Haiti Has Collapsed: What Next?

Summary

The video script discusses the state collapse of Haiti, comparing it to Somalia's 1990s scenario, with armed gangs taking control and the government crumbling. It outlines the failure of international warnings and the dire consequences, including potential destabilization of the Western Hemisphere. The script delves into the history of Haiti's gangs, their ties to the elite, and the current crisis' political dimensions, highlighting the challenges of resolving the situation through either military intervention or domestic efforts.

Takeaways

• 📉 Haiti has experienced a state collapse similar to Somalia in the 1990s, with the government crumbling and no central authority left.
• 🚨 The streets of Haiti are under the control of armed gangs, leading to widespread violence, looting, and murder.
• 🗣️ The international community, including the US and France, failed to act on repeated warnings, allowing the crisis to escalate.
• 🔄 Haiti's situation worsened after the departure of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, with gangs uniting and seizing control of the country.
• 👮‍♂️ The Haitian security forces are severely undermanned, with a small police force and a recently reformed military ill-equipped to handle the crisis.
• 🏛️ Gangs have attacked government buildings, prisons, and infrastructure, further destabilizing the country.
• 💡 The crisis in Haiti is rooted in a history of political instability and the disbanding of the military, which led to the rise of armed groups.
• 🤝 There is a complex relationship between Haiti's gangs and the nation's elites, with the gangs often serving the interests of the wealthy.
• 🔄 The power balance in Haiti has shifted, with gangs now seeking political control and legitimacy.
• 🌐 The potential for Haiti's collapse to destabilize the Western Hemisphere is a significant concern for neighboring countries and the international community.
• 🔮 The future of Haiti is uncertain, with potential solutions such as military intervention or financial aid carrying significant risks and challenges.

Q & A

What does the term 'Haiti has collapsed' refer to in the context of the script?

In the script, 'Haiti has collapsed' refers to a state of complete state failure similar to what Somalia experienced in the 1990s, where the government has lost control, police forces have disintegrated, and armed groups now control the streets, leading to widespread violence and chaos.

Why did Haiti's security situation deteriorate so rapidly in March 2023?

The security situation in Haiti deteriorated rapidly due to the coordinated actions of armed gangs who joined forces under the leadership of Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier. With the Prime Minister out of the country, the gangs took advantage to launch a sustained bout of violence, attacking infrastructure and freeing prisoners.

What was the role of the Haitian National Police in maintaining security before the collapse?

The Haitian National Police, with between 5,000 and 8,000 officers, were responsible for policing a nation of over 11 million people. However, they were quickly overwhelmed by the coordinated violence of the gangs, leading to a security vacuum.

Why was the Haitian Army disbanded in the 1990s and what was its impact on security?

The Haitian Army was disbanded in the 1990s due to a lack of trust in the military following political instability. This led to the creation of armed groups by various factions to defend their interests, which eventually evolved into the gangs that now plague the country.

What is the connection between Haiti's gangs and the nation's elites?

The gangs in Haiti have deep connections with the nation's elites, who have historically used these armed groups to protect their interests and push their agendas, including during elections and business disputes.

What was the role of Ariel Henry in Haiti's political landscape prior to the collapse?

Ariel Henry served as the unelected and unpopular Prime Minister of Haiti. He was appointed by the assassinated President Jovenel Moïse and continued to hold power despite widespread protests and a lack of a democratic mandate.

What was the significance of the transitional council proposed after Ariel Henry's resignation?

The transitional council was intended to guide Haiti back to stability by including representatives from various sectors of society, including political parties, civil society, and the private sector. However, the gangs are also trying to leverage their control for seats on the council.

How does the script describe the potential impact of Haiti's collapse on the Western Hemisphere?

The script suggests that Haiti's collapse could potentially destabilize the Western Hemisphere due to its proximity to the United States and the possibility of a large-scale refugee crisis affecting neighboring countries and potentially leading to increased migration to the U.S.

What are some of the challenges faced by the international community in addressing Haiti's crisis?

The international community faces challenges such as deciding whether to intervene militarily, which could be seen as colonialist; providing financial aid, which depends on the cooperation of Haiti's elites; and organizing new elections in a country plagued by violence and political fragmentation.

What does the script suggest as potential solutions to Haiti's crisis?

