The problem is that there are too many competing priorities. Medical personnel and supplies are badly needed; so are food relief and emergency shelters; so are rescue specialists; so are heavy excavators (to clear roads so that everything can leave the airport) and port clearance gear; so are security personnel; so is water.

There's basically no infrastructure left in much of Haiti; what was there is largely buried, or is unsafe to use. Only so much can get in at any given moment thanks to that lack of such basics as roads, docks, and bridges. So which top priority items do you make wait because you can't bring it all in at once?

-- Steve finds much of the criticism of the relief efforts underinformed and overly-dismissive of the difficulties, and in the main issuing from the usual chairborne regiments.