U.S. warships steam into Indian Ocean to join relief operations

[NVMojo]

we have a nephew on one of these ...

The USS Bonhomme Richard and two other warships packed with helicopters, supplies and more than 2,200 Marines steamed into the Indian Ocean on Monday to join relief operations off Sumatra's battered coast and, later this week, Sri Lanka.

The strike group was diverted to join in the U.S. military's humanitarian response to the devastation caused throughout the region by the Dec. 26 catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

The Marines' mission was still being planned, but the strike group commander said their primary responsibilities would include ferrying food and medical supplies to villages in need. They added that having "boots on the ground" would bring badly needed manpower for constructing temporary shelters, clearing devastated areas and operating water purification equipment.

more...

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050103/ap/d87cdf6o4.html

[madrchsod]

1. let`s see.hmmmmmmm

we have murder thousands in iraq and saving people in the devastated south east asian countries..there is something wrong-very wrong

[lebkuchen]

2. At least it's the start of the kind of mission we'd like to see our forces

engaged in.

What I don't understand, though, is why we're spending just $350 mil. on a catastrophe of Biblical proportion which killed unknown tens of thousands, and yet we're spending $5 billion a month to kill people on purpose in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Turley]

3. OK So explain it to us Einstein

What is so very wrong?

Ever occur to you that helicopters are in high demand over there?

[Turley]

4. The UN on American relief efforts

Michael Elmquist, coordinator of the United Nations relief operations in Indonesia, said major headway had been made, both in distributing supplies that had piled up at the regional airports and in evacuating many people who had been left homeless and cut off by the destruction of roads and communications.

"It's absolutely life-saving," Mr. Elmquist said in Jakarta of the helicopter evacuations. "We are absolutely thrilled that Americans are doing that. They are the only ones who have the capacity to reach those parts of the population right now."

[NNN0LHI]

5. Please thank your nephew for bringing assistance to these people

I am sure their dedication will save many lives.

Don