Sunday 11 July 2021

Haiti next for US troops?

Haiti is next on Joe Biden's "what to do" list. The country is in turmoil and the government there wants American troops on the streets to keep order. Biden's instincts are going to be no no no. He has ended US military involvement in Afghanistan. The last thing he will want is to pile troops into C-17s and fly them into another country of chaos, possibly leading to casualties. But despite what Biden may now be sayng to his national security advisers, I think the US should send troops. It's not a war in Haiti, just anarchy and a breakdown of democracy, and the poor ever-suffering people of the island need to feel safe. They won't get protection from their own soldiers, and the presence of, say, US Marines patrolling the streets will give them confidence and a reason to smile. The US, with its mighty military assets and firepower and experience operating in difficult terrain, is the only country that can truly help Haiti. Talk of a United Nations force is a non-starter. The UN had a peacekeeping mission in Haiti for 15 years which ended in 2019 and the legacy of that period was mixed to say the least. I doubt the Haitian people would welcome them back. What they need and the country needs is an instant wow factor of US Marines flying in to bring stability. Haiti is a desperate country which has suffered from so many disasters, man-made and natural. So, Mr President, send in the Marines.

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