The US turned the OVERWORKED,AMAZINGLY HEROIC crew and the entire group of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN around the instant it happened. Most don't know the ABE was forced to stay 8 months near Iraq (it was on the end of a 3 month tour, ready to go home), providing air support 24-7, during one of the worst duststorms in the Middle East. All other ship were forced to flee the storm. No other air or ground forces could help much. Visibility was down to something like 6 feet.
The LINCOLN was at FULL SPEED running ahead of the storm, requiring it's pilot's to chase down the ship, landing in low visibility, on a tossing ship, with the runway not oriented for landing. Every foray out, the ship got farther and farther away. The Captain was worried that the storm would overtake them. If it did, the pilots would be forced to ditch, and the ship couldn't go back for them in time, and finding them would have been a miracle, if it could.
This is why BUSH landed on the carrier. Anyone who thinks that landing a jet on an AC, in best conditions, with the AC oriented, and sitting completely still, is easy, has never landed one.
You hit the deck, hoping you snag the cable. Before you even know if you did, you must hit full throttle on the engine(s), in case you miss. When the cable snags, you are jerked to a stop with neck wrenching speed. President Bush showed respect for the crew of the Lincoln, by showing he understood exactly what they go through. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED was for the 8 months, SOLO, on a 3 month tour, supporting the removal of Saddam from Baghdad, while all other coalition forces were grounded.
TOO BAD the US public wasn't given this information by the media. SUPPORT OUR HEROES. There have been only one or two other cases in history where a US Carrier and group supported war operations SOLO, past schedule, due to external forces.
Now, the ABE LINCOLN has been asked to do it AGAIN. Turning back from a cruise home to speeding to the worst hit areas, the center of upswelling AQ terrorism (ACEH), using every person and craft available to aid the victims. Risking their own lives in a cholera infected cesspool of filthy stagnant water, filled with Blackening, bloated human corpses. All modes of transportation must be flown in, and dropped off. All is being done as quick as possible.
The cost of turning the LINCOLN around and providing this support? This cost is not even covered in the pledged and already contributed amounts by the UNITED STATES.
P.S. Add to that the US MARINE CORPS being the ones doing the groundwork, wading though those cesspools of bodies, burying or burning stinking, rotting corpes, giving off a smell almost unbearable.
Hear hear!
A well said reply! Nice job.
As you stated, I am sure the cost of the carrier battle groups is NOT included in any amount of aid given by the USA. Free help.
It needed to be said. And God knows the MSM would prefer to skip the whole thing...