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Haiti: The impacts of militarized aid
As the story of the tragedy in Haiti continues to unfold, the spotlight seems to have turned away from the aid and the tragedy itself, and instead now largely focuses on the U.S. military aid effort. Doctors Without Borders and the director of French aid have both complained that the U.S. military has impeded the progress of the relief mission. Many have noted that the priority of the military would appear to be security over rescue, causing the delivery of medical supplies to be postponed while the military brings its troops and supplies.
Both the UN and the US have raised troop levels to high levels. The Telegraph reports that the US has some 10,000 troops on the ground and the UN is expected to add 3,000-9,000 more in addition to the force that they had on the ground prior to the earthquake. This military presence may be the result of a number of factors. Some have claimed that there is an exagge-ration of security problems and violence. This could be due to historic racism and assumptions about Haitian culture. Others argue that military presence is benevolent and necessary for keeping the peace. And yet still, many have claimed that the increase of foreign military presence is an occupation and a continuation of US and foreign colonization and domination of the region.