Looters Break Into Food Warehouses

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 06:39 AM

I don't like looters anywhere and think they should be shot on sight. And I would almost bet that the ones doing this aren't the ones that most need aid.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100115/...earthquake_aid

Ron

vettestr · #2 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 08:18 AM

I am willing to consider myself in these conditions with my family needing a meal. I can see a man just trying to feed his kids but if he grabs jewelry and DVDs shoot the bastard.

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 09:14 AM

Yeah, whats up with these people? Any self respecting looter in the US would be after TV's and DVD's, or beer, maybe some snacks along the way, but food? Nah...

OK, not funny either, but it do make the point vettestr just posted.

Conditions are so bad right now there is hardly a way to even distribute the food in the whare houses. Looting sucks, but these folks have been without food and water for two days, the situation is beyond desperate. You could make a case for "at least the food is being distributed".

Dan40 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 09:23 AM

For decades now, the lawlessness in Haiti has been so widespread as to make our old "Wild West," look like a convent! Add that to a country that has literally collapsed and starvation and chaos will reign for a time.

bomelia · #5 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 09:32 AM

If the "looters" are using it to extract money, sex, etc from victims, shoot them dead. Otherwise, I withhold judgement. 3-4 days with no water & food can make folks do desparate things. I would do it. This does not sound close to the crap that went on after Katrina.

Here is what I do not understand. Why does the US not have non-perishable food & water in cargo plane containers ready to go on a moments notice? Just load them onto C5s and go! This aspect of our disaster preparedness is embarassing. And dangerous.

Excaliber · #6 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 10:17 AM

Apparently they, we, the world, does have cargo planes loaded and LANDED at the only airstrip (ONE runway) in the immediate area. The wharehouses were stored food for a hurricane, by the way.

The problem is one of logistics. The airport was SO tied up with planes circling, planes parked, planes trying to take off they had to STOP any more planes from even trying to come in. The roads are toast, the trucks can't get the food from the airport to town. I say massive helicopter drops of food and water is one way to get-r-done NOW!

Last I heard convoys were being formed in the Dominican Republic and were going to attempt to drive into the area.

95CobraR · #7 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomelia

Here is what I do not understand. Why does the US not have non-perishable food & water in cargo plane containers ready to go on a moments notice? Just load them onto C5s and go! This aspect of our disaster preparedness is embarassing. And dangerous.

It's because it is handled by the federal government. The same people that run the Post Office, Washington, and the IRS. The same people that will be controlling your health care soon.

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 10:44 AM

If the looters are stealing the food to live on then they shouldn't be shot. But as I said in my original post, I would bet most of them aren't the ones that really need food. They are probably the crooks that are taking it to sell.

Just saw this and thought it may prove intersting to some who may not be aware if just how bad things are down there.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9569786

Ron

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 11:12 AM

It's a valid point Ron, machette weilding gangs rule the streets. There is little doubt these are the people doing the looting and no one is getting any food without a price.

Wayne Maybury · #10 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 12:20 PM

The main prison in Haiti was demolished and while some of the inmates were injured or killed in the quake, approximately 4000 of them escaped and are now freely roming around. They surely are not going to be trying to help those in need, rather they will be trying to take advantage of the situation as much as they can.

Wayne

bomelia · #11 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 01:14 PM

The world could always stand to lose a number machette wielding gangs. See 'em? Shoot 'em. They are the worst of the worst. Possibly lower than a politician these days (but I do NOT advocate the same for politicians).

Mike

Wayne Maybury · #12 (**permalink**) 01-15-2010, 02:04 PM

Mike, would you just want to hang the politicians up by their "short & curlies"?

Wayne

Ron61 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 06:44 AM

Even getting water to those in need is difficult to do.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100116/..._water_worries

Ron

Excaliber · #14 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 10:46 AM

Looks like the military didn't like my idea of air drops for food and water. Their concern was the drops would cause local rioting as folks scrambled for the goods.

What a tough call, have a riot now or wait for a riot when they are really hungry and thirsty?

Dan40 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 12:53 PM

It would be wonderful if Haiti would turn out to be the LESSON it should be. Multiple Government and private sector agencies all cooperating to RESCUE people in need. No profit agendas by the private sector, no power and control agendas by the Government.
Ir will take a long while to complete the rescue and that time should not be a consideration. But the MOMENT the rescue is complete, we should all take note that the prior 50 years of international support for the people of this country has PROVEN to be a total waste of lives, time, and money! The people have not realized ANY benefit. We now have 50 year old Haitians and younger with no clue how to fend for and improve themselves.

Now that internationally, we have all conspired to ruin a nation and its people, WHAT DO WE DO? More of the same? Probably! We are doing it daily to our own people.

Ron61 · #16 (**permalink**) 01-16-2010, 12:58 PM

Dan,

It would be great if what you said would happen but you know as well as I that it isn't going to happen. We will be in the same position as they are now in another year or so of the Great Ones power grabbing greed. We won't have the ability or freedom to help anyone else.

Ron

PatBuckley · #17 (**permalink**) 01-17-2010, 12:10 AM

I have noticed that whenever there are riots and looting it is always men who are doing it!

Ron61 · #18 (**permalink**) 01-17-2010, 04:57 AM

Pat,

That always seems to be the case but I believe I recall seeing some women in the looting in L.A. and another place or two. Maybe it is because women don't have equal rights in all countries or are just waiting for the men to bring the stuff to them.

Ron

Ron61 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-17-2010, 05:32 AM

More about how difficult it is to get supplies into where they are needed the worst.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Yp11Uuhw&pos=8

Ron

Excaliber · #20 (**permalink**) 01-17-2010, 09:19 AM

Clinton asked the same question I had asked here. Why can't we just drop supplies from helicopters? Did you see that video of a helicopter dropping supplies, as Clinton suggested? Oop's, OK, maybe not such a good idea. It was a riot all right, got ugly in a heart beat. Looks like the Army is right, not such a good idea...