Haitian Refugees

I gather from reading about the U.S. easing of sanctions against Haiti (Feb. 5) that U.S. businesses do not operate any sweatshops in Iraq, or the sanctions against Iraq would have been eased or dropped possibly even before the so-called Gulf War. Am I to understand that as long as U.S. businesses can exploit workers in other countries like those in Haiti (earning a whopping $3 a day), sanctions imposed in protest of human rights and international law violations can be quickly dropped when sanctions interfere with U.S. profit-making?

If paying workers $3 a day is an example of U.S. humanitarianism, what distinguishes U.S. businesses from military coups and invasions? Ultimately, they are in violation of basic human rights.

LINDA J. BERARD

Diamond Bar