In this class we have explored different problems facing countries and asking the question "What is security?" Katz's book explores the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2008. We read this book and here the horrors of the earth quake and how the world reacted. Then we ask the question is the earthquake one of National Security for the United States? My answer "No." The United States is intervening in Haiti because it is what the US does. When disaster strikes and government is affected like it was in Haiti the US gets involved. What is the purpose? The US wants to make sure that a democratic nation doesn't change its government system during this time of crisis. The US would not give Préval the money that the US promised until an election date was set. This can be taken as the US worried that the democratic system in Haiti was be depleted by the disaster and this would be an issue for Democracy world wide. I personally do not this this would have happened. Haiti had relatively no power before the storm and even with a change in government the country did not have the funds to even rebuild, never mind to become a threat to the US.
This disaster is one about people. People were killed. Homes were destroyed. The country was in shambles. The priority should have been to help rebuild however it became one of the US intervening. Corruption may have been something on the minds of US people and politicians but the money would have been better served in the hands of people who could have made substantial change but this thought of corruption kept that from happening. Programs like Red Cross did not have the resources to help the country yet most money goes to them but could have been better served other places. Overall Haiti needed help. It needed to rebuild before another disaster hit but this became an issue of security and putting money into a corrupt government. This should not have been an issue of security.
I agree with all your statements. I think the United States' failed to properly administer aid relief from a national government perspective. I spoke with a friend who travels to Haiti to help impoverished children and she told me the Haitian people look up to and admire everything about the United States. So when the United States failed to deliver the necessary aid to Haiti, many lost respect for the U.S government. I believe the United States should have welcomed a advice from the Haitian people as to what they needed after the earth quake. Although the people in the U.S government are extremely informed, I think it is different between having knowledge of a situation and how the people live in that environment.
ReplyDeleteEmilia, I agree with almost your entire argument, until the last line. The earthquake was not an issue of security at all? Or it wasn't one of national security? Or was it just not a security threat to the United States? This is unclear to me. I believe your argument would be much more challenging to make if you are actually arguing that this was not a security concern at all.
ReplyDeleteEmilia, I too agree with your argument. I do think that the earthquake was not a national security issue, but did pose a very real threat to Haiti. The human consequences cannot be overlooked. Security issue? No. An issue with real consequences? Absolutely, which is why I agree with what you are saying. But I second what Mary Grace posted.
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