Chile was hit last week by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. President Obama came out and said the US will give aide to Chile. He also said he would "protect Americans". No elaboration on that statement. Maybe he meant US citizens living, working or visiting in Chile. Maybe the remark was aimed at the arrest of that church group in Haiti. We'll soon see how aid is rendered now after that little debacle.

It does seem that Chilains are in need of protection. On the news tonight, I heard some say they were afraid to try and return to their homes because of gangs of violent looters. Better arm the Salvation Army before they go over.

Aint, I know you are veing sacastic when you say "No American arester yet". The problem is that some Americans ae a law to themselves. There has been a long history of American interfereence with Hati.

An Australian TV programne Foreign Correspondendent pointed out that it is the American adoption organizations that operates this way. Americans have had more foreign adoptions than all other countries combined. They deal with countries that have not sign the Hague Convention even although American has sign it. The American Christian adoption organization refuse to answer any questions put by the Australia media.

There is no similar scandal in Chile. It is best that Americans act carefully in their aid efforts. They are the Elephant in the room. Even Australia is sometimes condemned in its region for being too big and ignoring the laws of its SE Asian neighbours. It is hard to be the richest country in a region, so much is expected of you.

The Chilean government seems to have things well in hand. It's deployed it's own Military and Police to quell the looting and distribute otherwise looted necessities to its people. The aid it's looking for is field hospitals and mess-halls, mobile bridges. water purification systems and so on.

Chile is taking care of its own as much as it can. Haiti has no such ability.