as long as the DR does not get put back there with Caricom and Barrys spin on dancing with the stars it will be OK

This is a great opportunity for the Dominican Republic to forge closer relationships with emerging powers (such as China, India, Brazil, etc.) and diversify its geopolitics portfolio...

Hello Haiti, goodbye DR. That will be the change coming.

El_Platano,

Are you implying the US will favor Haiti over the Dominican Republic?
If so, I disagree. DR is better position to partner with the US in a host of issues (Climate Change, The War on Drugs, Free Trade, etc...). Given Haiti present (and foreseeable future) condition, I cannot see the circumstances under which it could do any of these things (Haiti is a virtually a failed state)...

More laughs at the expense of the Haiti-phobes like El Platano. Maybe I should be the one now called a prophet as I have said for months that Pres. Obama has far too much on his plate to give a crap about relations of the governments on our island.

I also agree with jacirez, the USA is no going to be the only super power, there will be new power emerging as we speak, if USA is planing to give dr the snub, hey let find others that wouldn't and are willing to give us help. Regarding Haiti there is nothing that will benefit the USA, no export, no import etc.

As I read some of the comments on these pages, I am reminded of the spoiled child who sits in the middle of the store, drumming his heels and screaming his lungs out because Mommy won't allow him to have that teddy bear.
When will you realize that the USA IS NOT your Big Daddy,dolling out money and services just because you want them?
That country has a lot of "fish to fry"; moreso now than in the past since their economy is teetering on thebrink of collapse. And YOU want them to continue to support your corruption, greed and incompetance because you think it your right to same? Get real, take the blinders off, and take a good hard look at the rest of the world for a change.

TexasBill

The changes pro-hatian will only happen if we allow it.... ultimately WE HAVE THE POWER!

CarlosFranco,
I don't think the Dominican Republic (or any country, except perhaps China) is in a position to dictate foreign policy to the U.S. If they decided Haiti is a more valuable strategic partner, I don't think there is much we can do...

Written by: brootto, 1 Apr 2009 10:36 AM
From: United States, South West Florida
I also agree with jacirez, the USA is no going to be the only super power, there will be new power emerging as we speak, if USA is planing to give dr the snub, hey let find others that wouldn't and are willing to give us help. Regarding Haiti there is nothing that will benefit the USA, no export, no import etc.
.......
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
- Total $14.334 trillion[4] (1st)
- Per capita $47,025[4] (17th)
with 52 states under one sovereign union (not countrys)
-----------------------------------------
GDP (nominal) 2009 (IMF) estimate
- Total $19.195 trillion (n/a)
- Per capita $38,732 (n/a)
The European Union is composed of 27 independent sovereign states (countrys)

USA will always be on top

But jacirez can you explain any reasons why Haiti will be no even strategically and why now. for the usa is not even suitable. Haitians are more aggressive than dr when it come to USA policy.

peopl in haiti are willing to do what ever to make money. for example in the DR who works construction.... HAITIANS... and dominicans say thats not for them thats for haitians. and haitians are willing to do it cheap too.

brootto,

Haiti is a FAILED STATE. Having them as a partner would require the U.S to invest money and resources into nation-building (i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.) to make it a suitable partner. In today's world, who is going to take Haiti seriously when it speaks on matter of climate change, global trade, etc?

Rev,
The construction jobs in DR are cheap labor. This is why Dominicans do not want it. You can make more driving a taxi...

reveontiveros,

Just because a country GDP is the highest does not automatically mean said country will have matched influence. There are many factors (some, if not most of them intangible) that determine a country's influence in the world's stage...

haiti can be used alot more then tourisim.... tourisim sucks.... here in the DR. Haiti is cheap good labor... and they deserve it

reve, I am not disputing that what I am saying is, if the USA does not have the time or like some are saying to many fish to fry we should look for alternative that is all, usa will always be the super power no doubt.

xwill7,
i have never seen so many men in my life with out a job why becuase 8768768 are taxi´s or sell impanadas or tosadas. when you dont have job you do what ever to make money. thats what haitians understand.

jacirez,
exports and imports and military power is the only thing that matters in this world as to power and influnce. USA has all 3 buddy

so jacirez you are agreeing with me, correct?

brootto,
wait wait brootto as saying ¨we¨ meaning you are living in the DR? or USA? anyways other alternatives would be the best choice to go how about fortiyfing your ties with haiti

Rev,
If you look at the numbers, DR is the most traveled destination in the Carribean... Haiti is not ready for tourists. Too many kidnappings, if you are driving people crowd your SUV begging for money, and that side of the island is dry bue to the people in Haiti chopping down the trees for fire wood. If you don't like DR, why do you live here?

