General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAfrica Ebola Cuba has sent over 500 medical the US sent troops.
On Thursday, 165 health professionals from the country arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to join the fight against Ebola the largest medical team of any single foreign nation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). And after being trained to deal with Ebola, a further 296 Cuban doctors and nurses will go to Liberia and Guinea, the other two countries worst hit by the crisis.
Cuba is, by any measure, not a wealthy country. It had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of slightly more than $68 billion in 2011, according to the World
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/04/in-the-medical-response-to-ebola-cuba-
is-punching-far-above-its-weight/
valerief
(53,235 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)The U.S. is building hospitals and other facilities.
<snip>
■Multiple headquarters elements and units from the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Carson, Colorado.
■An element from the 1st Armored Division Aviation Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas.
■An element from the 1st Medical Brigade of Fort Hood.
■A small element from the 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, also of Fort Hood.
The U.S. military mission will include building 17 100-bed hospital facilities and a health care facility for infected physicians and health care workers.
<snip>
http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140930/NEWS08/309300063/U-S-troops-head-Africa-Ebola-mission
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)The troops being sent are the ones that are experts in engineering, building and logistics. We aren't sending in the infantry for goodness sake. The military is more then just a war machine.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Both are needed yes, yet the US won't have a communication with the Cubans to coordinate resources for WORLD SAFETY.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)It should have stopped decades ago. The fact that they extended it again is just absurd.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)back to Brooklyn!
pnwmom
(108,954 posts)Why are engineers needed? Because one of the huge problems is biowaste, and how to transport contagious bodies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/10/03/u-s-military-force-fighting-ebola-virus-could-grow-to-4000-troops/
The soldiers from Fort Hood include 500 soldiers from the 1st Medical Brigade, the 36th Engineer Brigade and the 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, officials said. Fort Carson will send about 160 soldiers from the 4th Engineer Battalion, and Fort Bragg will deploy 120 soldiers for engineering and public affairs. The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Command at Aberdeen will send 10 soldiers for laboratory work, and about 100 soldiers from Fort Benning, Fort Stewart and Fort Eustis will round out the force.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)but humanity
So go ahead a poo, poo Cuba's action.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)CAG
(1,820 posts)(what was the point of that if your just pointing out Cuba's humanity) and the first poster's reply about US troops are there to "shoot".
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)We expect the hospital to be operational by the middle of October, he said.
http://www.fortcampbellcourier.com/news/article_68d50d32-4a7a-11e4-9137-b3c8c53a732d.html
pnwmom
(108,954 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)The US is sending field hospitals and logistics chains and supplies.
What Cuba is doing is praiseworthy.
The need to turn ebola into a Cold War pissing contest is rather pathetic.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Obama just signed?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)the embargo is a relic of the cold war and should disappear pronto, but due to domestic political reasons it persists.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)to appease who republicans?
Oh, that's right.... he might not get elected again.
Yet we have no diplomatic relations with people trying to help on the same goal.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)and political considerations influence the president even when he's not up for election.
it's systemic
cali
(114,904 posts)suck as it does, it's not the topic. but what the fuck ever.
pnwmom
(108,954 posts)SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)I thought I must be missing something.
Both countries, the U.S. and Cuba, have something to offer, and both are offering it. Neither contribution should be denigrated.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Listen... I think Obama is doing a good job now with the crisis and considering the shit he has to deal within his own cabinet.
African command is another matter.they are not Africa's friends
My African friends don't trust them either.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Its worth the debate and comparison on national priorities for the world.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Characterizing Cuba's humanitarian aid as "medical" and U.S. military humanitarian aid as "troops" is misleading and intentionally deceptive. You're better than that, and this one is really beneath you.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)and welcome your defense of our economic and diplomatic priorities.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)You are blatantly putting words in the others mouths. You're twisting what folks are saying. It's a whole heap of ugly- and it's coming from you.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)the world out of balance
I have no shame..
and I'm ''ugly'........ .
.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)who was talking about how she was charged with the task of getting volunteer medical staff to go to Africa to help with care and was only able to get commitments from in the area of 40 people here in this nation willing to go.
pnwmom
(108,954 posts)private volunteers, unfortunately.
And I doubt that most of the Cubans could be considered volunteers either.
malaise
(268,664 posts)long before the rest. Indeed I don't know what we'd do without Cuban medics across our region.
Thanks Cuba.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)included our doctors, all medical personnel assisting, our public health personnel, our troops, and support units.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Everyone is always bragging about ours. But I think our infant mortality rate is horrendous compared to many other countries.
Plus, Cuba takes care of their elderly.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)JFC.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Why make this out to be some kind of contest?
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)to solve the world's critical problems .... Be it global climate change or the over use of military solutions vs a civilian corp to solve our planet's obvious dilemmas on economic and medical injustice.
I'm not seeing it yet with this country that spends mega billions on war.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Not surprised it's an ignorant blog entry.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Seriously, this is not a game! We sent help, Cuba sent help...can't we just be happy that Cold War foes are working together? Some of the best medical professionals in the world are in the military.
Let's keep this in perspective and not make it political, please.
Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)You have proof of that statement? When the US refuses diplomatic relations. with Cuba?
All communications have to come through a third entity. How can that work together for a common goal in a crisis time stressed situation to allocate help when a house is burning down.?
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)They have again and again done this for the world and especially for the poor.