Great letter in the Guardian yesterday
Obsessive foreign concerns with "security" and "violence" are refuted by actual levels of patience and solidarity on the streets of Port-au-Prince. In keeping with a long-standing pattern, US and UN officials continue to treat the Haitian people and their representatives with wholly misplaced fear and suspicion.
This is very noticeable in the BBC reportage. The main man there seems to be desperate to film acts of violence. I have mentioned here the total irrationality of the determination to shoot "looters" and shown evidence that black people "loot" while white people "find" things.
Much was made of the escape of prisoners from the jail in Port-au-Prince, but it was not mentioned that many of them were political prisoners, and not a threat to security.
The perceived need to maintain "security" has led to the massive number of flights of US military planes, which have been prioritised over aid flights, and delayed aid.
This view is endorsed by a doctor on the ground. Media Tracker tells CNN to stop hyping the violence.
Like the Iraq war effect on Muslim radicalisation, (below) the military mindset just makes things worse.
Link: Reconstructing Haiti
Mercenaries circling for the kill
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