The vast majority of aid has arrived in Haiti so far by air. The port opens up a new avenue for supplies. A large bulk carrier vessel can hold much more than a large transporter aircraft. The needs of Haitians are currently
overwhelm
ing attempts by the international community to supply them. And the working port will help even if it operates at just 10% of its capacity.
Jack Straw, who was British Foreign Secretary at the time of the Iraq invasion, has said he could have prevented Britain's participation in the war.
Mr Straw told the government inquiry into British involvement that if he had not backed the invasion, then the then Prime Minister Tony Blair would not have had enough support in cabinet or parliament. Mr Straw also told the inquiry that he opposed to America's policy of regime change in order to remove Saddam Hussein.
"Whatever the policy of the United States, which as it happens was for regime change as a purpose of foreign policy, that was off the agenda as far as the United Kingdom was concerned.
A foreign policy objective of regime change -- I
regard it as
improper
and also self-evidently unlawful.”
World News from the BBC.
The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, has denied that last year's presidential election was
fraudulent
. Mr Karzai told the BBC the vote was seriously misrepresented by the media and certain people in the West, especially in the United States and Britain. The president also said Britain and the United States are supporting his new plan for attracting members of the Taliban back to society through money and jobs. He denied it was a sign of weakness.