Porter Goss: “when it comes to United States foreign policy, the deteriorating situation in Haiti is one of those news items that has…”

“when it comes to United States foreign policy, the deteriorating situation in Haiti is one of those news items that has been crowded off the front pages by bigger problems elsewhere, problems like the breakdown of the peace process in Ireland, the mending of fences with Mr. Netanyahu, and the Mujahidin's new foothold in the Balkans. But even so, just because it suits the White House for Haiti to be out of sight, it does not mean that it is out of mind for those of us who are interested in accounting for $3 billion in United States taxpayers' dollars the White House has spent there and those of us who are concerned about the safety of Americans and American interests in Haiti. Because of the very special relationship between my south Florida district and Haiti, my office follows the reports and stays in touch with our contacts on the ground in Haiti. How are things going? The short answer is that there is slippage, steep slippage; a strong sense, based on events, that things in Haiti have degenerated again very rapidly. We are finding a seemingly endless litany that suggests a serious breakdown in law and order. We find institutional inadequacy, particularly in the judicial area, and serious retreat from any economic progress at all. We find no relief from the grinding poverty that is everywhere in Haiti.”