Haiti is sliding deeper into collapse, and Washington's push for a quick vote could hand the country's gangs a permanent seat at the table.

• A gang coalition led by warlord "Barbecue" controls 90% of the capital and is raiding new towns, running them like criminal franchises with their own taxes.
• The Haitian state cannot fight back — its army barely exists, and a UN-backed force has sent fewer than 1,100 of the promised 5,500 personnel.
• The US is pressing hard for elections on December 13, even though millions of Haitians live in areas the government cannot reach.
• That leaves three ugly options: a bloody offensive, amnesty that puts gangsters in government, or millions of people denied a vote.
• Haitians want elections but reject amnesty — over 80% refuse the idea of gang leaders holding office.

Outlook: The December vote will most likely be cancelled, and Washington may settle for a strongman in Port-au-Prince instead.