The Haitian Mission

It says something about our country that, in spite of the fact that we are fighting two wars overseas, the U.S. has committed significant military forces to the security and rebuilding of Haiti. The Haitian mission will be costly for our country, but the right thing to do is never easy. At least 20,000 U.S. soldiers, with their requisite equipment and supplies, will be deployed by January 24th, according to the Department of Defense.

Naturally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sees our relief operation as an opportunistic "military occupation" (Lord knows that Haiti has so much to offer for the imperially inclined). He goes so far as to accuse the U.S. of causing the quake with a secret earthquake-inducing superweapon!

Anyone who sees our presence on the island as an "invasion" is certifiably moronic. The Haitian people are at the mercy of the worst elements within their society: armed gangs of looters and criminals have a habit of taking disaster relief supplies for themselves. The presence of our military will facilitate a more effective framework for international aid missions.