Posted on 01/14/2010 11:52:55 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
Watching the ongoing relief efforst on TV, it is frustrating to know that people deserately need the basics and will probably not get them for days. The officials are offloading everything at the airport andit is stacking up. I am no expert, but IMO we need to be doing a 2 pronged approach to this disaster, and airstyle-type drop of World War II combined with the precise relief we are seeing set up on television. But why they are not doing the airdrops is beyond me. The peeople need the basics such as water and crackers and these could beeasily airdropped.
If anyone of any importance is reading this, please consider airdrops! People will not make it to surgery if they do not get the water they need.
Because you’re not there. Our guys know how to do this. Haiti is not unfamliar territory for our military.
I am not there but that doesn’t mean I cannot have an informed opinion.
We do not yet have the airport up for night flights. (Why could’nt this have been donw on Day 1?)
Having only one gateway for supplies for alomost 3 million people is not workable.....but hey, you might know better.
I hated it when the folks complained about Katrina. I hated it when folks complained about our snow storm last year in Seattle. When a disaster hits - the government (or the power company, or the hardware store, or the grocery store) WILL NOT be able to deal with it quick enough. It is just too much too handle. Add in the REALLY corrupt governments of many of these third world countries and it is even worse.
Even in a place like Haiti, if the folks were educated on the hazards of earthquakes, they at least could have had some stores of water in each home. Obviously a lot of it would be under rubble now, but a lot would still be available. And perhaps enough to share with a neighbor for a few days. A small thing - but a necessity. Personaly, I have donated to World Vision that already has local networks in place to help the victims, with less of my donation going to corrupt officials.
They just had a huge earthquake. Of course these facilities are down right now. The US doesn't own the airport. Even here, the airport would be down a few days while it is inspected to make sure relief flights are possible. If you are counting on military relief, lights aren't required. Most likely, the field needs to be inspected and recertified. Helicopters can overcome the transport system being down in the short run. The Navy needs an amphib for over the beach delivery. These things take time, many more will die before the tide is turned. Dropping 1# bombs from altitude with speed solves nothing. You need to relax.
“Having only one gateway for supplies for alomost 3 million people is not workable.....but hey, you might know better.”
It looks to me on google earth that there are three “major” roads in and out of Port au Prince. They were saying these roads are single -lane in many places and on a good day is still an 8 hour trip to a city in Dom. Rep. They estimated it was a 12 to 16 hour trip now. I’ve also heard that at least one of those roads was impassable even on a motorcyle. (One major bridge out will do that).
The port facilities are damaged (probably the loading cranes were knocked over?). Power out at the airport. I imagine once our military gets there that will be the first priority to get full-time power at the airport.
It was really disheartening to see all of the planes in the air circling, and all of the folks in U.S. airports mobing to leave, and then have the FAA cancel all flights to PauP for the rest of the day. No room at the airport to park, no fuel at the airport, and probably still no tower communications. (Early planes just had the pilots talking to each other to let each other know where they were and taking turns landing. Might still be that way?)
Because time takes time. Our guys are there today getting the airport ready for 24/7 operations this evening, if it’s not done already. It hasn’t been 48 hours yet since the quake.
By dropping 1# bombs you do mean 1 lb. water bottles, right?
Which would likely shatter on impact. Unless you fly real low, and the last thing these poor people need right now is chopper winds continously above their heads.
I know our guys are doing all they can.
I am merely arguing that the basics should be dropped concurrently, as the temperatures are in the 90’s every day. People can only survive that for so long.
I do not believe we have the sense of urgency we need.
You sound like a nice fellow/s
Hope you never need any help.
Helos will be welcomed when they get in range, they will slingload the supplies, not drop them. That was a reference to FW airdrops. The problem I think will be getting the nets back if they try and drop without security.
Again Haiti is NOT a possession of the US. Let the US haters take care of it if they are so fricki’n concerned.
Training undergone for slingloads:
Western “journalists” are in safe havens, not the countryside; hence, airdrops would not make a good photo op for Zero the Hero.
You would be the guy that needs to be on the ground to make sure that Combat Cargo got their nets back.
It is sad that there is all this death and destruction, but as others have pointed out, the US military is familiar with Haiti especially with disaster relief. But they still have to get there. It takes time. This op is going about as good as it could. There will be many more dead before it gets better however.
:) Yep.
So many are asking the same questions you are asking.
Here’s the re-cap from Shep’s show.
We heard one guy talking about their non-existent building codes, putting everyone at risk who enters these building, that were completely UNSAFE to begin with, and this guy just gets roasted by the PC, cultural diversity first crowd.
One person on the radio today even suggested they had every right to riot and get violent...
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