Posted on 08/25/2008 9:25:59 AM PDT by topher
USS McFaul Brings Aid to Batumi, Georgia
Story Number: NNS080824-07
Release Date: 8/24/2008 1:00:00 PM
By Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (CNE-C6F) Public Affairs
BATUMI, Republic of Georgia (NNS) -- USS McFaul (DDG 74) pulled into the port of Batumi, Georgia, Aug. 24 to deliver humanitarian relief supplies to the country as part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance.
This represents the first U.S. Navy ship to arrive and deliver humanitarian assistance to Georgia.
"Our job was to get the supplies to Georgia as quickly as possible," said Capt. John Moore, commodore of Combined Task Force 367. "The entire crew of this ship realizes the significance of their efforts in helping to provide comfort to the people of Georgia."
McFaul delivered 82 pallets with about 155,000 pounds of supplies donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including hygiene items, baby food and care supplies, bottled water, and milk. Ships can carry much more cargo per mission than aircraft, which have a capacity of three to 12 pallets per sortie.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) and USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) have also on-loaded humanitarian supplies destined for Georgia. Dallas left Souda Bay, Crete on Thursday with more than 76,000 pounds of relief supplies and will arrive in Georgia within a week. U.S. Navy C-9, C-40 and C-130 aircraft have flown tens of thousands of hygiene kits into the country over the past week.
McFaul, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, is home ported in Norfolk, Va., and is on a regularly scheduled deployment in the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility.
They sent a friggen destroyer to deliver humanitarian aid? LOL, THAT should send a message to the Rooskies.
Georgia just got a trip-wire with serious protection.
Interesting, yes?
Apparently. there are (at least) Canadian and Polish (yes!) naval vessels involved as well.
Another massive embarrassment for western Europe and NATO. This is happening in their backyard and all can do is sit around bloviating and blaming Georgia for being raped by Russia. Meanwhile, the US is already delivering humanitarian aid and sending ships into the blacksea.
It’s interesting how MANY Freepers...generally a crowd much better informed than the average bear, finds it at ALL surprising that the US would use a military vessel to deliver aid. And so MANY of you act like we’re never done this before. I didn’t think the tsunami that hit Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand was that long ago. Oh, WAIT...it WASN’T!
The russian black sea fleet isn’t going to want to get anywhere near a Burke Class destroyer.
Any source for that? It is typical and disgusting the media hasn’t covered this.
It was like sending an M1-A2 Abrams tank to deliver a birthday card. We just had a Cuba blockade moment and no one knew it. The Russians apparently decided not to toe the line.
Great to hear.
I thought EUrope had already progressed (along with Democrats here) into full blame Bush mode?
Actually, I was thinking more in terms of the Anti-Air Warfare capabilities of the class. Particularly if they're carrying the RIM-162 ESSM 4-paks. Medium range, but still...
There is a discussion of the ships supposedly involved at
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/08/us-warships-run.html
Apparently they were there for a previously planned exercise, but were “conveniently” in position for this.
Reuters has a picture of the USS McFaul, trailed by the Polish Navy vessel ORP Gen. Pulaski, on the way to Batumi.
Isn’t it time for some European politician to mock our efforts while doing nothing themselves?
We used a carrier, among other vessels, in the tsunami relief. US warships are faster and often near the scene of incidents, rather than cargo ships. There's nothing unusual about this.
You'd think there was by some of the weird responses, wouldn't you? Some of them may not be American, which would account for a few...
Here are some pictures.
You can run the German through Google Translator.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.