SCREW tourisim! there is so much more then tourisim. USA doesnt gain from you receveing money it only gains from cheap producing products why do you think china does so well? and i am here in the DR for as memeber of the ¨world women activites organzation¨.

Reve is in the bible there is no empire that last 400 years, usa time soon will come look at china they are no our buddy and russia they going back to their usual ways and lets not forget india and the mess in the middle east.

USA is not an empire anywhere close to anything like in the bible. when it all comes down to it the trump card is military power and technology no one can compare with us when it comes to that. and that mess in the middle east is soon going to spread into those so called future power houses.

As i said before there is no resources in Haiti at all. it is like Puerto Rico nothing but rocks and maintains.

man power...plus leather.... string.... NIKE SHOES

yeah like china right, give me a break. china is the sleeping giant which we owe our debt to, wake up man. and regarding empire in this age it does not necessary mean like Rome. you should know what i mean everyone is tire of the involvement on everyone issues. that is the reasons we stuck in the middle is mess, you don't see china, and Russia learn from their mistake.

reveontiveros,
With all due respect:
U.S influence on the world is, for lack of a better word, Over. The U.S got all fat and lazy. they lacked imagination and were far too greedy. So greedy in fact they became agents of their own destruction by outsourcing their Manufacturing and Industrial base to China, then turned around and borrowed money from China so they could continue to buy more cheap crap..from China.

On top of that, they were stupid enough to believe that an economy based on financial services (the sale of abstract pieces of paper) could survive a re-alignment of the world economy.

You would be forgiven to believe that the US becoming a superpower was a fluke. There is mounting evidence the US may be nothing but a third world country with Nukes.

THE AMERICAN CENTURY IS OVER! Better start learning Mandarin >.<

The change to a more pro-haitian stance has nothing to do with economics and the DR itself. It will be driven by domestic politics within the US and US Congress. I am no Haiti-phobe as has been suggested here.

platano believing in those us congressmen is like believing in Pinocchio. so wake up my Haitian friend.

Rev born in the us, but decedent of dominican parents, by the way very proud of my Dominican ancestry.

What's the big deal about being anti-Haitian???

Haitians HATE Dominicans!!!! Are We supposed
to return love in exchange!!!

JRRubi,
That is not true. I have some good friends that are Haitians. You can blame both nations for a few bad apples.

You guys realize that Obama has just blown off your country?

The State Dept have people to deal with various countries and they have nothing to do with the economic problems.

It was Political Speak. You guys have pissed him off and now you will have to cool your heels.......Until he digs into the Haitian Slavery Issue in 2010.

Haiti is a FAILED STATE my my silly you. Here we have a failed country and a failed silly president.

I think the Dominican Republic leaders need to stop relying on the U.S. Although the U.S. is a major hegemon without say, there should be strategic relationship with other countries such as India, China, Russia.. etc. It seems near impossible but I see success and I know it can happen. Imagine our island creating a relationship with countries that can influence a better education on ours. We are a small island but we have enough resources to maintain ours. We have been hurt by the corruption of the political masterminds and military. We need to worry about going back to the drawing board and fix ours first and then move on foward... I don't see how we are moving foward without knowing how to walk, ride, stand, sit, or roll.

Much Love
Gigglez~

Ok, lets spread the word in NYC that the Obama administration don't want DR as a partner; and lets see how fast Obama is going to come out saying is not so; remember the race for senator and congressman are schedule for 2010.

antonio1 dominican is only 2% of new york population so it would not affect any elections, give me a break

dominicans don't vote here in the states, they don't get pay remember.