The script outlines several potential solutions, including international military intervention, financial aid, and a Haitian-led initiative, but notes that each option comes with significant risks and challenges, and that inaction could lead to further suffering for Haiti's people.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Haiti's State Collapse and Civil Unrest

The script describes the state collapse in Haiti, akin to Somalia's situation in the 1990s, where the government has disintegrated, and armed gangs now control the streets, engaging in violence, looting, and murder. The video discusses the failure of international warnings and the inability of the Haitian government to maintain order. It outlines the immediate causes, including the gangs' coordinated violence following Prime Minister Ariel Henry's departure for a meeting, the release of prisoners, and attacks on infrastructure. The script also points out the inadequacy of Haiti's security forces, the political instability, and the blame placed on Henry and international powers for their roles in the crisis.

05:01

🔍 Deeper Roots of Haiti's Crisis and Gang-Elite Connections

This paragraph delves into the historical context of Haiti's current crisis, tracing the origins of the gangs to the disbanding of the military in the 1990s and the rise of armed groups tied to political factions and business interests. It highlights the parasitic relationship between Haiti's elite and the gangs, using violence to further their interests. The script discusses the recent gang alliance led by Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier and its political ambitions, as well as the transitional council's formation and the gangs' attempts to gain political legitimacy. It emphasizes the complexity of the situation, with the gangs not just seeking power but also aiming to push through a revolution that they believe will benefit them.

10:02

🛑 The Emergence of New Power Brokers and the Struggle for Control

The script introduces new players in Haiti's power struggle, such as Guy Philippe, a former coup leader, and opposition leader Moïse Jean-Charles, who are positioning themselves to take advantage of the crisis. It discusses the potential for a grassroots revolution and the calls for amnesty for the gangs, reframing them as marginalized individuals. The paragraph also explores the possibility that the gang's alliance was opportunistic, brought together by the threat of a Kenyan police deployment. The situation's gravity is underscored by the control of key transport routes and water sources by armed groups, the humanitarian crisis, and the potential for a large-scale refugee crisis affecting neighboring countries and the Western Hemisphere.

15:03

⚠️ The Dire Outlook for Haiti and the Challenge of International Response

The final paragraph addresses the difficult questions surrounding Haiti's future, with the country on the brink of becoming a 'Caribbean Somalia.' It discusses the potential for international military intervention, the challenges of holding new elections amid violence, and the risk of a refugee crisis. The script highlights the complexity of finding a solution, with each option presenting significant risks and potential for exacerbating the situation. It concludes with a call to action, emphasizing the urgency of addressing Haiti's crisis and the potential consequences of inaction for the country's people and the region.

Keywords

💡State Collapse

State collapse refers to the complete failure of a nation's central authority, leading to the absence of governance and widespread chaos. In the video, Haiti is described as having undergone a state collapse, with the government crumbling and armed gangs taking control of the streets, similar to Somalia in the 1990s. The concept is central to understanding the severity of the situation in Haiti.

💡Armed Gangs

Armed gangs are groups of criminals organized around the use of violence and often involved in illegal activities. The script describes how in Haiti, armed gangs have joined forces under the leadership of Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, seizing control of the streets, engaging in violence, and effectively ruling over the population, which is a key factor in the state's collapse.

💡Insurgency

Insurgency is a term used to describe a rebellion against authority, often involving organized and sometimes armed resistance. The video suggests that the situation in Haiti should be viewed through the lens of insurgency, as the gangs are not just seeking criminal gains but are actively trying to take political control, indicating a more complex and systemic issue than mere gang violence.

💡Political Faction

A political faction refers to a group within a political party or system that has its own agenda or interests. The script mentions that after Haiti's army was disbanded, various political factions created armed groups to defend their interests, which laid the groundwork for the current gang problem and their connection to the nation's elites.

💡Elections

Elections are the process by which citizens vote for their representatives or leaders. The video discusses the delayed elections in Haiti, which were promised by the unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry but never took place, contributing to political instability and the lack of a legitimate government.

💡Transitional Council

A transitional council is a temporary governing body set up to guide a country through a period of political change or crisis. The script describes the formation of a transitional council in Haiti after the resignation of Ariel Henry, which is intended to help restore stability and guide the country towards new elections.

