I seem to recall Anderson played a key role in informing all of us of the Bush Administration’s ineptitude in New Orleans. That had some role, I am sure, in making people begin to demand action. While that is yellow journalism of sorts, it was valuable to us. I should note that Shepherd played a similarly effective role, and, in his case, in face of a barrage of criticism from the Bush apologists at FOX and the rightist FOX base. In some ways, he is the bigger hero of the two. There is really not as much they can do in Haiti, however. At least not with quick, tangible results. The government, such as it was, seems to have wholly ceased to function, and the infrastructure doesn’t support the type of assistance needed. The impeccable Medecins Sans Frontieres can’t even get additional personnel and supplies in. I hope, as time passes, these journalists don’t let Haiti get back-burnered, and that we can all participate in a debriefing/decompression experience when the time comes. We have much to learn from these fine folks.

Not placing blame, but I was wondering if one of the problems is that when this initially hit, planes started flying in all kinds of supplies/donations, and the airport became overrun with things that weren’t *essential*.

In hindsight i wonder if they (whoever *they* was in the first couple of days) should have only flown in water, food and gas. They could have immediately started distributing essential water and food, and then next, medical supplies and doctors, and then tents, etc. afterwards…

I was just wondering if the airport was so bogged down with crates and crates and crates of all kinds of things it is overwhelming.

From what it sounds like, they have all kinds of supplies, just no way to get them to the people. Also, this disaster is HUGE – affecting, what? like over 2M people? It sounds like an almost impossible job.

I keep saying, though, I don’t know why they weren’t doing more helicopter drops of food and water. Seems like Cuba, DR, and the US could have began water/food drops almost immediately. Some of the problems coming out of Haiti seem to be similar to those in NO.

My understanding, Sara N. Italy, is that the airport was, understandably shut down. There was some significant damage to the infrastructure. The Haitians opened up shortly, and made rather a mess of things. They asked the US to temporarily operate it. I think it is less a question of over-supply than it is lack of operating equipment and capacity due to damage.

that sounds reasonable.

why the lack of heli-drops? poor people! i can’t imagine.

sarainitaly I heard because of how the people would riot to get to the supplies JUST dropped out of nowhere. I can imagine those results.

Let’s be fair — it’s Obama’s fault. (Couldn’t resist, given the absurdities of MSM after Katrina blaming Bush for everything while ignoring the incompetence of Blanco and Nagin). Turn about is fair play.

I don’t recall the US aid after the tsunami having these kind of difficulties, but will stand corrected if it was the case.

Actually, TfT, there were many problems in the initial stages. In fact, US emergency ships took hours and hours to load due to equipment, logistics and manpower problems in the US. The Brits were loaded and sailing days before we even set sail. I don’t know if that factored into our decision to airlift this time or not. If we had sailed in immediately after the disaster, we would be there, unloaded and helping. I’m not being critical. It could be we are doing the very best we can. I’m just not sure why this option was not explored prior to all of the airlifts.

@ The Real Royal King: “While that is yellow journalism of sorts, it was valuable to us.”

I have to respectfully disagree with you there–that phrase implies that the truth is either being exaggerated or completely ignored in favor of melodrama. I don’t believe that Mr. Cooper and Mr. Smith were guilty of that. Sometimes the truth *is* that dramatic, as it was during Katrina and as it is now in Haiti.