U.S. Aircraft Carrier Leaves Tsunami Zone

New York Times ^ | February 3, 2005 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[68skylark]

050203-N-6020P-181 Indian Ocean (Feb. 3, 2005) - The Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) navigates alongside USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) after arriving on station near Banda Aceh, Sumamtra, Indonesia. Mercy has been forward deployed to assist in humanitarian aid efforts currently in progress. Mercy will serve as an enabling platform to assist humanitarian operations ashore in ways that host nations and international relief organization find useful. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia in support of Operation Unified Assistance the humanitarian relief effort to aid the victims of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Gabriel R. Piper (RELEASED)

[grobdriver]

after a mission that helped repair America's bruised image in the world's most heavily populated Muslim nation

Such putzes.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Glad they're out of there.

[68skylark]

The Navy posts a lot of photos from the Tsunami relief operation. I hope they'll keep doing this -- it's a great way to get a sense for what's happening. (It's a lot better than relying on our decrepit MSM!)

http://www.navy.mil/view_gallery.asp?category_id=60

[sgtbono2002]

Is there anyone in this country stupid enopugh to believe this mercy mission repaired any bruised image these people have against us. This mission makes Americans feel good for having done what was right, as for helping our image with the muslims in Indo-nesia it was a great waste of time and money.

[Pondman88]

good riddance to the poor Muslims.

The Euroweenie tourists will return to exploit the children.

[68skylark]

Glad they're out of there.

Oh yeah, it really bugs me that we've been helping people, including little kids, who have suffered great harm (end sarcasm).

050106-N-4166B-488 Lamno, Sumatra, Indonesia (Jan. 6, 2005) - A lone hand salute is rendered by an Indonesian child as a U.S. Navy helicopter lifts off after delivering food and water in Lamno, Sumatra, Indonesia. Helicopters assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) and Sailors from Abraham Lincoln are supporting Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian operation effort in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jordon R. Beesley (RELEASED)

050119-N-9951E-067 Alue Bilie, Sumatra, Indonesia (Jan. 19, 2005) - Young girls salute in their best form for a photo taken at one of the camps located in the town of Alue Bilie, Aceh, for civilians displaced by the Dec. 26 tsunami. Teams from the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO), currently aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), are conducting surveys in the region of Aceh, Sumatra to determine the needs of the victims of the tsunami that struck South East Asia. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Indonesia and Thailand in support of Operation Unified Assistance. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Elizabeth A. Edwards (RELEASED)

[Conspiracy Guy]

The ban on the US fighter pilots practicing is why I'm glad. I don't blame the people. I blame their government.

[68skylark]

I don't blame the people. I blame their government.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I also blame the government for lots of things (corruption, a badly run economy, etc). But I don't blame the people, exactly -- I certainly don't blame little kids.

[Chemist_Geek]

But those little kids are moo-slime, therefore they're eeevil! We should have bombed them! Don't you get it? (/mocking_bigots)

[68skylark]

LOL!

Seriously, I've never been one of those "nuke 'em into glass" freepers, and I'm trying to cut down on my Muslim-bashing this year. I don't know the religion of the kids in the photos and I don't care -- I'm just glad we were able to help them out a little.

[Chemist_Geek]

I'm just glad we were able to help them out a little.

I agree completely. The Marines have a saying - "No better friend, no worse enemy." I'm glad they are making that true, in Indonesia and Iraq.

[Conspiracy Guy]

At least here we can vote (except the little kids) so we can be to blame when we elect the wrong guy or don't vote and let others elect the wrong guy etc... There, I don't think the people have a choice.

[68skylark]

At least here we can vote...

I agree totally -- it's a precious and powerful right we have.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Thanks for posting the link. Very nice.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I still can't believe how many Americans, don't vote. I have to vote just for complaining rights if nothing else.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Well done to the great men and women of the USNS Mercy and the USS Abraham Lincoln !

Long Live the USA !

Hidup Indonesia !

[OldFriend]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED......

Once again!!!

[peacebaby]

Thanks for posting the navy military website. I've spent the past 10 minutes looking through it. My husband was stationed with the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia, and it still brings tears to my eyes to see the men standing watch on deck in their uniforms. It was also interesting to see the inside of the ships after all these years.

[68skylark]

Well done to the great men and women of the USNS Mercy and the USS Abraham Lincoln!

I don't know if this article was clear. The Mercy just arrived some time yesterday, I think. They might be at the start of a long deployment.