The streets of Haiti’s capital stink from all the uncollected corpses. When the stench becomes bad enough, residents sometimes come out to burn the corpses, despite the risk of being killed in the process.

So many people have been killed that the three million residents of Port-au-Prince are afraid to venture outside. It’s the result of a war by gangs to take control of the country as its corrupt and dysfunctional government has collapsed.

Once, Haiti had a functioning government. But it was run by the military, and U.S. president Bill Clinton sent troops to remove it and restore “democracy,” meaning rule by a violent left-wing demagogue, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Earlier, Aristide had incited mobs to kill his enemies through “necklacing” after being elected president by misguided Haitian voters. His violent and erratic behavior led to his overthrow by the military.

Ever since the military government of Raul Cedras was removed by Clinton, Haiti has gotten steadily more chaotic and violent, despite billions in foreign aid.