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Don't call on US in a crisis!

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by windcatcher, Jan 18, 2010.

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  1. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    Doctors Without Borders, complete with medical personnel, supplies, operating and inflatable hospital.... was turned away from Port au Prince Airport by US. They were told to turn around and land in the Dominican Republic and TRUCK in!

    Can you believe it!:tear:
     
    #1 windcatcher, Jan 18, 2010
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Why?.........
     
    #2 Revmitchell, Jan 18, 2010
  3. NiteShift

    NiteShift New Member

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    The on-the-ground U.S. commander in Haiti, Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, acknowledged the bottleneck at the airport with a single runway and little space for parked planes. "We're working aggressively to open up other ways to get in here," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

    LINK
     
    #3 NiteShift, Jan 18, 2010
  4. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    Sorry. Meant to include the link:
    http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=4165&cat=press-release

     
    #4 windcatcher, Jan 18, 2010
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    What's with the "Can you believe it" comment? The airport was left without the use of its control tower or radar, had incredibly tarmac space, and even staircases to access planes were limited. Rerouting the plane to the Dominican Republic was a matter of people doing the bext they could with what they had. That's all.
     
    #5 Johnv, Jan 18, 2010
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I am not willing to second guess the commander on the ground at this point. I cannot imagine any agenda here.
     
    #6 Revmitchell, Jan 18, 2010
  7. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    The lack of capacity at Port-au-Prince airport has bedevilled the aid operation right from the start. This incident is hardly unique and I don't think the US commander can be to blame for it; the airport was way below standard even before the 'quake. I think the commander's probably doing his best with very inadequate facilities and having to make tough calls like this all the time.
     
    #7 Matt Black, Jan 18, 2010
  8. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    I'm sure we're not getting the whole story.

    But exactly what the story is and how they are ordering the priorities or setting up realistic schedules to try to accommodate aid is anyone's guess at this point.

    I remember the Katrina response. Trucking folks were lined up and paid big bucks to carry loads of ice, fresh water, and supplies to New Orleans..... and then halted by the military gate keepers and turned around to park wherever they could find truck parking ....in some cases while desiel supplies ran low and ice started melting.

    Heliocopters don't take a lot of room and can be utilized for smaller loads of supplies and movement and evacuation of people. If not suitable for transferring folks in and out of the country.... they could be used to transport between airports which have greater capacity for airplanes and use the Hati airport for priority relief unavailable otherwise. Hope this is already being done..... but given the efficiency of the government ...... and every decision requires a committee to study it and vote before an action is taken....... Well...... you catch my drift!
     
    #8 windcatcher, Jan 18, 2010
  9. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    The Katrina point is a good one. The literal beauracratic roadblocks to getting aid in there destroyed truck fulls of food and supplies as they sat on the highways leading into New Orleans.

    Is it really surprising that an improverished country like Haiti would have a marginally usable airport before the crisis? I don't think so.

    Without any supporting mechanisms for infrastructure and all major contruction pieces being used to find people in the rubble it will be a hard thing to make this airport usable again.
     
    #9 preachinjesus, Jan 18, 2010
  10. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    If the airport is full, it's full.

    Doesn't matter what's on the next plane.
     
    #10 carpro, Jan 18, 2010
  11. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    This link has more news which may explain my own concern for priorities. By the way, I have a family member deployed already to Haiti after the earth quake.
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20100115&articleId=17000
    The response to Rita in Texas (historical reference):
    Now in Hati..... the military:
     
    #11 windcatcher, Jan 18, 2010
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    sorry don't buy it. The info is not credible
     
    #12 Revmitchell, Jan 18, 2010
  13. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    The airport in DR is 160 miles from the one in Haiti. An inconvenience, but a distance that is certainly drivable in a decent period of time.
     
    #13 mcdirector, Jan 18, 2010
  14. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    At 25-30mph, it's a 5-6 hour drive. Not unreasonable. This really isn't an issue.
     
    #14 Johnv, Jan 18, 2010
  15. Matt Black

    Matt Black Well-Known Member
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    Yes and no. My understanding is that many of the roads are blocked by earthquake debris making them well-nigh impassable. It's almost a lose-lose situation. I don't think finger-pointing at the US military who, AFAICT, are doing as good a job they can in a very difficult situation, is at all fair; understandable perhaps from the poor souls on the ground who have to vent their frustration and despair at someone, but incorrect nevertheless.
     
    #15 Matt Black, Jan 19, 2010
  16. windcatcher

    windcatcher New Member

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    I would consider the Doctors Without Borders own post of estimate of this diversion as adding another 24 hours to their arrival in Haiti as CREDIBLE and significant impact to those who are seriously injured.


    I don't find fault with a small military presence and force to stabilize and maintain order........ but I do question the impact of mobilizing and organizing and establishing a priority which should be rescue, medical, water, food, and shelter for those suffering when such a large military force requires them to organize and set up their own priorities of establishing themselves with similar provisions.
     
    #16 windcatcher, Jan 19, 2010
  17. targus

    targus New Member

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    What are the odds that the critics of the Katrina response will lay the same responsibilty for actions on the ground in Haiti at the feet of the current President as they did with the former President?
     
    #17 targus, Jan 19, 2010
  18. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    The odds are in Obama's favor even as they ignore that the primary responsibility in the Katrina repsonse was at the state level and there was none.
     
    #18 Revmitchell, Jan 19, 2010
  19. targus

    targus New Member

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    I am also wondering what has been the response of the Dominican Republic?

    Surely they have doctors that could have been in Haiti in a matter of a few hours.

    Were they?
     
    #19 targus, Jan 19, 2010
  20. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I have no clue
     
    #20 Revmitchell, Jan 19, 2010
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