Jeff Kao

-- By JeffKao - 21 May 2010

Today’s democratic states realize that to choose nonintervention in humanitarian crises is to go against the unwritten rule of the protection of human rights. Democracy has become the poster board [I'm not too familiar with this metaphor/expression, do you mean to say that democratic states uphold/are an example of basic rights?] for human rights, liberty and freedom, and equal opportunities. Allowing humanitarian crises and gross human suffering to endure, goes against all of these precepts.

[This can be supported by articles such as this one here about coordination of relief efforts between the different countries in the early aftermath of the earthquake, and the turning away of some medical planes. However, I also found several other articles in e.g. the New York Times and MSNBC talking about the chaos which ensued in the first few days following the earthquake. While security was one of the top priorities of the initial American force, there are definitely competing narratives on whether undue attention was given by American forces to security concerns in the early going, and whether the MSF plane was properly turned away. I think the total lack of infrastructure at the airport (there was a single runway without a radar system or properly functioning control tower) made a huge difference as well, in that ultimately some planes out of all of those who arrived had to be turned away. I agree that there were likely some critical mistakes that led to an unnecessary loss of life immediately following the earthquake; however, based on solely these examples, it would be difficult to impute that to the overweighing of security concerns by American troops in the first days following the earthquake. ]

Intervention is complicated by self-interest and as Gayatri Spivak explains, the classic humanitarian scenario of a “dispenser of human rights” aiding the “subaltern recipient of human rights bounty.” [It would be nice to have a reference to the specific article/book here for the reader's (and my ) interest.] The self-interest of states continues to be a problem in legitimizing intervention as the international community is wary of hegemonic dominance (especially by the U.S.). Complications would likely exist even if intervention for humanitarian aid is established as an international policy that is blind to nationality, culture, economic risks, or economic interest because of the neo-colonial (in the sense of a value-regulating mechanism) dynamic of humanitarianism. [The American historical record of intervention outside its borders, even within Haiti, has often colored international perception of the U.S. military, as in this case. But up to here, your evidence has been more directed at the actual response of U.S. security forces and whether they were helpful to the situation at hand. I really think arguments based on history would work out much better here, with the disaster relief effort a recent example of the continuing trend] The intense focus on security in the face of a severe health concerns creates an uncomfortable tension between the ideals of humanitarianism and what that translates to in reality.

There is a victim-savior complex, but the savior is not there to help the victim get what he needs, but rather to protect the victim from what it believes the victim will devolve into should its presence be absent. Thus, focus is not that Haitians will starve to death, but that they will become unruly, harm Americans that are there to help, take to the seas and head for the U.S. and/or kill. [Is this a general conclusion of a victim-savior dynamic from Spivak, or the intent of the United States? I think in either case, you would require some more references to support this. For example, NYU law professor Margaret Sattherthwaite cites in this article that the misunderstanding of the situation on the ground in Haiti that has motivated many countries to send military aid instead of civilian aid. Also, according to Arnold's legal realist view, it's perhaps not always easy to ascertain the exact 'intent' of e.g. the United States troops responding in Haiti, or the United States foreign policy. Perhaps it would be more circumspect to say that an inherent problem in the system (e.g. perhaps racism, as alleged in Katrina, a lack of understanding of the "colony" as a part of the savior-victim complex or policies that didn't envision such a disaster) led to the result in the current intervention] But, American military presence alone cannot guarantee the real security that the U.S. should invest in—an economically stable and prosperous Haiti. If the U.S. is going to value security, mainly that of its shores, above all other needs that the earthquake has created or exacerbated, I think it would be best that it not intervene at all. The commitment the U.S. made seems to be to the U.S. and Caribbean region’s security, not to the helpless and needy earthquake victims. This commitment does not need to be made by placing 20,000 troops in Haiti.

**

Rewrite - first attempt, I'm still working on making it more concise.

It is generally acceptable to say that, anti-interventionist ideals have fallen out of sync with modern notions of justice, thus implying that humanitarian concerns are influencing modern state policy to a greater extent. A humanitarian act can be described as one in which one intervenes to protect those who cannot defend their own rights. Realists would adamantly respond that such undertakings are dangerous and should be avoided. Indeed with every undertaking, there is an associated cost, but intervention has been deemed appropriate where the humanitarian costs of failing to intervene are too high. To allow humanitarian crises to continue is counter to democratic principles and can become a threat to international security. These costs are far too great to ignore. With the Helsinki Final Act the Western states introduced the concept of personal security to define human rights and recognize that situations and acts that threaten it require action, in effect establishing a right of intervention.

Today’s democratic states realize that to choose nonintervention in humanitarian crises is to go against the unwritten rule of the protection of human rights. Democratic states view themselves as examples of justice for the rest of the world with respect to human rights, liberty and freedom, and equal opportunities. For these states to allow humanitarian crises and gross human suffering to endure, goes against all of these precepts.

