>>SOUTHERN INDIANA — In the interest of the U.S. — and I suppose that means physical security, free trade, access to land for possible military buildup and whatever else many come to mind — we have poured money into Haiti. Also, we’ve done the same for many South American countries, and in the past, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, all in the interest of the U.S. My question is does this benefit the people of these and other countries? Do we still need Cold War strategy for security? Do the ends justify the means? Most of the money we pour into countries for our interest goes to armed forces, police and politicians, who know best for their people. Without accountability of the money, our methods lead to corruption, no real infrastructure for the people and shoddy construction of roads, bridges and buildings. With little or no accountability, the people do not receive medical services, education, clean water or decent roads for transportation and trade, and Haitians and people in other countries, like them, suffer. The people suffer from poor health care, literacy rates and poverty. All this done to our self-interest! Let a calamity happen, like the earthquake in Haiti, and we find out how fragile the infrastructure is. We find out the real desperation our policies of self-interest have caused people. In the U.S.’s self-interest, we need an accountability of money and we need to learn how to work with the people of other countries. In the book, “Three Cups of Tea,” Mortenson’s method of using local materials, local transportation, local contractors and local builders not only built many schools, but other villages asked for his help. He has done this work with donations and become good friends with the villagers. Could it be the U.S., in its own interest, and the interest of the people of other countries, needs a smaller footprint? Could we have a trainer program in these impoverished nations? Could it be in the best interest of the U.S. to look after the people of these countries and make friends, as Mortenson did in Afghanistan? Does it not make sense that our best security is found in the friendships of the population? Haiti and South Americans should not be looked at as strategic interests to be used, but as our neighbors. When we start looking at Haitians and South Americans as human beings, created in God’s image, then it may be easier to actually be “our brother’s keeper,” as the Bible says. — Steven Fetter, Jeffersonvil