What To Do About Haiti

News Update: "A prominent Haitian doctor with long-standing ties to South Florida has been implicated in last week’s brazen assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise." the New York Post reported. 

There are problems with this report. First, the doctor was not "prominent" as a medical doctor because his credentials are challenged. Second, he was bankrupt. Third, he claimed to be a minister to a "religious" organization. 

If he and several other Haitian immigrants are behind the assassination, then who paid for it?

"Christian Emmanuel Sanon, who has lived in the Sunshine state on and off for more than 20 years, is suspected of being one of the ring leaders of the hit squad that killed Moise, the Miami Herald said."

Did US Homeland Security have knowledge about Sanon? Was the FBI watching? If not, why not?

The original post follows:

My Dad loved visiting Haiti, where he did some paintings. He's gone now, but I wonder what he would think of American foreign policy toward Haiti today?

Situation: A band of insurgent terrorists from Columbia assassinated Haiti's President, whose popularity waned from his apparent corruption. If that happened in the U.S., it would be considered an act of war by Columbia, a world center for illegal drug smuggling.

Haiti is the crossroad for shipping drugs to the U.S. and Europe. Since the U.S. is "at war" on drugs and smuggling, it has a vested interest in stopping the trafficking of drugs and human trafficking and abuse rampant in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Haiti has 11 million people, incredibly overpopulated, where it is 95% black. While tourism has been a bright spot in the past, it is dead when there is no government and widespread lawlessness and insecurity.

The literacy rate in Haiti is among the world's worst.

Foreign Policy: American foreign policy is grossly under-invested in Haiti. The Obama administration had nice words and intentions and failed miserably. After that, it got worse when the Trump administration continued to ignore Haiti's needs as it also ignored poor Americans. Suspected is that Trump's policies were racist.

One might believe that the "CIA World Factbook, Haiti" might shed some light. (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/haiti)

The government is a "semi-presidential republic" with too many political parties, making it unworkable under a flawed constitution.

The military is too weak and underfunded to defend the nation.

One Wiki statement, shown below that is out of date despite America's cheap approach to Haiti.

"The U.S. has been Haiti's largest donor since 1973. Between F.Y. 1995 and F.Y. 2003, the U.S. contributed more than $850 million in assistance to Haiti. Since 2004, the U.S. has provided over $600 million for improving governance, security, the rule of law, economic recovery, and critical human needs."

Foreign Policy Suggestions: 

1. Intervene with U.N. and allies to assist in stabilizing the government
2. Invest in educating the children
3. Invest in engineering a sustainable economy
4. Invest in protecting the island from natural disasters: earthquakes and hurricanes
5. Invest in developing the military and homeland security
6. Provide allied defense against intrusions from foreign adversaries such as Columbia
   
   
   
   
   
   

CIA World Factbook, Haiti