Within weeks of the Haiti earthquake, the U.S. had 20,000 troops on the ground in the country. The American state response to the crisis was swift and forceful. Disappointingly, the American security forces entered Haiti, with a main focus on maintaining a minimum level of decency and order by establishing a strong, fear-inducing presence, instead of facilitating medical practitioners, or delivering shiploads of water, food, and supplies. Many doctors and medical professionals complained about being obstructed by the U.S. security forces whose planes of equipment took precedence over the planes of doctors that were circling the airports in the Dominican Republic hoping to be allowed to land. American control of the airports led to lengthy delays and countless diversions of aid flights to Miami. The U.S. entered Haiti at its own expense at a time when many Haitians could not take care of themselves. After all, humanitarian crises can indirectly imperil regional security and set the stage for civil or interstate war due to outbound migration. Democracy cannot be promoted when a humanitarian crisis is lurking in your back yard. Intervention was necessary. But, critical mistakes were made by the occupying American troops in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, which led to an unnecessary loss of life. While the security concerns were largely addressed, Haitians' basic rights to food, water and life were not.

To me, the U.S.’s response was eerily similar to what took place in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. After Katrina, the government was heavily criticized, and currently police officers are being prosecuted, for their obsession with maintaining security, at all costs, in the face of extreme lack and dire need. In both instances, the U.S. presence had the appearance of containment and policing rather than relief and aid. While American troops did provide aid to the Haitians, there was an overemphasis on the security of the distribution of aid. The violence that occurred in Haiti after the earthquake was largely sporadic, and arguably less severe than before the earthquake. Most residents were simply trying to survive and obtain basic necessities, not trying to commit crimes or loot. The crimes that inevitably did occur were in the absence of a public safety force was quelled by citizens enforcing vigilante justice. Refugee camps even self self-organized in a way to facilitate effective delivery of aid. To target petty crimes - the symptoms of this dire need - would be to leave the root problem unaddressed.

Intervention is complicated by self-interest, and as Gayatri Spivak explains, the classic humanitarian scenario of a “dispenser of human rights” aiding the “subaltern recipient of human rights bounty.” Firstly, state self-interest continues to be a problem in legitimizing intervention with an international community wary of hegemonic dominance (especially by the U.S.). Problems of perception would therefore likely exist even if intervention for humanitarian aid is established as an international policy that is blind to nationality, culture, economic risks, or economic interest because of the neo-colonial (in the sense of a value-regulating mechanism) dynamic of humanitarianism. The American historical record of intervention outside its borders, even within Haiti, has often colored international perception of the U.S. military, as in this case. Whether the initial response to the Haiti earthquake was undermined by American self interest or not, the disaster relief effort is a recent example of the continuing trend of failed American attempt at humanitarian intervention. The intense focus on security in the face of a severe health concerns creates an uncomfortable tension between the ideals of humanitarianism and what that translates to in reality.

There is a victim-savior complex, but the savior is not there to help the victim get what he needs, but rather to protect the victim from what it believes the victim will devolve into should its presence be absent. Thus, the U.S. intervention is again guilty of a misunderstanding that leads to a focus on the wrong problem. The American actions do not seem to be concerned that Haitians will starve to death, but instead, troops are deployed such that Haitians will not become unruly, harm Americans who are there to help, take to the seas and head for the U.S. or kill. As discussed above, this is simply an erroneous understanding of the situation on the ground in Haiti. For example, NYU law professor Margaret Sattherthwaite states that the misunderstanding of the situation on the ground in Haiti that has motivated many countries, including the U.S. (one of the first responders) to send military aid instead of civilian aid. But, American military presence alone cannot guarantee the real security that the U.S. should invest in—an economically stable and prosperous Haiti. If the U.S. is going to value the security of its shores, above all other needs that the earthquake has created or exacerbated, I think it would be best that it not intervene at all. The commitment the U.S. made seems to be to the U.S. and Caribbean region’s security, not to the helpless and needy earthquake victims. This commitment does not need to be made by placing 20,000 troops in Haiti. As Mark Weisbrot notes, the past history of American intervention in Haiti has been marred by misunderstanding and a need to control. This time was no different.

When American troops landed in Haiti, their primary goal was setting up barricades and security. As the first ones on the ground, they commandeered the airport and what was left of the roads, limiting other states’ ability and the needed access to provide aid. The U.S. is not obligated to manage or coordinate relief efforts, but it cannot shut out others that are willing to assist in that capacity. The U.S. wanted to prevent chaos in the streets, but caused chaos in the airports and relief sites, the places where chaos caused great harm. Security and social organization are definitely priorities, but I hope that in the upcoming months, underlying fears of chaotic outbreaks will not cloud the pressing needs of health and sustenance. Otherwise, the U.S. may find itself trapped in a cycle in which it plants the seeds of violence, instability, and underdevelopment by blocking access to basic material resources, only to later provide aid, for example in the form of loans, to alleviate the distress that it caused, creating an economy of victims.

