Will Haiti's new government('06) prosper with Réné Préval ?  What is your take on it?
396846
I want to say Yes! Haiti will finally prosper. And I would want that to be true. \nBut ask yourself, did Haiti prosper during the first term of Preval? Five very long years.....
598228
It’s going not-so-good, but not as bad as it could be.  \n\nThe bad news: Hamid Karzai may be the best option, but his primarily activities seem to be weakening parliament as much as he can and installing people from his own clam and ethnic group into all positions of power that he can (oh, and pardoning his convicted drug dealer brother).  The US really scaled back operations in the country in the past few years, which gave the Taliban and related groups a chance to organize, form alliances and strengthen their positions.  Now the US is starting to figure this out and is putting a bit ore effort into it, but a lot more is needed.  \n\nAlso, Afghan people thought that things would get better now that the US was here, but for most, life didn’t change at all, and now they feel disillusioned and wonder why they should put up with foreign militaries in their country if they don’t get anything for it. In the South they are also more socially conservative, and are concerned about any immorality coming to their areas. So much more investment, soldiers, attention, etc. is needed because things are slowly getting worse, even with the increased interest, and only concrete improvements in their lives will convince the Afghans that the foreign powers really are there to help.  As the Taliban and affiliated forces increase in strength in the South, they spread their ideology and even those that don’t agree feel obligated to work with them to stay alive, as the US and ISAF forces can’t permanently secure their villages. \n\nThe good news: It is not (yet?) Iraq.  A civil war is not on the table.  A thousand civilians aren’t killed in a month.  The economy is growing (especially in Kabul, where it is booming), more schools and clinics are open and security is better than it was during the Taliban.  It still offers opportunity (for some), reform is happening (just very slowly) and there is a parliament sent to represent each area, and it is fighting the President’s efforts to weaken their authority. Imports from Pakistan are streaming in, and it even finally rained after a years-long drought.  (There is a lot for visitors to buy– esp. handicrafts like carpets, embroideries and jewelry (and anything else made of precious or semi-precious gems).
1022838
It's the same old story, it's all government's attempt to maintain  world power by aligning itself with humanitarian causes. The only power we the people have is to vote for those who are willing to put time and energy into keeping hospital wards open by creative funding. It is possible!
1027500
You mean like Japan, Germany, the Philippines, and South Korea? Those successful democracies? Sure, Haiti is an abysmal failure, but that's the nature of all former French colonies.\n\nAnd each one of those was completely different, with different populations, motivations, national heritage, etc. There is no 'Nation-building for Dummies' book out there. It is an adapt as you go process.\n\nAnd, so far, Afghanistan and Iraq look quite successful, too. With high participation and strong buy-in and support of the public.
364541
Haiti's not a part of the U.S. We're not repsonsible for how things are run there or what's going on there. Of course we can provide aid and assistance, which I'm sure we are in some way, but there's only so much that the U.S. can do. We TOO have problems of our own to take care of including poverty and instability.\n\n\nHowever, there are ties to the U.S.\n\nHaiti has always been one of the poorest countries in the Americas. Much of this is due to post-independence schemes of the former colonial power- France. In 1838, the French agreed to recognize Haitian independence under the condition that Haiti pay 150 million francs (worth several billion dollars today) as an indemnity for the loss suffered by French slave owners in the loss of their slaves and plantations. Unable to make payments, Haiti, in an attempt to win international acceptance, was forced to seek loans totaling some seventy million francs. Not until 1862 did the United States finally recognize Haiti as a sovereign nation, and send diplomatic representation. Through the 19th century it was ruled by a series of dictators of varying degrees of incompetence. The outside world took little notice until 1915, when the country's unpayable debt led to American occupation.
623765
Do you mean 'Haiti', or something else?
1034533
Query - have any of you read the book, or looked at the plan? It's clever, not perfect but at least it's something more than Sally Struthers standing there teary-eyed and saying "think of the children!"\n\nI'm inclined to think this plan is worth a shot. Yes, it'd be nice if Bono and Jolie would put their money where their mouths are, but it seems a far better use of tax dollars spent on foreign aid to render it through programs that actually do something rather than funnel it through dubious government entities that allow a great deal of siphoning off the top by corrupt leaders.\n\nOr we could just allow Malthusian processes to take care of it through war, famine and pestilence. Not that these don't impact us. Famine drives up the prices of crops. Pestilence, well, we now have HIV which may have been caught and contained far sooner if there was a public health infrastructure in place, and hemorrhagic fevers native to many of these regions are the stuff of nightmares. Then there's war, but I don't think I need to remind you how many situations the military has gotten into after the humanitarian portion of the mission collapsed. I think it's simply cheaper in the long-run to try to ameliorate poverty rather than deal with it's aftermath, but it's as much your tax money as it is mine, so we'll see the exit polls.
