Stop Me Before I Vote Again

Upper-left-hand story this morning, in the paper copy of the New York Times we get each day:

Patrolling Haiti, US Troops
Are Welcomed Into A Void

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — American military helicopters landed on Tuesday at Haiti’s wrecked National Palace, and troops began rolling through the capital’s battered streets, signs of the growing international relief operation here(*). But the troops’ presence underscored the rising complaints that the Haitian government had all but disappeared in the week since a huge earthquake struck.

Haiti’s long history of foreign intervention, including an American occupation, normally makes the influx of foreigners a delicate issue.

But with the government of President René Préval largely out of public view and the needs so huge, many Haitians are shunting aside their concerns about sovereignty and welcoming anybody willing to help — in camouflage or not.

Gotta love the Times. How many times have we read this story -- they're so glad to see us! Then a year later, the sequel:

Suicide Bomber Destroys US Embassy

What's The Matter With These People?

Of course, one has to ask: How are troops "rolling through the streets" supposed to be "signs" of a "relief effort"? Well, they're Amurricans, aren't they? Heavily armed Amurricans? What's wrong with that picture? You got a problem, pal?

Interestingly, perhaps, the online version of this story had a less cheerleading headline:

U.S. Troops Patrol Haiti, Filling a Void

Oh to have been a fly on the wall at those meetings.