💡Humanitarian Assistance

Humanitarian assistance refers to the aid provided to people in need, especially in crisis situations. The video mentions that up to 5.5 million people in Haiti are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the chaos caused by the state collapse and gang violence.

💡Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Internally displaced persons are individuals who have been forced to flee their homes but remain within their country's borders. The script indicates that over 350,000 people in Haiti have been displaced by the fighting, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis.

💡Refugee Crisis

A refugee crisis occurs when a large number of people are forced to leave their country to escape conflict or disaster. The video raises the concern that Haiti's collapse could lead to a major refugee crisis, with people attempting to reach other countries, including the United States, to escape the violence.

💡Elites

Elites in this context refer to the small group of people with the most power and influence in a society, often due to wealth or social status. The script discusses the parasitic relationship between Haiti's elites and the gangs, where the gangs have been used to enforce the interests of the elites, contributing to the current state of affairs.

💡Gang Alliance

A gang alliance is a temporary or permanent coalition of different gang groups for mutual benefit or a common goal. The video describes how the gangs in Haiti joined forces under the leadership of Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, which marked a significant shift in the power dynamics and contributed to the state collapse.

Highlights

Haiti has experienced a genuine state collapse, similar to Somalia in the 1990s, with the government crumbling and armed gangs taking control.

Analysts, reporters, and diplomats have been warning about this scenario for years, but the international community failed to act in time.

The Haitian state has functionally disintegrated, leading to a situation that could destabilize the Western Hemisphere.

The immediate cause of the collapse was the coordinated violence by gangs after Prime Minister Ariel Henry left the country.

Haiti's security forces are severely undermanned, with only 5,100 active military members and 5,000-8,000 police officers for a population of over 11 million.

Gangs have attacked government buildings, police stations, and infrastructure, leading to a situation akin to civil war.

The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry on March 11th has led to the formation of a transitional council to restore stability.

The blame for Haiti's collapse can be partly attributed to Henry's rule and the backing he received from the US, France, and Caribbean states.

Haiti's gangs have deep connections with the nation's elites, which has allowed them to become powerful non-state actors.

The gangs are now attempting to use their control over Port-au-Prince to gain political legitimacy and influence.

The situation in Haiti is more accurately described as an insurgency rather than simple gang violence.

The international community faces difficult choices, including the possibility of military intervention or financial aid, with no easy solutions.

Haiti's crisis has the potential to create a massive refugee crisis, affecting neighboring countries and potentially the US.

The gangs are attempting to leverage their power for political control, aiming to push through a revolution that benefits them.

Haiti's meltdown is a tragedy for its people and a potential threat to regional stability, requiring urgent international attention.

The crisis in Haiti is deeply rooted in historical factors and the parasitic relationship between the elite and gangs.

The international community's response to Haiti's collapse will have significant implications for the country's future and regional stability.

