In Haiti, Helpers Aren’t Synonymous With Help

Hillary Clinton and Ban Ki-moon are going to Haiti. That’s the last thing that unfortunate country needs.

That’s all the Haitians needed at the moment. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will fly into a Port-au-Prince in ruins and, then on Sunday, UN General Secretary Ban ki-Moon arrives in her wake. Visits by high-profile politicians are a security nightmare even under “normal” conditions. Even if Hillary Clinton doesn’t get beyond the air terminal, she will require the protection of security forces. That will obligate a part of the personnel contingent generously sent by the United States that has as yet been unable to get any further than the airport.

Clinton’s visit is for the benefit of the American public; it’s likely the largest portion of the Haitian public won’t even know she’s been there, since there are no radio or television stations still operational. There aren’t even any functioning newspapers nor is there telephone service. The UN secretary’s desire to go there in view of the severe personnel losses the UN suffered is understandable, but it won’t help the desperate Haitian people at all.