This is what the Obama administration said about DR and Latin America.
1-DR is a drug distribution point
2-DR violates human rights
3-Tourist do not visit DR because of the violence
4-Plans to increase tariffs on Tobacco products from the Caribbean
5-Revise and dismantle CAFTA-RD
6-Dis-invited DR to the Central America meeting in Costa Rica (3/29/2009)
7-Does not include Colombia in any free trade agreement despite Colombia's obedient behavior
8-Labeled Argentina, Venezuela, and Bolivia as human rights violators
9-Accused Venezuela of exporting terrorism to Latin America and for sending money to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
10-Continues refusing putting the U.S. navy back in the Caribbean sea to stop the drug trafficking out of South America!

Haiti has no middle class! Of the nearly 10 million people in Haiti, 5. 6 million are CHILDREN! Their women are giving birth 36 per 1000 people (the highest in the America). Haiti is a human failure of proportions comparable to southern Sudan and Zimbadwee!

Do not bring Haiti into the conversation of strategic economic plans! Haiti has no money, no resources, but consumes a lot of the cheap stuff!

Haiti is a source of instability to anyone nearby including the U.S.!

Brooto:

With all due respect in NY Dominicans represent the largest hispanic community and one of the
fastest growing minorities (maybe close to a 5 to 10 %)

Does anyone listen to the American Hating Raghead? I certainly don't listen to his drivel.

As always, Haitian hating and bashing make some dominican bigots feel important. For those bigots and imbeciles, strategic alliance between countries has nothing to do with how many hotels you have to welcome sun bating tourists. Just like in the European union and in a larger context in NATO you have some of the largest and richest countries aligned with some of the smallest and poorer countries. Again to those idiots, strategic alliance means partnership between nations to advance trade, reduce poverty, diseases, increase intelligence and military cooporations, advancing education, science, communication and human right. All of these reduce misunderstanding and unnecessary wars and violence around the world. President Obama simply wants to make sure that the arrogance and ignorance that plagued U.S. foreign policy over the past decade does not continue, he understands this foolish attitude does not benefit the U.S. nor any other countries in the America continent.

@Brotto

Who are you calling Haitian? I am far far from it. Obviously you didn't get the point of my post. The US Congressional Black Caucus has been driving US policy in regards to Haiti and with the current make up of Congress a shift towards a more pro-haitian stance is very possible. So look for any actions or policies for that region to favor Haiti's needs over that of DR. That is what I am saying.

We do not need Obama here, we have too many Obamas already.

For crying' out loud brotto, how can you say with a straight face that 2% of an electoral bloc will not till an election. You must be from Mars.

oneworld1

the problem that keeps Haiti down is that they are not willing to fight for whats theirs and has nothing to do with Dominicans. we may leave the country but when educated we come back and fight harder than before which is not the case in Haiti. Dominicans would love for Haiti to do good but it will be up to Haitians to stand up and do it we can,t do it for you. By fighting means many Haitians will die but guess what if my kids would leave a better life by me doing then i would. thats the way i was raised. I have been to Haiti many times before and helped a couple of then while there so don't think Dominicans just hate Haitians we just don't like the I can't do nothing attitude. Other than Hitler Trujillo was the worst dictator and guess we showed him that bullcrap won't happen in DR thats the attitude Haitians need and i would to see the day where Haiti is stable and we can share a island in peace. By the way why do they still call it hispanila instead of Santo domingo.

Don't blame them for that, belly, the Hispaniola name is maintained by unilateral decision of the US geographic board, cuz' if it depended on the haitians, they would have done away with every single name and reminder of colonial times on the entire island.

Other than Hitler Trujillo was the worst dictator ...................belly please as bad as you think Trujillo was he was pocket change in the scheme of Dictators.......Trujillo is more in the vein of Comrade Bob of Zimbabwe.....against Stalin, Idi Amin Dada,Mao or Pol Pot or HoChi Minh ,El Jefe would be considered benevolent

Couldn't have said it better myself, GC., specially when one compares him with uncle Joe, whose victims many people put on the astronomical number of 60,000,000, be it by gulags, planned famines (specially against the ukrainians, acts which bordered on genocide/ethnic cleansing/massacre, and which are known in ukrainian nomenclature as the Holodomor or "great famine"), executions, deportations to Siberia, etc.

also and compared to Comrade Bob of Zimbabwe Trujillo at least had the country functioning .....in fear and ignorance but functioning