U.S. helicopter makes a water drop in Haiti - pics

[Kadie]

A U.S. helicopter makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


People gestures as a U.S. helicopter makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


People run toward a U.S. helicopter as it makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


People cover their faces from dust as they rush to get water dropped by a U.S. helicopter near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


People run toward a U.S. helicopter as it makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. Relief groups and officials are focused on moving aid flowing into Haiti to survivors of the powerful earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)




REFILE - CORRECTING YEAR Haitian citizens receive water from United States air crewmen from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in Port-au-Prince, January 16, 2010. The U.S. aircraft Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti. REUTERS/Seaman Aaron Shelley/U.S. Navy/Handout (HAITI - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT MILITARY) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

[Captain Hilts]

1. Go Navy! Cheers Airborne!

[KittyWampus]

2. whoot!

[Gregorian]

3. That puts a perspective on what a truly massive disaster this is.

[BeFree]

11. Those poor folks

They are in the hills because they are afraid of the houses falling on them.
I am so glad to see that they are getting water at least. Our troops there
must seem like Angels from heaven.

[lostnfound]

18. Haiti's terrain is mostly mountains

[sweettater]

4. Makes one

PROUD! :hug: for our military!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Control-Z]

5. Until pic 4,

I thought the helicopter was dropping supplies into the water - possibly as a means of controlling chaos. I imagined military on the ground and in the water waiting to help with an organized drop. Sometimes I can be so dumb. Lol at myself.

It is really good to see, not only the US, but so many countries offering whatever help they can. That most people can put aside their differences at a time when nothing else will do is encouraging.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Kadie.

[endless october]

8. kudos to the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division .

glad that they are bringing water to those who need it.

[xsquid]

22. ..and the us navy, the helicopter is from the carl vinson

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Norfolk-VA/HSC-9-Tridents/105442309004

[me b zola]

9. K&R

[Jamastiene]

10. Yes!

[Historic NY]

12. OUR people know what to do...some others not so much.

[kestrel91316]

23. Exactly which nation providing aid are you BITCHING about???

[maryf]

41. Good question

Others send food, doctors, etc. We send military aid, who else has done that?? and why? (rhetorical question)

[bossy22]

46. our military aid

helps get those supplies to the people. The haitian infrastructure has been destroyed- they need to rebuild some of it (such as the airport and sea port) before massive amounts of aid can be brought in. To do this they need heavy machinary- machinary that is being brought by the U.S. Navy.

also to answer another one of your questions- the reason no other country has sent it in the way we have (other countries have sent military aid such as troops) is because no other country really can.

[roguevalley]

13. god bless them all. all good is good for all. they are saving us even as

we are saving them. I wish the world could remember how they feel right now everyday. God bless Haiti.

[flyarm]

14. I just saw a tape on CNN of a copter dropping food supplies as well..

don't know if it was the same one but the area did not look the same..

so it seems food and water are being air lifted in to those dear people..thank god some of them are getting some relief!

And thank you to America's finest..

My heart just breaks for the people of Haiti..

[Waiting For Everyman]

15. Good!

:applause:

[bertman]

16. Maybe someday this will be the PRIMARY function of our military. Imagine what that

would do for our national security.

Great pics. Thanks, Kadie.

Rec.


AIRBORNE! ALL THE WAY!!

[robinlynne]

21. now that is a great idea.

[DissedByBush]

30. The military does a lot more of this than you think

Wherever there is disaster, our military is usually there to help. It's right if you think about it. They can operate independently from practically anywhere, so a disaster area is no problem.

We even have a decoration for this, the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Of all the medals I got in the military, that's the one I'm mad I didn't get, and I did operate in a humanitarian service mission. They decided that officially our action would not be called humanitarian service, but simply part of the larger war operation.

[M155Y_A1CH]

17. k&r

:kick:

[Q4U]

19. what a relief!

at least SOME people are trying to help. i heard about french pilots who were striking and therefore not willing to fly to haiti and HELP. how cruel is that??

[kestrel91316]

24. Provide a link, please. The French had THREE HOSPITALS that I know of

in Haiti, and countless doctors and staff - Doctors Without Borders is fundamentally a FRENCH organization. And a French aircraft got turned away from the airport while trying to deliver supplies.

Why don't you stop wasting your precious time supposedly caring about Haitians. They speak a form of FRENCH, you know.

Run along back to FR.

[kestrel91316]

25. You're a good German. Why aren't YOU flying to Haiti to help as we speak,

if you're so much better than the French?

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peacetalksforall]

28. I think it is about the problems not being able to make a direct landing and then

not being able to get airborne again. There are many roads that are not passable. At one time there were 60 aircraft stuck on the ground at the airport. No fuel. There is also the problem that the U.S. had decalred that they are in charge of the airport. The long term aid for policing and other duties is Brazil, by UN arrangement.

My guess is that some of the landings and take-offs could be worked out - but if the US declares that they are running the airport - there could be resentment, especially if they are giving preferences.

However, it was the US, France, Canada, the IMF and Worldbank who kidnapped Haiti's legally elected, left leaning President who wanted to improve things for the ppor. But we and they banished him to Africa - so there is a precedent of collaboration between France and the US. The US would probably give priority to France, if it is true that we have pushed ourselves into the airport operation.