Transcripts

so it finally happens after years of

growing warnings from analysts reporters

and diplomats the night their scenario

actually happened Haiti has collapsed

not in the sense that we're used to

hearing the term used as a way of

describing a nation overrun by armed

gangs but a genuine full on state

collapse the sort of failure that

Somalia underwent in the 1990s the

government has crumbled leaving no

Central Authority the police forces all

but evaporated the streets are now

completely under the control of armed

groups that burn and rape and loot and

murder at will as foreign policy put it

in a recent article the Haitian state

has functionally disintegrated it gives

us very little pleasure to say that

we've been warning about this for over a

year now since January 2023 we've posted

something in the region of four videos

on the subject trying to add to the

chorus of urgency the chorus begging the

world to act before it became too late

well in this we and everyone else

raising the alarm failed the world let

any chance to act slip through its

fingers and now we're all going to have

to live with the consequences because

make no mistake the collapse of Haiti is

not something that exists only on the

news a sad story to make viewers feel

bad before they scroll onto something

else it's a real nightmare that is

unfolding a mere thousand kilometers

from Florida one that's a tragedy for

Haitians but also an event with the

potential to destabilize the Western

Hemisphere we'll come into what we mean

by that later in today's video but first

we need to sketch out how we got here

how Haiti went from being poor and

troubled to a country that is arguably

now in a state of Civil War the

immediate causes are clear toward the

beginning of March the unelected and

unpopular prime minister Ariel HRI left

Haiti to fly to Kenya for a meeting with

President William Ruto the reason was to

seal an agreement whereby Nairobi would

send a unbagged force of a thousand

policeman to Port two Prince to help

dismantle haes gangs unfortunately for

Ariel HRI though the Gang struck first

with hory out of the country' 80s Waring

criminals did something they've never

done before they joined forces under the

leadership of former policeman Jimmy

barbecue Sher The Gangs rose up in a

coordinated sustained bout of violence

over the next few days prisons were

ransacked and thousands of prisoners

were freed vital infrastructure

including airports and ports were

attacked in this The Outpost was similar

to what gripped Ecuador back in January

when a gangster Uprising saw the

government briefly lose control of the

streets but Kito had the resources to

declare a state of internal armed

conflict and deploy the military

Nationwide while things remained shaky

the government is at least back in

control Haiti on the other hand was

incapable of fighting back to see why

look no further than the employment

figures for Haiti Security Services

after the Army was disbanded in the

1990s it was only reformed in 2017 and

then more as a torian guard than an

actual military the New Yorker reports

that there are only five 100 active

members the Haitian National Police

meanwhile has between 5,000 and 8,000

officers to police a nation of over 11

million people as we've mentioned before

New York City alone has

36,000 officers with such a deficit in

numbers Hades police were quickly

overwhelmed and so the weekends of the

9th to the 10th of March saw the nation

drowned in chaos read the reports and

the details are eye popping the sort of

stuff you might expect to hear from an

actual Civil War like the one in Sudan

and indeed foreign policy has argued

that we should stop using terms like

gang violence in relation to Haiti and

instead talk about the nation suffering

an actual Insurgency and it's hard to

disagree aside from opening and burning

prisons The Gangs attacked government

buildings including the interior

Ministry police stations were torched as

was the home of police chief France ALB

the financial times reported roadblocks

and gun battles the New York Times wrote

that dead bodies are rotting on the

streets as gangs took over people's

homes refugees flooded into public

spaces desperate to find safety faced

with such violence Ariel hre's plane was

unable to land diverted to Puerto Rico

he was told by American and Caribbean

leaders to resign on Monday March the

11th he did exactly that making way for

a transitional Council that's intended

to guide Haiti back to stability for

many the blame of hai's collapse can

therefore be laid at hre's feet

certainly the M man and neurosurgeon

played a big part in it never elected H

was appointed to his post in mid 2021 by

President Hoven Al Moy just 2 days

before he himself was assassinated

despite his lack of mandate hory then

assumed control of the government

promising to hold already delayed

elections instead he kept delaying them

clinging to power even as the country's

last elected officials saw their terms

expire even as his popularity sank and

gang seized control of 80% to Port two

Prince was too weak to do anything to

slow the building crisis so yeah it's

probably fair to say that Ariel R should

shoulder a lot of the blame for this

debacle as should the countries

including the US France and multiple

Caribbean states that propped up his

rule to quote the times the catastrophic

situation Haiti finds itself in today

was not inevitable it is a direct result

of the dithering And Delay by onri and

his government who until recently had

the firm backing of the United States

and other Regional Powers but to say

that the current situation was wholly

the fault of hory or his backers is to

ignore the longer history the deeper

reasons why haes gangs were able to

execute a takeover

that the equally brutal gangs of Ecuador

were just unable to pull off the deepest

reason of all the Twisted connections

tying haes gangs firmly to the nation's

Elites back in the 1990s Haiti was

