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U.S. Ships, Aircraft, Personnel Converge on Disaster Zone
U.S. Department of Defense ^ | 12/30/04 | Jim Garamone

Posted on 12/31/2004 1:07:02 AM PST by advance_copy

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2004 – The U.S. Joint Task Force set up to provide assistance to the nations affected by last weekend’s Indian Ocean tsunami is up and running, and Marine assessment teams have started to report their findings.

More than 115,000 people are estimated to have died in the tsunamis that struck on Christmas. U.S. forces are in the region to help the affected nations in whatever needs to be done.

The United States will deliver “as much help as soon as we can, as long as we’re needed,” said Navy Capt. Roger Welch, chief of U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Interagency Coordination Group in Hawaii.

U.S. ships and personnel are converging on the affected areas. Nine P-3 Orions are helping with aerial reconnaissance, 10 C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft are in the area and already have started delivering supplies, and three teams - in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka - are helping local authorities with disaster assessments.

Eight pre-positioning systems are coming from Guam and Diego Garcia to deliver supplies to the hardest-hit areas. These ships contain 450,000 gallons of water and the capability of making 90,000 gallons of fresh water each day.

The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group is transiting through the Straits of Malacca now and will take up a position off the coast of Sumatra. The group will be well placed to provide support to the Indonesian province of Aceh. The Lincoln group will be there Dec. 31, said Navy officials.

The USS Bonhomme Richard Marine Strike Group left Guam and is sailing for a position off Sri Lanka. That group should arrive in a week, officials said.

The scope of the disaster is almost beyond comprehension, officials said. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia destroyed buildings in nearby Aceh and also loosed tsunamis that struck Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Malaysia, the Maldives and Somalia. The coastal areas of these nations have been wiped out, and water and aid are necessary to prevent more deaths.

Welch said getting an accurate assessment is key. “Some of these areas are remote,” Welch said during a teleconference call. “We have to go out and ‘surveille’ - that’s what the P-3s are doing, as well as some of the helicopters (off the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group).”

The U.S. effort is in support of the local authorities. These are sovereign nations, Pentagon officials said. “The United States is not there to take over the rescue or relief effort,” an official said. “We are there to provide whatever help they decide they need.”

Joint Task Force 536, formed specifically for the relief effort, is running at Utapao, Thailand.

Welch said fresh water seems to be the first need in the affected regions. “People are drinking contaminated water,” he said. The countries also need food, medical supplies, heavy equipment, trucks and building supplies. Much of this will be available from the pre-positioned ships, officials said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: humanitarianrelief; military; stingy; sumatraquake; tsunami; usn
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Secretary Rumsfeld has got the U.S. military moving on disaster relief.
1 posted on 12/31/2004 1:07:03 AM PST by advance_copy
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To: advance_copy
But but but but.... everyone else says its too little too late and that the US is stingy...

where are all the French and UN flotilla's?

2 posted on 12/31/2004 1:13:36 AM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
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To: advance_copy

What are the generous Norwegians doing?


3 posted on 12/31/2004 1:23:24 AM PST by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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To: GeronL

Bush has pulled off what could be called the ultimate finesse; Kofi was left trying to get out in front of the parade, begging Powell to let the UN into OUR "coalition."


4 posted on 12/31/2004 2:11:41 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin

I know, I find it Hilarious.


5 posted on 12/31/2004 2:12:52 AM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
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To: Howlin

The UN is meanwhile seeking $135M to do something or other, probably just to put up tents.... they'll have a meeting next week to discuss emergency relief options...


6 posted on 12/31/2004 2:13:52 AM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
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To: Howlin
I've got some problems with certain policies of the Bush administration, but I am laughing my narrow ass off at the way he is showing up the UN for the incompetent boobs they are.

"Hey Koffi, we're going to send the Navy and Marines over here to help out. You wanna come along for the ride ?"

It's just too funny.

L

7 posted on 12/31/2004 2:16:39 AM PST by Lurker ("I answer to you, 'F*** you-I shall die on my feet.!" Oriana Fallaci.)
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To: GeronL
The UN is meanwhile seeking $135M to do something or other, probably just to put up tents....

Yes, to set up headquarters!

Meanwhile, aid is backing up at all the airports because it's coming in faster than they can move it out.

By the time Kofi pours tea next week, this thing will have been rocking for days.

It's going to be like this:

"I remember when I was volunteering at Sanglah Hospital (after the bomb). We had a meeting with the PMI and the Australian Red Cross and Red Cross Geneva. They were talking about medical equipment and supplies, blood banks. But I didn't understand. We were over it already. It was 10 days after the bomb.

Red Cross has lost its way in Bali: aid worker (Where is your money going this time?)

8 posted on 12/31/2004 2:17:53 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Lurker

I have to say I had a HUGE smile on my face during this press conference today:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1311019/posts

Kofi and Yawn had that "deer in the headlights" look on their faces.

One of the best parts was that one of the very first questions from a woman reporter was something like "Do you think that you should have been spending your time skiing at Jackson Hole while President Bush took the lead in this disaster?"

It was SWELL.

BTW, ALL of us have "some" problems with things Bush does.

This ain't one of them.


9 posted on 12/31/2004 2:20:26 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin
It may have been hit by a tsunami but for a dictator like Mugabe its a vacation spot.
10 posted on 12/31/2004 2:20:58 AM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
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To: GeronL

BTW, this was yet another swell thread today:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1311032/posts

Bush 'Undermining UN with Aid Coalition'


11 posted on 12/31/2004 2:23:06 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin

Thanks for posting that link. I missed that one.


12 posted on 12/31/2004 2:24:40 AM PST by Jet Jaguar (65,535)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Suffice it to say, they are having one big hissy fit!


13 posted on 12/31/2004 2:25:18 AM PST by Howlin
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To: 1stMarylandRegiment; 1Mike; 3catsanadog; ~Vor~; ~Kim4VRWC's~; A CA Guy; A Citizen Reporter; ...
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2004 – The U.S. Joint Task Force set up to provide assistance to the nations affected by last weekend’s Indian Ocean tsunami is up and running, and Marine assessment teams have started to report their findings.
14 posted on 12/31/2004 2:28:11 AM PST by Howlin
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To: GeronL

Well, the French aircraft carrier is arriving by train asap.


15 posted on 12/31/2004 2:31:04 AM PST by hershey
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To: Howlin
Well, good morning! Are you up early or late?

By the time the UN has its meeting next week, our military will have saved a lot of lives, proving again how useless the UN is.

16 posted on 12/31/2004 2:31:44 AM PST by Miss Marple
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To: hershey

lol


17 posted on 12/31/2004 2:33:59 AM PST by GeronL (I am NOT the real bin Laden)
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To: Miss Marple

Up and down......going to try to go back to sleep any minute. Don't get me stimulated.


18 posted on 12/31/2004 2:35:51 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin

Isn't that the truth. Bush waded in and did what was necessary without fanfare and Kofi was left with egg on his face. Everybody saw through that frantically put together photo op with Powell-- who should have slammed the door in his face.


19 posted on 12/31/2004 2:37:10 AM PST by hershey
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To: Howlin

OK. You are right, though. This has been an excellent finesse by Bush.


20 posted on 12/31/2004 2:37:29 AM PST by Miss Marple
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