U.S. troops to leave Haiti

One of the most controversial aspects of the international response to last January’s massive earthquake in Haiti was the deployment of U.S. troops to the country. Such a criticism not only emerged from political commentators but also from officials such as French minister Bernard Kouchnet. Worries of the alleged U.S. occupation may soon come to an end after a key announcement by Pentagon authorities yesterday:

The senior officer who has been leading the U.S. military earthquake relief effort in Haiti says the formal operation will end around June 1. But Army Lieutenant General Ken Keen says American efforts to help Haiti recover from the quake will continue beyond that date…

The general says the $400-million U.S. military relief operation mostly went well. But he adds that the military needs to be able to assess needs in a disaster more quickly, and should improve its logistics and coordination abilities in such chaotic and unexpected situations.

Do you agree with Keen’s assessment?

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- Voice of America, The Latin Americanist, The Telegraph