Why Ukraine And Not Haiti?

Commentary By Arthur Piccolo

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Nov. 30, 2022: Yet another issue of The New York Times on Tuesday featured a front-page banner headline about the plight of Haiti.

The contrast between the Biden administration’s response to another nation that gets lots of front-page stories – Ukraine – and the response of the U.S. government to Haiti is the real story.

Ukraine is only partially occupied by an evil invader; all of Haiti is occupied!

The United States government, and specifically the Biden Administration, has effectively pledged unlimited support for Ukraine in its invasion by Russia. Short of sending in troops, President Biden has done anything and everything to support Ukraine, and he should.

The United States has supplied many billions of dollars and continues to do so. We now fund the Ukraine government that would collapse without our constant financial support. And whatever equipment and supplies Ukraine needs we supple. Additionally, there is a vast American network that includes the State Dept., the US. military the CIA and other agencies giving priority to Ukraine

And then there is this – a never ending flow of Biden Administration officials and members of Congress traveling to Ukraine to show and prove the strength and determination of American support for Ukraine.

All of this makes perfect sense because Ukraine is worthy of our support.

Except there is one very big problem. Label it hypocrisy!

Haiti is just as much in need of American support.

Haiti is as much or more devastated than is Ukraine.

Haiti is also under siege by a powerful enemy.

But Haiti is not receiving any of the kind of support that is flowing to Ukraine in unlimited amounts. Haiti, which is only hundreds of miles from our shores not thousands like Ukraine, is being ignored by President Biden.

How many trips has U.S. Secretary of State Blinken made to Haiti? None. How many trips have other members of the Biden Administration made to Haiti recently? None. How many members of Congress have been to Haiti recently? None.

This is while the Haitian people are suffering as much, if not more than Ukrainians.

What is the difference? Haiti is in the Caribbean and Ukraine is not. If you think that sounds ridiculous, think again. The United States government’s lack of interest in the Caribbean region is historic.

It goes all the way back to the election of Thomas Jefferson as President in 1804 and his withdrawal of American support for the Haitian revolution and its new government – and it has continued ever since. What is happening now in Haiti and President Biden’s response is just more of the same.

Police attempt to secure the area during an attack by armed gangs as people flee their homes in the Carrefour Feuille neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 10, 2022. (Photo by Richard Pierrin / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Where is Biden’s high level task force on Haiti to make important recommendations to him within the next 90 days to deal with the despair, the violence, the corruption and the hopelessness in Haiti? Do not waste your time waiting for it will not happen.

Because this President, like previous US Presidents, has decided that Haiti is not important enough. All this and more is proven once again with yet another article about Haiti in The New York Times.

People shop for food at an outdoor market in central Kyiv on November 30, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

This could be straight out of Saturday Night Live – President Biden is urging other nations to go into Haiti and clear up the horrible mess.

That is President Biden’s only “answer” to the total destruction of Haiti taking place. Why didn’t President Biden tell others to assist Ukraine, but the United States would do nothing? Why? Because Ukraine is not in the Caribbean.

Logically, the day Joe Biden became President, he should have announced among his list of international priorities – working toward a better Haiti. Instead, while President Biden has been in The White House, he has done nothing, and matters have gotten far worse in Haiti than they have ever been.

Now today, President Biden is recommending other nations do more while the United States does nothing. In fact, President Biden will not even name an Ambassador to Haiti.

Haiti needs to change its name to UKRAINE, then everything will change for Haiti; and if possible, also move far away from the Caribbean – to Europe

EDITOR’S NOTE: About The Writer: Arthur Piccolo is a professional writer and commentator and often writes about Latin America for New Americas.