US military draws down deeply in Haiti

US military draws down deeply in Haiti
By FRANK BAJAK
The Associated Press
Saturday, May 8, 2010; 1:55 AM

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Six Haitian children cling to Lt. Ben Stollerman's hands, sleeves and fatigue pants as the U.S. Navy engineer negotiates one of Haiti's biggest camps for earthquake refugees.

"I feel like the Pied Piper," he says, grinning as he takes a break from pointing out projects he's directed to help reduce flooding in a sea of makeshift shelters that 47,000 people call home.

Stollerman says he's tried to explain to the children - though he's not sure they grasp it - that he won't be around forever. Next week, he ships out.

From a high of 22,000 troops spearheaded by the now-departed 82nd Airborne two weeks after the devastating Jan. 12 quake, the U.S. military operation here is now down to 1,300 troops.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/08/AR2010050800263.html

Maybe Venezuela can send 20 thousand of Chavez' most loyal troops to Haiti, to help out :-)