FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN KERMAN, IRAN

CENTCOM ^ | Dec. 28, 2003

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

December 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-70


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN KERMAN, IRAN

COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, QATAR: Just after midnight local time, the first American aircraft landed in Kerman, Iran, with 20 pallets of humanitarian aid destined for the earthquake-stricken residents of Bam.

Five pallets laden with such medical supplies as intravenous fluids, bandages, gauze, and surgical equipment, plus food and purified water comprised the first load of American relief support.

American airmen and Iranian soldiers worked side-by-side forming a human chain to unload the 20,000 pounds of badly needed material into waiting trucks. The supplies were then trucked into Bam a little more than 100 miles away.

In addition to the humanitarian aid, the Peoria, Ill. Air National Guard C-130 carried aerial port operations and support agency experts to assess the operational and equipment needs for follow-on aircraft. The assessments are vital because the Air Force is loading C-5 and C-17 aircraft for follow-on relief flights.

The humanitarian mission was the first American flight into Iran since the Iranian hostage crisis ended in January 1981.

Photos of the mission are available on the U.S. Central Command website at www.centcom.mil. The photos are located in the "Galleries" tab at the top of the homepage.

[dighton]

Aircraft mentioned are C-130 (this flight), C-5, and C-17.

[McGavin999]

Picture of Americans and Iranian soldiers offloading the first shipment of humanitarian aid to Iran.

There is another story on the Centcom site that says the Iranian soldiers were very nice and the Iranian commander thanked us profusely.

[mikegi]

A good thing. Show that America is either your best friend or worst enemy.

[BushCountry]

Is that a military chick with a shaved head? Looks to be an LT.?

[mvpel]

I wonder what some of these soldiers thought of the women participating in this effort.

[McGavin999]

Interesting question. Although I understand that the Iranian military is on the side of the people and that the Mullahs have had to bring in foreign thugs to protect the regime.

Under the circumstances, I think they understand that the help we are sending is for the people who are suffering a terrible tragedy. That is a city of some 200,000 people and over 60% of it is decimated. I don't think we even know how many people have been killed by the quake and there is a horrendous number of people who have been injured.

[cynicom]

Wait for the dems to condemn the US for being tardy.

[Blue Jays]

Good Afternoon All-

Pan_Yans Wife...thanks for the inspirational thread from FreeRepublic. I'm sure if we continue to plug-away at these Islamic countries...some of them (most likely college-age students) will realize the United States isn't so bad after all.

Listening to what occurs over there sometimes puts me into a "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!" type of mentality.

Happy New Year & God Bless Our Troops!

~ Blue Jays ~

[wardaddy]

excellent rugs..

[nuconvert]

Members of the Fairfax County (Va.) Urban Search and Rescue Team depart from Dover Air Force Base, Del., Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003, en route to Europe and then on to Iran.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thank you for your kind response.

America's compassion is winning hearts and minds in the Middle East... and we have President Bush's leadership to thank for that.

Many thanks to Ragtime Cowgirl for her tireless efforts of sharing the GOOD NEWS.

May God bring aid and comfort to the people of Bam.

Happy New Year to all.

[VOA]

I'd like to think we're helping innocent victims, but maybe I'm just a pessimist right now...

After the last couple of decades, we should be cautious.

But a fair percentage of Iranians have Internet connections (I don't know
about how filtered it is) and satellite TV...
and they'll see that while their government can get them a nuclear reactor
that may just spell lots of trouble, the Great Satan is the one that can help
them even when their own government is powerless.

The Iranian government has a strategy and so do we.
We may not know for years, decades which one will prevail.

[Blue Jays]

BushCountry-

No, that is a male. Visit the centcom website hyperlinked in Post# 19 for larger, clearer pictures.

~ Blue Jays ~

[americanbychoice]

yes, we are sending the majority of their food supply

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Here's to our troops whether they are liberating the Iraqi's from a ruthless dictator or delivering necessary goods to the victims of an earthquake in Iran.

[BushCountry]

I did a little too late. };O)

Then realized I stuck my foot in my mouth and didn't want to compound it. However, that being said, the small pic fooled me. I thought maybe that it was a new trend over there or something. Whew!

[CatOwner]

"Here's to our troops whether they are liberating the Iraqi's from a ruthless dictator or delivering necessary goods to the victims of an earthquake in Iran."

I guess TIME Magazine did get it right after all (US Soldier as Person of the Year for 2003).