plus, they're black folks... poor black folks. oh, and they're devil worshipers too. let's not forget that.
so much hate. -
KillaCham. wrote: »What do you mean YET?
I would have to guess he mean economically and military wise they have nothing to gain. -
Aid alone aint enough....the goverment is too weak..hope it aint gonna be another lawless country like somalia
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The infastructure in Haiti was crumbled long before the earthquake. Not millions but billions will be needed to start anew in such a already devestated country, and as we all know, in politics there are no 'kind' gestures...if nothing is to be made from the country, then as the 'media' dies down, then so will the money and attention.
