'Ugly evangelical Americans' — I hope Haiti has a 'hanging judge'

And, in the middle of earthquake recovery, the government finds both the means and the cojones (what's the French for that?) to throw the book at the child-stealing Idaho Baptists.

How directly the numbnuttery of Pat Robertson and his ilk on Haiti's "pact with the devil" is on this issue, and how much this is just general, "ugly evangelical American" evangelism gone awry, as with the Michigan gun scope maker, the missionaries in Afghanistan a few years ago, or whatever, I'm not sure.

But, "ugly evangelical Americanism" it is, indeed.

Would that President Barack H. Obama would find some cojones to condemn this, too.

Update, Feb. 4: It turns out Laura Silsby, the head of the Idaho Baptists, has a history of legal woes back home. A Christian missionary committing fraud? Not paying wages?

Update, Feb. 14: Hmmm... One of the Baptists' lawyers may be a suspect in an international child trafficking cartel. More to follow, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald notes the 'wingers utter hypocrisy on this case and any actual or alleged human rights violations of the Baptists as they are being detained.

Should France pay Hait reparations?

As detailed here, considering that France gouged Haiti for 150 years of "reparations" itself for having the temerity to fight for independence, then confiscate French property, I would say the answer is yes. (Haiti did demand reverse reparations under Aristide, one reason France shed no tears at his overthrow.)