U.S. Should Have Stayed Out of Haiti

The recent earthquake in Haiti was a tremendous disaster and is an ongoing tragedy. The people of Haiti require huge amounts of assistance, and as quickly as possible. In true American fashion, we responded immediately with every available asset, both civilian and military. And in true international fashion, the world could not begin to attack the effort fast enough.

The typically America-hating left-wing governments like Venezuela and Cuba immediately accused us of "occupying" Haiti, using the relief effort as cover. This was not a surprise. Following closely on the heels of Hugo Chavez, however, came France with the same accusation. One French official, Secretary of State for Cooperation Alain Joyandet, actually got into a physical confrontation with the military air traffic controller over the denial of clearance for a French relief flight. The stupidity of trying to bully a forward air controller with both the training, personal weapons and security to fight off a small army aside, it was yet another example of the complete lack of appreciation for what we are doing. Now Guido Bertolaso, head of Italy's civil protection department has called us "pathetic."

Enough.

America never receives any appreciation for what it does. We provide more food than any country on Earth, yet only hear about using more than our "fair share" of resources and having too big of a carbon footprint. We provide more in real dollar aid than any country, and in fact more than the next several countries combined, yet we are accused of being stingy. And when we're the only country that goes to war (and is roundly attacked by every country not involved without fail) and then spends billions upon billions of dollars helping the defeated enemy rebuild the damage from that war.

We even divert our military during war to these aid operations. When the tsunami hit Indonesia, an entire battle group headed for Iraq was diverted to deliver food, water and medical attention. We used up precious on board supplies of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and spare parts that were needed by troops under fire....to aid a Muslim nation, all the while being accused of a "war on Islam." Now we do the same for Haiti. Our most elite paratroopers, units of the 82nd Airborne Division, the nation's "fire brigade," are in Haiti handing out water, food and medical assistance. They are restoring airfields and communications ahead of and faster than anyone could hope for or could have done without them. And they are being scolded for it, again; the irony of the fact that the only reason our troops can be attacked for running things improperly is because they were there first apparently was lost on the world as usual.

It's time America stayed home. They can criticize us all they want for that, and they will.

But it won't cost us anything in lives or money, and maybe, just maybe, they'll realize what happens when you sound the alarm and the Americans don't come running.