U.S. forces scale back aid [USS LINCOLN Sails off]

AP ^ | 1-12-05 | DENIS D. GRAY

[OXENinFLA]

ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AP) — The aircraft carrier leading the U.S. military’s tsunami relief effort steamed out of Indonesian waters Wednesday because the country declined to let the ship’s fighter pilots use its airspace for training missions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Marines have scaled back their planned contribution to the aid operation after compromising with the Indonesian military and agreeing not to carry weapons or set up a base camp on Indonesian soil.

[CDHart]

I knew when this whole thing started that these countries will spit in our face while taking our money, food, etc. It was a mistake to send anything, IMO.

Carolyn

[SledgeCS]

Indonesia wants the United States to lift a long-standing ban on weapon sales to its military, arguing that it could respond more effectively to disasters like last month’s deadly tsunami if its forces were better equipped.

How do a military respond better to a disaster being better armed? It says better equipped but they want the arms ban lifted. I do not believe that having more arms would help a bit, as just how much relief supplies can tank or an APC carry? If they wants better equipment such as trucks and choppers they can get those just about anywhere.

[OXENinFLA]

I do not believe that having more arms would help a bit,

Ask yourself the same question but with gunfire cracking in the background.

Then ask yourself how long would they have to stand there unarmed before support arrives.

[OXENinFLA]

"Reports indicate that several incidents have occurred during which the separatist group attacked and disrupted the supply lines of the humanitarian aid in remote areas in Aceh," the embassy said in a statement.

[logic]

Do you suppose they would even offer?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Come And Take It]

Ping!

[firewalk]

IMO, our troops should not be there.

[ryan71]

"If we had had an earthquake in Alaska, do you suppose the U.S. govt would allow the PRC military to land and give us aid?"

You know, we are lucky to be able to help ourselves.

But, hell yes, if we were helpless like Indonesia I would like to think we would care enough about our own people to allow anybody with the means, to help.

Again, a sick government makes it's people suffer!