The Frank plots sending troops to America's backyard

[Free Enterprise]

The main point is that as long as there is not a large scale and/or enduring militarization of independent Carribean islands there is not a security threat. The Cuba Missile Crisis is an example of such a threat.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
There are no good guys in this fight. Best would be to let them fight out among themselves and let natural selection take its course.

Oh, and the 100,000 innocents in mortal danger are what, wallpaper?

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Let's face it, the French are more likely to actually look out for the interests of the Haitians than the Americans are.

Hell, when we come right down to it, I bet the Haitians are better able to LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES than any other country, right?

But after nearly 200 years of the Monroe Doctrine, nobody gives a **** what the Haitians want anyway.

 

[amadeus]

I don't care what anyone says, I think Donald Trump has a good shot at the Presidency in 2016. That is unless Hillary Clinton or George Bush's brother run, they have unstoppable high-energy.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Originally posted by Aphex_Twin
Oh, and the 100,000 innocents in mortal danger are what, wallpaper?

First, as a human being, I feel bad for them. But as an American, I think it would be insane to send American kids to that hellhole. The problem isnt a lack of American troops, the problem in Haiti is a lack of understanding of how to run a civil, democratic society. Thats something theyre going to have to figure out on their own.

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

I still feel there is a lot of unexplained factors here.
For instance, how is it that the Haitian economy has turned increasingly to the worse under Aristide?
What about the pro- Aristide rumours that the rebels have bases in the Dominican Republic?
Who controls the Dominican Republic?
Why are Cuban doctors allowed into the Rebel Areas of Control?
Why do American commentators on CNN call the rebels 'insurgents'?
Which side will a French intervention support?
Which side will an American intervention support?

And FYI Haiti is not a hellhole, it is actually not worse than central Los Angeles, or downtown Marseille.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

In other words it IS a hellhole. You compare a whole country to downtown Los Angeles and expect us to drool over this Elysian paradise?

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Pontiuth Pilate
In other words it IS a hellhole. You compare a whole country to downtown Los Angeles and expect us to drool over this Elysian paradise?

Hey downtown LA is not so bad. It only costs 50 cents to get your windshield wiped clean.

 

[amadeus]

I heard Apple is developing a phone.

No way they're going to out-ball the Ballmer and Microsoft Zune.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Hey downtown LA is not so bad. It only costs 50 cents to get your windshield wiped clean.

That's nothing, they'll clean your clock free of charge.

 

[Zeekater]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead

First, as a human being, I feel bad for them. But as an American, I think it would be insane to send American kids to that hellhole. The problem isnt a lack of American troops, the problem in Haiti is a lack of understanding of how to run a civil, democratic society. Thats something theyre going to have to figure out on their own.

Iraq is hellhole too, and much worse.
Why didn't the US leave Irak to find out how to run a civil democratic society on their own? Or any other dictatorship, fundamentalist regime, whatever.
Bottum line: don't say the reason America went to Iraq was to free the Iraqis then, Dumb Pothead. (which I don't know if you ever said, but you never know.)
Downtown LA sounds worse then Haiti.

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Also Haiti is one of the main tradecentres of the Cocaine trade. The corrupt Aristide regime have skimmed off plenty of dollars by allowing imports from the producing countries and then sending it off to the US.

Naturally if Aristide is removed the resulting chaos might mean that the cocaine trade to the US consumers might be interrupted. The depletion might lead to turf wars and general unrest in the inner cities of the US.

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
With Cuban medical technology? It's probably a Castro plot to kill off the rebels.

That statement has absolutely no basis at all in reality.

 

[Ebitdadada]

Couple Comments, Need to go to Bed, only read about 2 pages of posts.

#1 France and the US are not Enemies
#2 France and the US are not rival powers

See (NATO, Common Sense along with a history book or if you see fit, a newspaper or any other political publication)

I don't know enough about the situation in Haitie to comment on whether anyone should go into Haitie. (I can't spell that countries name!!!) The President dosn't seem to be that great of a guy so I don't know which side is right. Unless its clear what Haitians want I don't know if another power can go in and regulate the situation. Maybe it is clear, maybe it isn't.

In any case if France wants to takeover for US reasponsibilities (or pretention of reasponsibility) in Latin America, more power to them. The US millitary is already quite busy in the middle east.

 

[allhailIndia]

The point is that Haiti is going to be in some real crap now and at least for the sake of humanitarian relief, there needs to be some sort of peacekeepers in Haiti. If Americans can't do it, then let the French, I did'nt see anything in Villepin's statement which said that France was supporting either Aristide or the rebels, They just want to safeguard a couple of thousand French civilians and if possible assist any humanitarian relief. For pete's sake, they are'nt going to raise the French flag over the Presidential Palace anytime soon

If France and US are "enemies" why are they both part of the NATO?

 

[Drewcifer]

I haven't taken the time to read this thread but I will still comment.

The US is foolish for letting Haiti go to crap. Remember the Haitian boat people crisis of the '80s? Crisis in the Caribbean is usually followed by 100,000 people boarding rickety boats and trying to make it to Florida. I am not engaging in wild speculation, this has happened before, there are already tons of Haitians in the US because of it. We have pragmatic reasons for not letting festering sores sit in that region. So maybe France is trying to embarass the US in it's own neighborhood. So what. If they succeed it will help us too. More power to them, we should be doing it. I wish them nothing but success. And Haiti too which is more important.

 

[10Seven]

EDIT: Bad mood No need to take it out on others

 

[SeleucusNicator]

The US has announced it will "mediate" the crisis in Haiti. While I do not know what exactly they plan on doing, it appears that France is now backing off.

 

[Maj]

Since we're examining American prestige and the importance of maintaining it I'd wonder how it would fair if the Bush administration were to decide to block a humanitarian operation being conducted by an uncooperative ally.

 

[Gladi]

Originally posted by phoenix_night


Originally posted by rmsharpe
With Cuban medical technology? It's probably a Castro plot to kill off the rebels

That statement has absolutely no basis at all in reality.

Bright day phoenix_night.

Actually it has. I have just read a first-hand report on Cuban medical care, let us say Cubans have incsencities to stay healthy. Castro does simply not care about them.

May all your days be bright.