US Troops Deploy at Haitian National Palace: Mainstream Media Coverage

Tuesday morning, US troops began using the grounds at the National Palace for deployment of troops. In a country with a long history of military interventions, especially by the US, the picture of paratroopers bounding out of helicopters at the National Palace was sure to evoke strong feelings.  The media coverage in the US, however, has generally portrayed the use of the National Palace as welcome, with most outlets describing hundreds of cheering Haitians welcoming US troops.  Agence France-Presse, AFP, however noticed a much different reaction. AFP reports:

"The arrival was the most spectacular deployment so far in the US military’s operation to bring relief to Port-au-Prince, but was not welcomed by some in the crowd who saw the arrival as an affront to Haitian sovereignty.

"I haven’t seen the Americans in the streets giving out water and food, but now they come to the palace," said Wilson Guillaume, as some of the homeless living rough in the Champ de Mars square before the palace shouted abuse.

"It’s an occupation. The palace is our power, our face, our pride," said Feodor Desanges.

Reading most mainstream media, however, would have left the reader with a far different impression, below are excepts from major US media reports on the deployment of US troops at the National Palace.

New York Times:

"With hundreds of Haitians watching and cheering from outside the white-and-green palace gates, troops in combat fatigues bounded out of the helicopters

…

Many Haitians seemed to welcome the promise of help from American troops. In the capital’s Nazon neighborhood, a hand-painted sign on a collapsed building read: "Welcome the US Marines. We need some help.""

Washington Post:

"U.S. troops helicoptered onto the grounds of the wrecked National Palace to cheers from onlookers."

Reuters:

"With comments of "Great!" and "Here they come!", the crowd generally welcomed the arrival of the U.S. troops. Some called on the U.S. paratroopers to deal with looters and criminals who have been preying on wrecked neighborhoods since the quake.

Others screamed angrily. "Where’s the help, where’s the help? We have received nothing yet."

But many seemed relieved to see the American troops.

"We do not know exactly what they have come to do but I think they are here to help us, so we tell them welcome," one observer, Alex Michel, 40, told Reuters.

"We would not wish to see foreign military disembarking in our country but given the terrible situation we are in, their presence is necessary," said Moline Augustin, also watching outside the palace."

Associated Press:

"U.S. troops landed on the lawn of Haiti’s shattered presidential palace to the cheers of quake victims on Tuesday"

…

"Haitians jammed the fence of the palace grounds to gawk and cheer as U.S. troops emerged from six Navy helicopters.

"We are happy that they are coming, because we have so many problems," said Fede Felissaint, a hairdresser.

Given the circumstances, he did not even mind the troops taking up positions at the presidential palace. "If they want, they can stay longer than in 1915," he said, a reference to the start of a 19-year U.S. military presence in Haiti — something U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they have no intention of repeating."

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