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February 1, 2010

Bottom Line, I’d Much Rather See Haitian Uniforms Wringing Haitian Necks

US Soldier Haiti food line.jpg

I understand it’s peacekeeping and this first picture, shot yesterday, has a specific and humanitarian context:

caption: US paratroopers from the 82nd airborne hold down a man caught jumping the queue for aid at a distribution point in Port-au-Prince.

Damon-Winter-Haiti-stealing.jpg

But then, aside from the drawn gun, there’s literally a world of difference between the first photo and the second photo, isn’t there.

(…Specifically, notice the gesture/response, in #1, of the red shirt guy in the jeans.)

(photo: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/Getty Images. January 31, 2010. via BostonBigPicture: Haiti 3 Weeks Later. photo 2: Damon Winter/NYT. A Haitian officer knocked a suspected looter to the ground and held him at gunpoint. )

  • jtfromBC

    In defence of the 82nd I find pic #15 has the kind of touch I like.
    A US paratrooper from the 82nd airborne carries a sack of rice for a woman as she leads him by the hand at a distribution point at the national stadium in Port-au-Prince on January 31, 2010. (THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images)

  • desertwind

    This is when they set up distribution points for women and children (plus men representing families). Unfortunately, men had been intimidating others in the lines.
    It doesn’t look good, but that’s what it is.

  • Idaho Tater

    “I’d Much Rather See Haitian Uniforms Wringing Haitian Necks”
    Aristide did away with the Haitian army to keep them from deposing his commie azz (again).

  • Nemo

    The Haitian Army worked in the interests of the ruling elite. Good at eliminating opponents but could not defend a brick outhouse. Of course, under US tutelage and the help of the IMF the Haitian economy has thrived and its government is very responsive to its people’s needs.

  • http://coffeeandnarcan.blogspot.com paramedicx

    don’t judge without follow through. when i was in Iraq this would happen a lot (i was there at the invasion and stayed in Baghdad for a year, with the great 3/325 82nd ABD) and after an interpreter could run over and we could talk to each other, the confusion would clear and myself and the guy i was subduing would either laugh it off or, if he was being an asshole and cutting in line, i would make certain he was placed at the very back of the line. but…since this blog is about looking and guessing to me the look on the guys face, the one on the ground, does look like he just needs to explain to the soldier what is happening. he doesn’t have that “you caught me, bastard” look.