emerging from a long period of

dictatorship and instability baby Do's

regime had fallen in 1986 and the 1991

military coup had removed the nation's

first democratically elected president

Jean betran arist from Power this led to

a 1994 intervention that restored arist

but with trust in the military now so

broken the president disbanded it

speaking to the financial times

Professor Robert fashon explained what

happened next when he disbanded the Army

he had all kinds of political factions

including RS dday himself who started to

create armed groups that would defend

the interests of those particular groups

and I'm talking about a wide variety of

people in the business Community people

in conflicting political parties the

quote ends now these armed groups would

become the seeds of today's gangs not

simple Street hoodlums but non-state

actors with Elite connections who would

use the threat of violence to push Elite

interests that might include gangs

forcing everyone living in their

territory to vote for a specific

candidate it might involve settling

business disputes with bullets the point

is that a parasitic relationship

developed between haes 1% and the gangs

terrifying its streets just take the

leader of the new gang Alliance Jimmy

barbecue shizer according to the

economist teresio founded his gang G9 in

2020 a time when there was a growing

protest movement against President H

mois allegedly Moise used G9 against the

protesters keeping the streets quiet

through fear the reporting group inside

crime claims that G9 got half its

funding from the president in this era

we need to stress that such a situation

was not unusual in Haiti recent attempts

by the USA and Canada to sanction those

connected to the gangs have discovered

evidence linking everyone from Business

Leaders to Senators to these armed

groups no the point is not that Moise

was a criminal but the effective ly ha's

entire Elites the only thing that's

changed in the last couple of years is

the Power Balance has shifted in favor

of the gangsters here's Insight crime

again prime minister hre's resignation

underscores how for the first time

street gangs that once answered to

political and economic Elites have now

emerged as Haiti's dominant power

Brokers we can see this clearly just by

looking at the fight now surrounding

ha's plan transitional Council mandated

by Regional group CARICOM the

transitional council is supposed to be

Gathering of seven members plus two

non-voting observers from across hai's

political Spectrum AP news reports that

seats have been reserved for groups like

Civil Society leaders Montana record

former president RSD day's old party

fany lavalas the parties of other former

presidents Ariel hre's December 21st

agreement group and also the private

sector on top of that representatives of

civil society and the religious sector

will have Observer seats the time of

writing though the gangs are trying to

use their leverage to get seats on the

council Shier for example released an

audio message on WhatsApp that seemed to

threaten the families of anyone who

joined a council that excluded the gang

saying I'll know if your kids are in

Haiti if your wives are in Haiti if your

husbands are in Haiti as the New York

Times summed up what is the parent is

that the gangs are trying to capitalize

on their control of PTO Prince the

capital to become a legitimate political

force in the negotiations being broken

by Foreign governments this is why

foreign policy insists that we should

try to understand the situation in Haiti

not through the lens of gang violence

but through the lens of Insurgency these

guys are not just out for money and

business opportunities they want to take

political control of Haiti to push

through a revolution that they feel is

going to benefit them in his audio

message for example Sher talked about

how hre's resignation was only the first

step in the battle a battle that seems

to have at least a faint political

dimension in past interviews Sher has

tried to frame his actions as an anti-

Elite Uprising talking to the New Yorker

he drew a distinction between the

lighter skinned haian Elites and darker

skinned residents like himself who he

characterized as black his goal he said

was to ensure Haiti's black people took

charge of their own Destinies to be

clear we're not suggesting you empathize

with Sher here the man is a psychopath

who has overseen a gang Infamous for

randomly killing civilians and using

rape as a tool of Revenge what we are

trying to do is show how Haiti's

meltdown has more in common at this

point with a full-blown Civil War than a

temporary breakdown in law and order the

Sher and other players aren't just

trying to get their kicks looting and

killing but are actively aiming to take

over the Haitian State among these other

players perhaps the most prominent

figure is Guy phip a former coup leader

who was recently released from a US

prison after serving a six-year sentence

for moneya laundering and drug

trafficking now guy Philip's position is

different to that of Shier although the

two seem to be working together Philipe

is not exactly a gang leader so much as

a guy trying to start a Grassroots

revolution in this he's helped by

opposition leader Moise John Char whose

P diline party was offered a seat on the

transitional Council only to refuse it

right now Char and Philipe appear to be

plotting to use this crisis to bring

themselves to power as part of his

positioning guy Philip has started

calling for an amnesty for the gangsters

trying to reframe them as marginalized

people with no other choice talking to

the times he claims those young girls

those young boys they have no other

opportunity to by starving or to take

weapons they choose to take weapons

still while the current crisis may have

a political Dimension there are also

signs that the gang's New Alliance was

also opportunistic United Nations human

rights expert William O'Neal for one has

argued that the Kenyan police deployment