So let's hear the whole story of why the pilots are balking if it is a reason other than safety and the capability of not getting stuck on the ground.

[uppityperson]

32. Bullshit. I'd welcome you but why bother.

[winyanstaz]

37. The french have some bad apples...and we have Pat Robertson...

The good news, like you said is the aid is starting to get through :)

[Brickbat]

39. Oh, come on -- is that really the best you can do?

French air-traffic controllers have been on strike all week, but the majority of flights were on time by the end of last week and things have pretty much returned to normal at Orly. I can find NO reports about any relief flights being delayed. But you know, don't let facts get in your way or anything.

[Hannah Bell]

20. wait, they're supposed to be rioting, fighting & stomping babies & old people aren't they?

oh so those experienced at disaster relief say.

it's not possible to drop water from helicopters. how soon they forget.

[here_is_to_hope]

33. *snicker*... n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

26. Must we drop crates ? Can't we make something similar to a water balloon with a parachute and drop

millions of them from planes?



It would need to be more resilient than a water balloon, but it should be soft enough to not cause serious damage to anyone if the parachute failed.


I would think a 1 liter "bag" with a corner that can be torn off to pour the water out would be fairly simple to produce, store and deliver quickly to people desperately in need of water. They would also be small enough that it would be difficult to hoard. I suppose the parachutes should be brightly colored so as to be easily found once on the ground. They could also have the message printed on them (in multiple languages) that more help is on the way and to please not hoard supplies.




I assume the idea of dropping large containers is simply a carry over from the military mindset and their procedures for supplying troops.

Disaster relief need to be looked at differently.


*Rant over*

[Gman]

29. Good idea and it may be something to use in future disasters

but apparently it doesn't exist right now and they can't take the time to invent right now.

[Motown_Johnny]

47. I am surprised that nothing was considered after Katrina

You would think that some serious brainstorming would have been done after that fiasco.


Thanks for the support, I was kinda feeling like an "arm chair disaster manager" and was just ranting senselessly.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. got me teared up

:patriot:

[grahamhgreen]

34. That's how easy it was to do in Katrina, but it never got done.

[setfreetruth]

35. Great to see this, but this is 4 days later; where's the rest of the fleet?

This seems quite miniscule compared to the amount of aid that has been sent. This is not 11 million dollars worth of aid. Something is wrong here. My gut tells me someone is siphoning off the supplies and stockpiling them for their own profit. It might be a good idea to shut off the donations until we see some reputable reports of water, food, rescue, and medical/health care being delivered to the people.

The reporters in the city keep saying the people are not getting the help they need. I just don't trust those in authority there. I pray that if there is corruption involved, that it will be uncovered for the world to see, and that everyone involved will be arrested and punished to the max. President Aristide should go back to lead the rescue and recovery effort. That puppet government is a joke!

For background on the problems in Haiti, see Randall Robinson's comments on Democracy Now!

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/15/bush_was_responsible_for_destroying_haitian

STOP GIVING UNTIL WE SEE HELP BEING DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN! THIS IS MADNESS! THERE MUST BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY!

[bossy22]

38. they are coming

MEU 22 (marine expeditionary unite) is on their way and should be there by early this week. MEU 22 is carrying i believe 2200 marines, and includes the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship (think of it as a smaller aircraft carrier filled with helicopters and hovercrafts for getting heavy machinary on land) and two other ships

there is also talk about sending another aircraft carrer too

[maryf]

40. What about food?

How much does the cost of sending all this military compare to the cost of food and medical supplies? Why do we need all the military? Give food, blankets supplies...Oh and why do we have to control the airport??

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5guma2WKnHthswP2UVPiCIuLm_ocQ

[bossy22]

42. the military is bringing food

and supplies...it is also the main source of transport for these supplies....remember without the military most of these supplies would still be sitting state-side in warehouses in florida.

an Aircraft carrier can act as another airfield

without the US Navy there the relief effort would be in a lot worse shape

[maryf]

43. Plenty of non military ways...

The UN says it should be in charge, the US says no, WHY???

[anigbrowl]

44. Actually, no there aren't

Haiti only has one major airport and one major port, and both are heavily damaged, such that air traffic control is being managed from offshore. Despite what you imagine, the armed forces are waaaay better equipped to handle the actual logistics than the UN is. They are not militarizing the relief effort: the Un, working with the Haitian government, is in charge of that.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/17/military-leaves-crippled-haiti-government-peacekeepers-order/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fpolitics+%2528Text+-+Politics%2529. < fox news report only because it's the most recent on this specific aspect of the news.

[bossy22]

45. exactly

the U.S. Military are the only ones on scene at the moment that really have the capability to control the incoming relief effots. The situation you pointed out about the airports shows why its so important to have an Aircraft Carrier on scene.

Also i think a bit of anti-U.S. military sentiment here blinds some people from the facts- The U.S. military is the organization most capable of running a huge relief effort. No other organization in the world has the capabilities that the U.S. military can muster.

[winyanstaz]

36. now this is more like it :)

YOU GO TROOPS!! :)