This is unconscionable !!
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“The president was writing checks to the Georgians without knowing what he had in the bank,” said a senior administration official.
“The president got out in front of the planning when he talked publicly about using naval forces,” said a second senior administration official. “
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What the h*ll????
Let’s hope Robert Gates isn’t one of these “senior administration officials.”
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright, FRIDAY, August 14, 2008.......PRESSER discussing hostpital ships.
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4275
Q Could I — the size and scope of the operation going forward — can you give a feel for some of the naval vessels, assets that may be in involved in such a very visible manifestation of U.S. policy?
GEN. CARTWRIGHT: Right now, again, we’re waiting for the assessment team. But we have certainly postured the two hospital ships, Comfort and Mercy, to be potential — to go in there and be — for a couple reasons: one, if they need medical-type support, that’s obviously good, but they also produce large quantities of fresh water, things like that. And so they would be two potential assets.
But we are posturing several capabilities — field hospitals also, which would be delivered by air, which would be further out into the areas where — say, inland, where you might need some medical care and humanitarian assistance.
Beyond that, from the shipping standpoint, we’re looking at what we have in our maritime pre-positioning, because those also carry things like humanitarian assistance, water and needs like that, and engineering support. All of those are just prepared; they won’t move until we get something from the assessment team.
Q What about airdropping pallets, like they did in the early — mid-90s, into the areas in Serbia or Bosnia? Is there a problem –
GEN. CARTWRIGHT: It’s certainly a capability that we have. It is less likely that we would use that in this situation, because there are several airports. But if the assessment team finds that there’s no mobility, then that’s what we generally end up with.
But this is an area that’s at least reasonably built up in its transportation system, with airports and roads. So it is less likely we do that. And that’s harder, because there’s damage to the equipment when it goes in — the food supplies, whatnot. Delivering it is more precise —
More like Who the Hell! I would love to hear the leakers got caught and fired!