[backhoe]

Master source of links here, updated frequently:

The Great Wave- Sumatra Quake and tsunami of 2004

Despite all this, a happy new year to you and your family. Like the "prospect of being hung concentrating the mind wonderfully," this catyclism certainly makes you appreciate being safe, warm, and dry.

[csvset]

While our troops are engaged in humanitarian relief efforts, I do hope they remain vigilant against attacks by Islamic wackos.

[shubi]

"India, where more than 10,000 died, has continued to refuse international help, saying it can cope on its own. "

Yep, 10,000 people dead is nothing in a population like India has. I think this is understated, though. They probably had many more, but don't want international agencies to up the count. They probably don't trust the UN any more than I do. The UN has been exaggerating things trying to get more money for its corrupt people.

[kingu]

While the press is covering the movements of the aircraft carrier, one of the untold stories are the AOR ships which are part of the carrier support group. They are fanning out to the more remote regions where their two helicopters and three launches head in all directions to deliver what supplies they can before returning to the ship and as a friend described it, 'puttin' up the rooster tail,' to head to another group of islands.

The sad part is that while the water purifiers and MREs are welcome, the first request is always for body bags.

Air Force cargo planes are doing drops where islands used to be in the vague hope that there will be someone there who can use the flotation devices and relief food packs, though no one is holding their breath.

Reporters at the Pentagon are really missing the boat on this story, and I'm sorry to see that they're more concerned about the amount of relief money (which won't buy anything for starving folks right now, only later in the future) and the real relief efforts under way right now.

As for threats to the US Navy ships, there are few boats still in condition for ocean travel, but all ships are apparently on hostile threat conditions with close defense systems on 'live key' - the systems are warmed up, key engaged and can be activated in seconds from the 24 hour manned CIC. The carrier itself is staying 20 minutes (helicopter time) off the coast and is constantly defended by both air cap and Aegis cruisers.

Hats off to our service people who are actually doing stuff rather than the UN which is contemplating how much they can skim off of relief efforts and will perhaps do something someday. I, as always, urge folks who want to help out to make open ended donations to the Red Cross - don't mark it just for tsunami relief. They'll know how to spend the money and we really don't need their hands tied with huge accounts that are specific for one disaster. Initial funds for tsunami relief came out of the general disaster funds and can't be repaid by donations to tsunami relief. Help the Red Cross because you'll never know when you'll need them yourself.

[shubi]

"But the aid effort in the Maldives is being hampered by the airport in Male being only operational during the day and the lack of transport available to reach its far-flung islands."

47 islands are gone.

It liked to isolate foreigners on certain islands so they would not "corrupt" the Islamic residents. Now they are paying for that policy.

We should not support such racism.

[joesnuffy]

Giving millions of dollars or dumping food, medicine, and equipment off into the waiting arms of corrupt officials and those who are our enemies...then leaving and patting yourself on the back isn't going to do anything but more harm to innocents...

Bill Clintons very public relief efforts in places like Somalia where tax payer dollars went to subsidize Islamic terrorists and eventually led to the killing of our troops through strengthening of our enemies political power.."Blawk Hawk Down"

Jimmy Carter had North Korea on the ropes their army was starving as were their people...Carter dipped into the wallets of American taxpayers without asking...and gave away food and money without accountability to the N Korean communists who fed their army and spent the US tax dollars on nuclear weapon production...

If we control the process then giving relief is a good thing...we should never throw money at anything without accountability..including and especially our own leaders..

imo

[Bon mots]

US Helicopters are landing in Indonesia.
C-130s have been doing so in Thailand since BEFORE KOFI ANNAN RETURNED FROM HIS VACATION.

Where is the press on the story of Kofi Annan being too busy at the tony ski resorts of Jackson Hole Wyoming to put down his martini and get to work? After all, this is HIS JOB, NOT PRESIDENT BUSH's!

Yet the New York Times published a scathing article attacking President Bush, who has actually done something, as opposed to Kofi Annan who sheepishly said he was 'working'. Then he boldly proclaimed that he had planned a meeting for next week.

The gross incompetence and dereliction of duty - demonstrated AGAIN and AGAIN - by Kofi Annan is astounding. Almost as astounding as the silence, or worse, the accolades showered upon this incompetent corrupt wannabe despot who repeatedly proves incapable of handling any of the various crises which have confronted the world since he was Secretary General.

[pageonetoo]

All of this is surreal to me, numbing to my senses, but all too real for those in need. Donating to Salvation Army, et al, is a worthy thing to do, but our people working there on the scene, are the ones displaying the American soul.

I can picture the sailors/soldiers/airmen/marines working until they drop... and being unsung heroes! I can see our equipment tested and abused, to help the injured and maimed, the broken and hungry... and passing muster with a little help, and huge gulps of fuel... I can feel the people across the world lifting prayers...and being heard!

Semper fi, from a Navy guy! Support the needs...

[shubi]

http://www.etherzone.com/2004/sent122904.shtml

Many rational people agree with me. See above.

[Prospero]

Some might appreciate the perspective of what might be, in the end, an unspeakable miracle...

The Miracle of Banda Aceh

And the FreeRepublic post

"We certainly didn't cause this tragedy, but we'd be fools not to take advantage of the strategic miracle God has handed to us."

[CaptainAwesome2]

Its amazing that we have all this stuff that we are giving away with my tax money while I am holding off on buying a big flat screen television for myself. They should give me some of that aid stuff so I can sell it and buy myself a television.

How much money is the terrorist world donating to help its fellow terrorists? I dont see Saudi Arabias contributions mentioned on television.

[patriot_wes]

Does anyone have a link to a good map of the area hit by the tsunami? thanks

[dennisw]

Where oh where is the Ch. DeGaulle, that one screw French aircraft carrier? Undoubtedly in dry dock.

[CyberAnt]

"the difficulty in co-ordinating relief efforts has meant that aid workers are facing major problems"

Our inept UN in action.

[Ciexyz]

The American forces are making us proud in their relief efforts.

[VOA]

"Six days on and still they wait for help - A dozen U.S. ships with 40 helicopters"

Nice turn of headline writing...make it sounds like the US is sitting on their hands.
But look at the article and I don't find any Russian, Chinese, French, German
helicopters or warships going at full speed to the area...


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1312134/posts

URL above is just a shameless plug for the truth antidote to the "stingy" comments...

[reg45]

A dozen U.S. ships with 40 helicopters

This is in addition to the $350M in direct aid. How much does it cost to maintain a CBG offshore and fly those helicopters? That is indirect aid.

[VOYAGER]

The ships include the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is anchored off the coast of Sumatra and is using helicopter food drops reach people in Aceh, the Indonesian province worst hit by the wave.

Where's the freekin' French navy, the honkin' German navy, the cheeky Chinese navy, the bloody British navy, the blowhard Putin navy and all their attending support blabbermouths of no-shows with their loud mouthed criticism of the U.S.'s slow response to the urgent need of these starving, dying and dead Asians while that weasel Annan and his butt buddies of the U.N. are feeling their pain?

This will be the U.N.'s finest hour since the rip off of Iraq with the security council's oil for food program fiasco.