January 21, 2010
Haiti: All Wealthy Nations, Not Just the U.S. and Other Western Governments, Should Help
Dr. Walid Phares
For over a week, news reports have shocked the world with images of tens of thousands of Haitians dead and injured by the devastating earthquake. More images show millions of Haitians roaming the streets of Port-au-Prince seeking medical attention and food.
When nature strikes, particularly against those nations unequipped to handle a disaster, it is incumbent on the entire international community to rush for help. It’s not just the duty of the United States of America, but of all nations capable of delivering aid to do so in these crises.
In times such as these, we always see American forces and equipment displaying the stunning capacity to intervene in the four corners of the planet. Everyone in the world community – from those whose life’s work it is to scorn America and everything it does to those who are on America’s sides in its fight against terror – expect American soldiers, Marines and sailors to be first on the ground while U.S. air assets are covering the stricken areas.
And soon after the drama recedes, the anti-America propaganda machines go back to business as usual: online, on satellite TV and on campuses. When it gets bad for humanity, Uncle Sam is the superman we need. When nature is calm, the Jihadists and their acolytes raise hell about infidel America.
This time we will hold everyone as responsible in the mass rescue underway. Yes, America is mobilizing its resources and will always do to meet its humanitarian obligations. U.S. resources are already establishing a humanitarian bridge to the island that happens to be very close to the mainland. Haitian Americans, many of whom I had the privilege to have in my classrooms, are an amazing brand of émigrés: hard working, education-seeking and society-building. Their mother country has been destroyed in front of their eyes and their entire patrimony is being shattered by the disaster’s aftermath. They fully deserve the support of their chosen homeland in the most strategic way. They will definitely be at the forefront of the campaign to rescue, save, and rebuild their island.
Facing this act of nature together, we know that Americans and Haitians will partner to save the people of the oldest African descendant and independent nation in this hemisphere. But we want the rest of the international society, particularly the rich and famous, to chip in.
We know that the usual helpers will extend their support: Canada, the European Union as well as Japan, India and other democracies. China, which is thrusting through markets in Africa and Latin America, seems to be willing to show support. Russia, which oil industry provides it with significant cash, must also donate generously. The Russian military, second to the U.S., must also display its power in humanitarian missions. Russian surface ships and submarines have been visiting Venezuela for joint exercises. It would be a good idea to send these high tonnage vessels to the shores of Haiti.
Beyond the traditional donors contributing money or technological assistance, this time we want to see the hard core critics of international interventions opening their checkbooks. Blasting Washington for deploying its fleets around the world, dictatorships in the Western Hemisphere should show compassion with the descendents of slaves in the Caribbean. Hugo Chávez, who brags about helping the disenfranchised, should donate free petrol to the island for at least one year. Morales should join in and offer some of Bolivia’s gas resources for heating. Lula, as Brazil’s economy is booming, must extend aid and increase his country’s participation in the UN’s operations in Haiti 10 times over. The Castro regime sent 70,000 soldiers to fight an African resistance in Angola during the Cold War, but they sent only 90 doctors to neighboring Haiti. Cuba must be a staging ground for humanitarian assistance and send seven divisions to help rebuilding the poorest of the poorest nations.
And across the seas, the Organization of Islamic Conference must ask its members, especially its very rich ones, to foot parts of the relief and reconstruction bills. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Iran and Libya can afford to save every single family in Haiti and help them face in the future. And in humanitarian interventions there should not be conditioned religious conversion to make charity happen. The influential al Jazeera and other networks should dedicate significant portions of their debates on how best to save millions of dispossessed people in Haiti inasmuch as they focus on best to free the 300 Jihadi terrorists across the bay, in Guantanamo.
Yes, if the critics of U.S. efforts to defend the world from terrorism would step in – for once – and put their money where their mouths are, they may help humanity. By helping Haiti, we will form a coalition of the willing. Those who act greedily will lose the moral ground.
Not one penny so far from Saudi.
posted by: logdon
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Surely Mr. Phares jests! Obviously, the United States and SOME of the countries he mentioned have contributed their help to this tragedy, but I doubt all those he mentioned are contributing and saying all the countries he named SHOULD contribute means nothing. And, while we are in a giving mood, isn't it about time that the United States looked seriously at its foreign aid committments, with a mind to shutting off some of the countries that we mindlessly support each year. Since the U.S. is having severe economic problems of its own, now is the time to pretty much cut these obligations (?) down to size. Certainly, if objects of our largesse badmouth the U.S., they are or ought to be immediately cut off without discussion.
posted by: Charlie Seng
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 11:45 AM
How come Israel contribution of 220 people and a hospital not metnioned? They made signifigant contributions, especially compared to china (60 people) which is about 500 times as big.
posted by: Jan Mel Poller
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 01:26 PM
I'm curious. Where's all the help from the oil rich Middle East and the religion of peace?
Didn't think so. I agree with the poster who states we should cut off some foreign aid. I'm all for that. In fact, you can cut it all from those who attack us and criticize us constantly.
posted by: tnmccoy
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 03:29 PM
Dr Walid Phares was the first to boldly question Chavez, Castro, and the OIC regimes (Qatar, Iran, Libya and Saudi) why haven't they contributed. That is the central question. At least he should be praised for raising the issue internationally and not just bicker about who sent what. He is courageous and sharp to hold the powerful regimes accountable.
posted by: Tom Harb
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 08:09 PM