Ariel onri or went abroad to agree put

fear of God into the gangs whose members

are mostly teenagers fearing defeat if

the mission went ahead they instead

combined forces to ensure the deployment

would never happen if that's the case

then they succeeded after hory resigned

and Haiti plunged into Anarchy Nairobi

indicated its police wouldn't be

deployed after all and likely with good

reason with the way things stand now

it's hard to see how anything aside from

Full military intervention could restore

order at the time of rising March 15th

things in Haiti are still in a truly D

State nearly the whole of ported Prince

is under the control of the gangs inside

crime reports that key transport routes

and 90% of water sources have also

Fallen to the armed groups up to 5.5

million people are in need of

humanitarian assistance with key ports

for importing food affected by the chaos

it's thought 1 million could be on the

brink of famine meanwhile over 350,000

are internally displaced driven out of

their homes by the fighting all of which

returns us to the pressing question of

what happens next what happens now that

Haiti appears set to become a North

American Somalia sadly this is not an

easy question to answer one possibility

is that the International Community

accepts the need for another military

intervention a mere 7 years after the

previous un Force left Haiti indeed the

hill reports that a recent zoom call

between representatives of caracon the

US Canada France Brazil and Mexico ended

with the insistence that members of

Haiti's new transitional Council must be

supportive of an International Security

mission to be eligible for a seat but a

military intervention is easier said

than done not least because no one knows

who will lead it the United States is

long refus to lead another Haiti Mission

lest it be portrayed as a colonialist

adventure Canada Brazil Mex have all

previously ruled themselves out nor is

the un's divided Security Council likely

to be able to agree on the Contours of a

bigger Mission than the Kenyan police

appointment it doesn't help that some

aspects of patient Society are fighting

hard against outside interference

fearing it will keep up the cycle of

instability and intervention on the

other hand Haitian born Professor Robert

Fatam told the financial times that it

might be necessary in his words the

situation is catastrophic for so many

people in the capital city that one can

probably assum assume that if there is a

foreign intervention that would be

effective enough to stop the violence

and tame the gangs that there would be

support however he goes on to add that

it would have to succeed in its goals

very quickly lest drawn out fighting

turn the population against it an ofed

alternative to foreign military

deployment is some kind of Haitian Le

initiative although we should note that

no one is sure if even such a thing is

possible at this stage colonist Lydia

paulg green suggested it could work but

quote it will require a leap of faith

and a whole lot of help financial and

otherwise

of course financial help even if large

is preferable to a military intervention

that could turn into a quagar but it

depends on hai's Elites working together

in ways that have eluded them for years

to solve the country's political

gridlock unfortunately it's not even

clear how that gridlock could be solved

the key demand since before Ariel enri

was even appointed to office has been

new elections but it's hard to see how

it's physically possible to hold them

amid such violence even if the gangs

could be convinced to allow free and

fair elections foreign policy points out

that it likely wouldn't result in a

long-term change as we covered earlier

the majority of haes Elites are

connected to the gangs and with a

fragmented system of over 250 registered

political parties any election might

just create new gridlock and new

resentments without fixing anything

faced with such a complex crisis it

might be tempting for leaders to just

throw up their hands and to declare well

what can we do about it and walk away

but for governments in the Western

Hemisphere that is unlikely to be an

option if hai's collapse isn't arrested

then we can expect the mother of all

Refugee crises already things are

becoming increasingly chaotic near the

border with Dominican Republic and hai's

immediate neighbor won't be the only one

to be affected in the US there's a

growing fear in the White House that

hai's meltdown will spark an exodus by

sea that small boats each carrying

hundreds of Haitians will try and make

the dangerous journey to Florida's

Shores to escape the unrest according to

CNN Washington is drawing up emergency

plans to turn part of Guantanamo Bay

into a processing center for Haitian

refugees but that will still require

dangerous ay interceptions by the US

Coast Guard and what if the Haitian

people themselves will Regional

governments really be willing to leave

them at the mercies of violent gangsters

and Warlords and look these are not

questions with easy answers and it

remains to be seen what the global

Community will do with nothing but bad

or unworkable options on the table it's

hard to see any way out of the growing

crisis yet doing nothing could easily

turn out to be the worst option of all

and as we end today's episode then it is

with ha in a state of freefall with a

country 2 hours flight from Miami in

danger of becoming a Caribbean Somalia

with all the instability that that could

imply and we'll be honest here we don't

have a solution for this each potential

option from military intervention to

Simply washing our hands of it comes

with Myriad pitfalls and ways It could

wind up making everything a thousand

times worse the only thing we can say

for certain is that something does need

to be done because Haiti is now sliding

into the abyss and the longer our

leaders wait to act the worse it could

get and the more acute the suffering of

Haiti's Ordinary People could

become