| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| U.S. Navy helping countries hit by tidal wave |
| 2004-12-28 |
| The U-S Navy says all of its ships and other assets survived south Asia's killer tsunami with no significant damage. The closest U-S base to the affected area is on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. The base emerged unscathed. And now, the lede A Navy official says three P-3 Orion aircraft have been deployed to Thailand. The aircraft are geared for survey work. A spokesman says they don't engage directly in search and rescue operations, but they are an invaluable resource for such missions. Their crews can spot people stranded in the tidal wave area and can even drop life rafts to them. Navy officials say cargo flights may be initiated later -- to bring in food, water and other supplies. Officials say the State Department is now mulling the possibility of using military transport planes to bring American tourists back home, but no decision has been made yet. |
| Posted by: trailing wife |
| #9 Lol, WW - well put! Apparently Egeland is on his knees fellating everyone who'll have anything to do with him, at the moment. Seems Powell, early today, rather ripped (for Diplo-Speak, anyway) Egeland and, by extension, others in the UN "aid" agencies. I use scare quotes because it's not the UN's money - they get to play Santa and Savior with Other People's Money. A real boon to institutional fuckwits like Egeland who's probably never actually had a real job. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-12-28 3:06:11 PM |
| #8 Stingy Suppose the GPS system the rescuers will undoubtedly use is stingy. Suppose the non-governmental aid in the form of donations of the American Public is stingy or not even calculated in their bean counter numbers. Suppose the lift capability in air and sea capability redirected from military assets will be stingy. Suppose the satellite and air reccon photo support that is going to be employed from the US is stingy. Etc, etc, etc. Maybe its time for our illustrious Congress to pass a resolution telling the UN dandies to Eat S**t and Die. |
| Posted by: Whaing Wherong1888 2004-12-28 3:00:06 PM |
#7 U.N. official slams U.S. as 'stingy' over aidBut U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland suggested that the United States and other Western nations were being "stingy" with relief funds, saying there would be more available if taxes were raised. Wow, this asshole sure has a lot of nerve. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-28 1:47:50 PM |
| #6 DB - The earthquake / tsunami is a natural disaster and the UN is an unnatural disaster? Just musing aloud... ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-12-28 1:08:11 PM |
| #5 Well, maybe if the UN could get a hold of some of that Oil for Food money from Kojo.... I don't know what's more unbelievable, the damage that this tsunami/quake caused, or that idiot's unbelievable gall. |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-12-28 1:06:18 PM |
| #4 The seething has already started. Link below. U.N. official slams U.S. as 'stingy' over aid |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2004-12-28 10:36:36 AM |
| #3 Heck, those Orions would have been flying anyway, right? So it doesn't even count. As for the US nationals, yes, get them out the fastest way possible. The tsunami area is going to be Not Good for Americans when the seething gets going... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-12-28 10:04:32 AM |
| #2 they don’t engage directly in search and rescue operations, but they are an invaluable resource for such missions. Their crews can spot people stranded in the tidal wave area and can even drop life rafts to them Jeebus. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-28 9:53:43 AM |
| #1 As far as the UN and the world is concerned this doesn't count as help even if the operating cost runs up into the millions. Help only counts when it is in dollars and is somewhat untrackable between donor country and swiss bank account. |
| Posted by: RJSchwarz 2004-12-28 9:41:01 AM |