Haiti's Government Decimated

WaPo reported:

Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, Préval's right-hand man, said in an interview. "But we are overwhelmed. We just can't step back and have a vision for this country. Soon, we hope, the operations will be matched with a strategy for the future."

Bellerive, who has been in office less than two months, acknowledged that "we are not only ourselves victims of the disaster, but also do not have the capacity to do this on our own."

Up to 3 million Haitians struggle in unsanitary conditions for water, food, shelter, and basic medical care. It looks like no one else has both the capacity and mission. NGO's have the mission but not capacity. The U.S. military has capability, but not the mission.

A look at Haitian President Preval provides clues for his country's future vision. He privatized government services, which drew criticism for benefiting Haiti's elite. His government is widely viewed as corrupt. Haitians are torn between wanting their government to step up and lead vs. hoping aid goes through other organizations so corrupt officials won't pilfer it.

The widespread view is the Preval government has abandoned the people.

"We're living here with God alone," said student Dalromy Guerrier, 19, "Is there anyone coming to help?"

Dalromy, there are lots of anyone's. The march of private charities and NGO's is "slow and steady progress" in the eyes of President Obama. That's extremely disheartening to millions of suffering Haitians.