918678
It felt like spring after a very long winter. Like the renaissance after the dark ages. The 2006 mid-terms gave me back hope for my country. After 12 years of domination by right wing religious conservative zealots, we are back to sanity.\nNow we can get to work on our problems at home and regain our respect in the world.\nYippee!!!
517798
It's monumental.The rest of the world is down on us right now and the only way we're going to get out of the trenches is to have someone with charisma and an actual plan to set us in the right direction.We have so many problems on so many levels it's staggering.Bush and Cheney come off as arrogant stuffed shirts to most people and the poll numbers speak for themselves.Chaos abounds in this regime.The war,the borders,the economy,deficit,Katrina disaster,poverty,healthcare,etc.,is a direct result of an administration who is completely out of touch with the people and what they need.Our next president has a daunting task in front of him/her.Our nation needs a jump start with fresh ideas and a compassionate and passionate president.
424325
Yes.  My two cents...  Expect relations to thaw the day Castro passes away (soon).  Everything is set in place for a thaw in relations, however waiting for a new leader would carry far less political risk than forgiving Castro himself.
1110131
The new cabinet will be a big step towards more progress in Vietnam. They are much younger, and I believe they are sincere when they say that htey want to help the Viet people do better. \n\nThe old cabinet was very corrupt and they stole a lot of money that belong to the Viet people. They are the reason why many foreign companies have not come the Vietnam yet.
772563
I like it. O'Malley is young, energetic, tough and pragmatic. I expect him to be a great governor of Maryland.\n\ncc
1165851
You have to recognize that due to the recent vote of non-confidence as well as Conservative promise to bring more accountability to the Canadian Government we are definitely as an informed public going to keep our eyes and ears open to any scandal or misrepresentation of governance.  Being aware of this I think the Conservatives are going to go out of their way to be squeaky clean.  (even though they have recently been found to have some undocumented Campaign contributions). \n\nUnfortunately I think we will have a full term with Harper.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing however.  The liberals need some time to reorganize and groom a new party leader. \n\nIn the mean time we can just be thankful that it is a minority government.
494948
agreed!\n\nhey nansimejia\n\nyou forget your own history : We bought it from your conquerors, \n\n\nIn 1762, France had ceded Louisiana to Spain, but by the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso (1800) the French had regained the area. Napoleon Bonaparte (the future Emperor Napoleon I) envisioned a great French empire in the New World, and he hoped to use the Mississippi Valley as a food and trade center to supply the island of Hispaniola, which was to be the heart of this empire. First, however, he had to restore French control of Hispaniola, where Haitian slaves under TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE had seized power (1801; see HAITI). In 1802 a large army sent by Napoleon under his brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc, arrived on the island to suppress the Haitian rebellion. Despite some military success, the French lost thousands of soldiers, mainly to yellow fever, and Napoleon soon realized that Hispaniola must be abandoned. Without that island he had little use for Louisiana. Facing renewed war with Great Britain, he could not spare troops to defend the territory; he needed funds, moreover, to support his military ventures in Europe. Accordingly, in April 1803 he offered to sell Louisiana to the United States.\nConcerned about French intentions, President Thomas Jefferson had already sent James Monroe and Robert R. Livingston to Paris to negotiate the purchase of a tract of land on the lower Mississippi or, at least, a guarantee of free navigation on the river. Surprised and delighted by the French offer of the whole territory, they immediately negotiated the treaty. \nJefferson was jubilant. At one stroke the United States would double its size, an enormous tract of land would be open to settlement, and the free navigation of the Mississippi would be assured. Although the Constitution did not specifically empower the federal government to acquire new territory by treaty, Jefferson concluded that the practical benefits to the nation far outweighed the possible violation of the Constitution. The Senate concurred with this decision and voted ratification on Oct. 20, 1803. The Spanish, who had never given up physical possession of Louisiana to the French, did so in a ceremony at New Orleans on Nov. 30, 1803. In a second ceremony, on Dec. 20, 1803, the French turned Louisiana over to the United States\nyour people capitulated. You lost a war, and with it, any claim to the territory you run around calling "Aztlan" today, all the while waving a Mexican flag.
768352
What do you think about changes which will happen beginning with this year's elections?
520346
Trujillo, the Dictator, ordered it, because he was xenophobic, there had been a lot of problems with the Border delimitations between Haiti and the DR, there were a lot of haitians on Dominican territory and people were complaining that some had been committing crimes.\n\nWas it good? I mean, How can a masacre be good for anyone.\nIt was bad for the haitians and it was also bad for us, for the country image.\nNo, I dont think it was necesary.
945237
We shall see. Obviously the way it was wasn't working so hopefully this will be for the better/ Your words are so true civilian. The root of all of the countries problems is this division between the two parties and their unwillingness to cooperate with each other and it has fizzled down to the people. Sad but true.