Bragg, Pope Units Await Orders to Aid Haiti Following Quake

[Hissyspit]

Source: Fayetteville Observer

Published: 10:03 PM, Wed Jan 13, 2010
Bragg, Pope units await orders to aid Haiti following quake
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor

A Fort Bragg brigade is on alert for deployment to Haiti, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base have been getting ready to respond to a call to assist the earthquake-stricken island.

"The 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg have not received orders to deploy forces in response to the earthquake in Haiti," Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the corps, said Wednesday night. "However, as a force that is highly trained and ready to respond to crises wherever they occur, we are always conducting prudent planning to ensure we are ready - if and when we get an order to deploy forces." The 82nd brigade and "various forces around the armed forces" have been put on alert, ready to deploy if needed to support the effort, Pentagon officials said.

- snip -

Next door, Pope Air Force Base has C-130 cargo airplanes and crews that can land on short and suspect runways. The base's airmen have a wide variety of capabilities ranging from communications to air traffic control in austere locations to aeromedical evacuation. "Pope airmen are on standby ready to assist as needed," said Capt. Beverly Mock, a Pope spokeswoman, said Wednesday evening. "We have not received an official tasking yet."

At the Pentagon, Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser acknowledged during a news conference that a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division is among forces being considered.

Read more: http://www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/01/14/968144

[earcandle]

1. And why does Obama not deploy them?

[MUAD_DIB]

2. Haiti is a sovereign state.

The US may need their permission first: no matter how bad it is.


Or...

Depending on the scene at the airport, the US may be in line to send troops in if others are already landing there.


Whatever the case I hope that the US can help out in any way possible.

[Lurks Often]

6. Alternative reason

The US is already on site, so I don't believe we need further permission


My thought is that with Haiti being so chaotic right now and food, water, etc in critically short supply, dropping another 5000 bodies into won't be helpful until there is sufficient logistics to support them.

[MUAD_DIB]

7. Fair enough.

[MadMaddie]

4. It is important to note that they are on standby waiting for the orders

This means that it should come soon.

[BrightKnight]

5. .

[Mojorabbit]

3. My sister used to be part of the

special Pope unit.
They kick ass at getting in there, setting up field hospitals and going out and getting the wounded in the middle of firefights.