I am a Haitian -American descendant of an American Counsel to Haiti, and I have lived in the U.S. for 29 years. I go back and forth to help Haiti and family remaining there. I agree with Dork Sanagian and William C. Brehm. Haiti's complex problems date back to the time it became a new nation and was shunned and embargoed by the international community when slavery was still popular in the U.S. In addition to all of this, Haiti had to pay taxes and interest as reparation for its freedom. Never being able to really get on its own two feet, Haiti has depended on international aid since the U.S. government stepped in and took control of the country circa 1915 to 1934. Was it from guilt, or was it to take advantage of a golden opportunity? The end result was pouring of aid, but also stripping of natural resources and corruption, especially in the control of the ports, customs department, and infrastructure. U.S. capitalists came in to Haiti wanting to get a piece of the pie of allocated dollars, and many Americans and Haitians got kickbacks from being involved in all sorts of infrastructure schemes and "preferred vendor" relationships. Both the Haitian government and American governments got wrapped up in these as well (not just the Haitian government is are corrupt.) American missionaries, and ecologists have done more for Haiti in terms of helping the Haitians help themselves. Governments coming in to help rebuild services and infrastructure after the earthquake need to be accountable to an international organization of auditors to avoid further corruption and profitable "back door" dealings. Haitians government agencies should be taught how to do right for their country and people by the corresponding, "clean" government agencies in the international community.