US sending 10,000 troops to earthquake-hit Haiti

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

Up to 10,000 US troops will be on the ground or off the coast of Haiti by Monday to help deal with the earthquake aid effort, US defence officials say.

The announcement came after US President Barack Obama pledged full American support in a phone call to his Haitian counterpart Rene Preval.

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon said aid distribution had begun but logistics were extremely difficult.

=snip=

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm Mike Mullen, said a hospital ship and more helicopters would be sent in the coming days, and 9-10,000 troops would be in or off Haiti by Monday.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8462221.stm

[dipsydoodle]

I hopes those are "proper" troops

i.e regular US forces and not that bunch of c***s from Blackwater/Xe or similar.

[jdlh8894]

2. Christ on a trailer hitch!!

What the f@@@ does it matter???? Whoever we send will be there to help!!

[frog92969]

3. It matters alot

For many reasons

[jdlh8894]

4. Did you happen to think

That whoever, might have volunteered w/o pay? Whether they be mercenaries or Reg.US forces.Seems to me you assume a lot.

[frog92969]

7. "volunteered w/o pay"...

"mercenaries or Reg.US forces"..."you assume a lot"

:shrug:

Headline: US sending 10,000 troops to earthquake-hit Haiti

[jdlh8894]

10. It says "SENDING"

It does not say "Paying For". There are a lot of Reservists,not on call,that are flying ,refueling ,loading,etc. on their OWN DIME. Doing what they were trained for in time of an emergency. If you have issues w/Blackwater,don't begrudge the ones that volunteer!

[frog92969]

11. I WAS talking about Blackwater

Which should have been evident from the post I replied to.

The others you mentioned...I didn't.
It wasn't me you heard, it was the voices in your head.:freak:

[dipsydoodle]

9. You seem to have forgotten

issues with the use of contractors in New Orleans. So - no we wouldn't want repeat of that and this time the eyes of the world are on the situation.

[bananas]

12. "Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans"

http://www.democracynow.org/2005/9/12/overkill_feared_blackwater_mercenaries_deploy_in

September 12, 2005
Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans

AMY GOODMAN: Meanwhile, in New Orleans it is a militarized zone. When we came into the French Quarter on Saturday, we met some, well, interesting people.

AMY GOODMAN: Did you just get here?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 1: We have been here a couple days.

AMY GOODMAN: Yeah? Who are you working for?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 1: Blackwater.

AMY GOODMAN: And who are they working for?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 1: Really don’t—don’t have any way to tell you that. You know, we just do our assignments, and we go from there.

AMY GOODMAN: What’s your assignment today?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 1: I’m not at liberty to discuss. I’m sorry.

AMY GOODMAN: Have any of your guys just come back from Iraq, by any chance?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 1: Last year.

AMY GOODMAN: Have you?

BLACKWATER MERCENARY 2: Last year. Who are you guys with?

<snip>

[dipsydoodle]

13. Thanks for that

I didn't know where to find such a link.

[HopeHoops]

1. I hope a lot of them have served in Iraq/Afghanistan.

If they have lost faith in the military because of those wars, this should restore that faith. The military can do good, and do it like no other organization. I'm glad we have a president who understands that now.

[C_Lawyer09]

6. Don't forget

this is nothing new. During Katrina 82d abn div had an entire Brigade there. There has been a substantial military presence during every catastrophe I can think of over the last 20 years.

[Abq_Sarah]

14. This would restore their faith?

I hate to be the one to tell you this but the military isn't a charity organization. It doesn't exist to deliver drinking water and food to disaster areas. It can be used in that way just as it can be used to augment law enforcement but that's not why it exists and that's not why people join.

[Beavker]

5. These troops will save more lives in their short time there

Than what will be saved from this 'War on Terror'.
This is the best use of our military in a while.

[katmondoo]

8. They will need food and water too. Also

bathroom facilities. A mind boggling situation.