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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>"The main reason the U.S. military has no business
going to Haiti is simply that the purpose of the military should be to defend
the United States against attack or invasion. Nothing more (like invading other
countries), and nothing less (like failing to defend its own headquarters on
9/11). Using the military to establish democracy, spread goodwill, change
regimes, train foreign armies, open foreign markets, enforce no-fly zones,
protect U.S. commercial interests, serve as peacekeepers, furnish security in
other countries, contain communism, and provide disaster relief and humanitarian
aid perverts the purpose of the military."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Should the U.S. Military Go to Haiti?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>by Laurence M. Vance</FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>There is no doubt that the death toll from the
earthquake in Haiti will be horrendous. There is no disagreement about the
destruction from the earthquake being catastrophic. There is also no disputing
that the situation in Haiti is very grave. One thing that must, however, be
challenged is the notion that the U.S. military should go to Haiti.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>A military assessment team has already landed in
Haiti from the U.S. Southern Command. The Secretary of Defense has made it clear
that "he will help provide ‘anything and everything’ the military command needs
to aid the mission." But should the U.S. military go to Haiti?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The short answer is simply: of course not. The long
answer is what follows.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>If the U.S. military goes to Haiti it would not be
the first time. The American military occupied the country from 1915–1934 and
intervened in Haitian affairs other times before and since this occupation. The
most recent intervention was in 2004 after a coup ousted the president of Haiti,
Jean-Bertrand Aristide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>But, it is argued, U.S. military intervention in
Haiti this time would be for purely humanitarian reasons. I agree. However, I
still believe the U.S. military has no business going to Haiti.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The main reason the U.S. military has no business
going to Haiti is simply that the purpose of the military should be to defend
the United States against attack or invasion. Nothing more (like invading other
countries), and nothing less (like failing to defend its own headquarters on
9/11). Using the military to establish democracy, spread goodwill, change
regimes, train foreign armies, open foreign markets, enforce no-fly zones,
protect U.S. commercial interests, serve as peacekeepers, furnish security in
other countries, contain communism, and provide disaster relief and humanitarian
aid perverts the purpose of the military.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>There are some other reasons as well for the U.S.
military not going to Haiti.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>First, private U.S. and international relief
agencies exist for things like this. It is a myth that nothing will be done soon
enough and good enough without the help of the U.S. military. An even greater
myth is that without the help of governments there would not be enough money,
supplies, and personnel to help the people in areas hit by natural disasters.
The American people especially are a generous people. They donate millions of
dollars for relief efforts whenever and wherever a disaster strikes and would
probably give even more if they knew their government was not getting
involved.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Second, disaster relief and humanitarian aid,
whether provided by the state department or the defense department, is still a
form of foreign aid. This is funded by taking money out of the pockets of
American taxpayers and giving it to countries that most Americans can’t locate
on map. How many Americans have an idea that the country of Haiti shares the
island of Hispaniola with the country of the Dominican Republic? No American
should be forced to "contribute" to the aid of another country. If foreign aid
is wrong in principle then foreign aid is still wrong when a country is hit by a
famine, a flood, a cyclone, a tsunami, or an earthquake. So, just like the
United States shouldn’t have given foreign aid to Myanmar under the guise of
disaster relief, so the United States shouldn’t give foreign aid to
Haiti.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>And third, U.S. military relief efforts in Haiti
are a PR bonanza for the military. It is certain to counter, at least for a few
weeks, the fact that we are engaged in two unpopular wars. And it certainly will
help to quash the news that our Predator drone attacks have killed more
civilians than militants. Humanitarian intervention by the U.S. military fosters
the illusion that the military is somehow benevolent and praiseworthy instead of
aggressive and contemptible.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>There is one good thing I can say about U.S.
military intervention in Haiti. At least for a change the military would be
saving life instead of taking it, rebuilding property instead of destroying it,
restoring basic services instead of wrecking them, spreading goodwill instead of
terror, and making friends instead of terrorists.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>As much as I deplore U.S. military interventions
for any reason, I would love to see all U.S. forces leave Iraq and Afghanistan
and deploy to Haiti instead.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>January 15, 2010</FONT></DIV><br />--
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