The politics of disaster

Where some see disaster, others see opportunity.

"This is an opportunity in a lifetime to radically change the educational system in Haiti," said Marcelo Cabrol, head of the Inter-American Development Bank's education division. "We want to be aggressive."

And who would you guess the IADB has called on to lead the "aggressive" takeover of Haiti's shattered schools? None other than Paul Vallas and Wendy Kopp (Teach For America) of course. After all, if Katrina was "the best thing that ever happened to New Orleans schools" what could be wrong with taking advantage of "an opportunity of a lifetime?"