There is something destructive about macro security objectives that fail to equally value the basic concerns of the individuals whose cooperation is needed to maintain security. The situation in Haiti has yet to fully play out, but I see Iraq and realize that the presence of American troops does not guarantee security, and does not guarantee recovery.

Option of Intervention

-- By WendyFrancois - 17 Apr 2010

It is generally acceptable to say that, anti-interventionist ideals have fallen out of sync with modern notions of justice, thus implying that humanitarian concerns are influencing modern state policy to a greater extent. A humanitarian act can be described as one in which one intervenes to protect those who cannot defend their own rights. Realists would adamantly respond that such undertakings are dangerous and should be avoided. Indeed with every undertaking, there is an associated cost, but intervention has been deemed appropriate where the humanitarian costs of failing to intervene are too high. Humanitarian crises counter democratic principles and can become a threat to international security. These costs are far too great to ignore. With the Helsinki Final Act the Western states introduced the concept of personal security to define human rights and recognize situations and acts that threaten it as requiring action, in effect establishing a right of intervention.

Today’s democratic states realize that to choose nonintervention in humanitarian crises is to go against the unwritten rule of the protection of human rights. Democracy has become the poster board for human rights, liberty and freedom, and equal opportunities. Allowing humanitarian crises and gross human suffering to endure, goes against all of these precepts.

Within weeks of the earthquake that affected parts of Haiti, the U.S. had 20,000 troops on the ground in Haiti. Actions of the U.S. were swift and forceful. The U.S. entered Haiti, with a main focus that was not to help facilitate medical practitioners and supplies, or to deliver ship loads of food and water, but to maintain a minimum level of decency and order by establishing a strong, fear-inducing presence. Many doctors and medical professionals complained about being obstructed by the U.S. security forces whose planes of equipment took precedence over the planes of doctors that were circling the airports in the Dominican Republic hoping to be allowed to land lengthy delays and countless diversions to Miami. The U.S. entered Haiti at its own expense and at a time when many Haitians could not do for themselves. After all, humanitarian crises can indirectly imperil security and set the stage for civil or interstate war due to the migration of the citizens. Democracy cannot be promoted when a humanitarian crises is lurking in your back yard. The rights to food, water, and life were compromised. Intervention was necessary. But, this form of intervention was dominated by security concerns.

To me, the U.S.’s response was eerily similar to what took place in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The government was heavily criticized, and currently police officers are being prosecuted, for their obsessions with maintaining security, at all costs, in the face of extreme lack and dire need. In both instances, the U.S. presence had the appearance of containment and policing rather than relief and aid.

Intervention is complicated by self-interest and as Gayatri Spivak explains, the classic humanitarian scenario of a “dispenser of human rights” aiding the “subaltern recipient of human rights bounty.” The self-interest of states continues to be a problem in legitimizing intervention as the international community is wary of hegemonic dominance (especially by the U.S.). Complications would likely exist even if intervention for humanitarian aid is established as an international policy that is blind to nationality, culture, economic risks, or economic interest because of the neo-colonial (in the sense of a value-regulating mechanism) dynamic of humanitarianism. The intense focus on security in the face of a severe health concerns creates an uncomfortable tension between the ideals of humanitarianism and what that translates to in reality.

There is a victim-savior complex, but the savior is not there to help the victim get what he needs, but rather to protect the victim from what it believes the victim will devolve into should its presence be absent. Thus, focus is not that Haitians will starve to death, but that they will become unruly, harm Americans that are there to help, take to the seas and head for the U.S. and/or kill. But, American military presence alone cannot guarantee the real security that the U.S. should invest in—an economically stable and prosperous Haiti. If the U.S. is going to value security, mainly that of its shores, above all other needs that the earthquake has created or exacerbated, I think it would be best that it not intervene at all. The commitment the U.S. made seems to be to the U.S. and Caribbean region’s security, not to the helpless and needy earthquake victims. This commitment does not need to be made by placing 20,000 troops in Haiti.

When American troops landed in Haiti, their primary goal was setting up barricades and security. As the first ones on the ground, they commandeered the airport and what was left of the roads, limiting other states’ ability and the needed access to provide aid. The U.S. is not obligated to manage or coordinate relief efforts, but it cannot shut out others that are willing to assist in that capacity. The U.S. wanted to prevent chaos in the streets, but caused chaos in the airports and relief sites, the places where chaos caused great harm. Security and social organization are definitely priorities, but I hope that in the upcoming months, underlying fears of chaotic outbreaks will not cloud the pressing needs of health and sustenance. Otherwise, the U.S. may find itself trapped in a cycle in which it plants the seeds of violence, instability, and underdevelopment by blocking access to basic material resources, only to later provide aid, for example in the form of loans, to alleviate the distress that it caused, creating an economy of victims.

There is something destructive about macro security objectives that fail to equally value the basic concerns of the individuals whose cooperation is needed to maintain security. The situation in Haiti has yet to fully play out, but I see Iraq and realize that the presence of American troops does not guarantee security, and does not guarantee recovery.

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Note: TWi