I really feel that it would be preferable to make plans to evacuate the remaining Haitians to other countries where their needs can be met during the years it is going to take to rebuild their country. Aid could be provided much more easily in developed countries and at less cost and inconveience. When Dr. Travis Stork talked about the need for crutches, wheelchairs and prosthetics, he made a great point, but how can things like those be used in such devastation? The world needs to focus on the long term outcome of this disaster, rather than just short term needs.

Their lawyer says three more days of hearings are scheduled next week, starting Monday. He says it’s “scandalous” they’re being detained.

In Idaho, where most of the missionaries are from, Pastor Clint Henry of Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian urged Haiti to quickly free the group. Three national leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to do everything he can to get them home.

The U.S. government appears to be approaching the incident carefully. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls the case ” a matter for the Haitian judicial system.” { the children they were trying to take all had living parents, its sad to say but im happy they got caught, God would not approve there actions i dont think, i feel in my heart the christian thing to have done would have been to help the childrens FAMILY TO STAY TOGATHER, NOT BREAK THEM APART, what do you think went through those kids minds being taken away from family and only knowing they were given away like a damn stuffed toy, shame on the baptist, i denounce that religion after seeing what the baptist do with the money taken in to there churches, kidnapping kids in the midst of a tragedy is so uncool and unchristianly, and you cant tell me any of the 10 had no idea that they were doing wrong!!! they all came from america and know the laws governing children and child safety, if people went to those same baptist here in america and gave them there kids what do you think the churches would do? ill tell ya they would call the cops on ur ass and have you arrested! yup there guilty as charged in my eyes what about yours?

People are dying here. People are going to die, everywhere, all the time, regardless. That’s nature. How’s this: If your child were starving, would you give the food you had to some person you’d never even met in another country? Or would you give that food to your own child? If your own family were freezing in the middle of winter, would you give up the opportunity for heating to another family you’d never met in some other country? Charity begins at home.

And quite frankly, I do not care how “socialist” or whatever political label anyone wants to attach to it, our people ought to be our priority. Besides, who’s going to come running to these countries aid when our own economy fails and none of our citizens have any more money to give? What countries will help us? Who would come to our rescue? I’d genuinely like to know. But hey, by that time China will fully own America so I guess the Reds really are coming…*chuckle*

Edwin Coq said that a judge found sufficient evidence to file charges against the Americans, who were arrested Friday at Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic. Coq attended Thursday’s hearing and has represented the entire group in Haiti.

The U.S. citizens, most of them members of an Idaho-based church group, were whisked away from the closed court hearing to jail in Port-au-Prince, the capital. One of them, Laura Silsby, waved and smiled faintly to reporters but declined to answer questions.

Coq said that under Haiti’s legal system, there won’t be an open trial, but a judge will consider the evidence. It could take the judge three months to render a verdict, Coq said.

Coq said a Haitian prosecutor told him the Americans were charged because they had the children in their possession. No one from the Haitian government could be reached immediately for comment.

Each of the kidnapping counts carries a possible sentence of five to 15 years in prison. [ i think these Americans wish they had left the rescue efforts to the Red Cross, and stayed in Idaho to attend services on sundays, why didnt the church just DONATE THE FUNDS IT COST TO SEND THOSE 10 TO HAITI AND LET IT GO AT THAT? would have been a much smarter move on all involved parts.