Steaming Orders - Just a part of the fleet heading for, or already at, Haiti

[Stinky The Clown]

Here are just some of the ships heading for Haiti. Ships like the Vinson have many escort ships with them.


USS Bataan



USS Normandy



USS Fort McHenry


USS Carter Hall


USS Underwood



USNS Comfort



USS Carl Vinson



USCGC Forward (I have heard they're already there, just offshore and running helicopter missions)

[redwitch]

1. Thank goodness.

Keep it coming guys!

[Libertas1776]

2. Our tax dollars at work...

for something good this time. K&R! :patriot:

[Lugnut]

4. Amen!

:patriot:

[PacerLJ35]

6. We've always responded to natural disasters...

Indian ocean tsunami, Katrina, Rita, numerous other hurricanes, mudslides, Hurricane Mitch (Honduras), Pakistani earthquake, Iranian (Bam) Earthquake...I could go on.

[cali]

3. brings tears to my eyes

save lives, boys, save lives.

[blondeatlast]

5. I love being proud of my country. I was proud of the people in Katrina,

now I can be proud of my Nation.

:patriot:

[PacerLJ35]

7. Military was among the first to arrive in NOLA

[ddeclue]

28. Some of them got reprimands initially for helping people against orders.

The original Bush Admin doctrine wasn't to do that. It was just some heroic Coast Guardsmen and Navy folks who did it on their own initiative. Later on the military had to walk these reprimands back and hand out medals instead when the press found out.

[PacerLJ35]

45. We flew there the day after the storm moved on

No one got reprimands...friends of mine in the helicopter community started rescues as soon as weather cleared...no one got reprimanded...

[MineralMan]

8. At the orders of President Obama. Thanks, President Obama

for acting immediately.

[jberryhill]

9. More "Gunboat Diplomacy"

Uh.... oh... wait a minute....

[PacerLJ35]

10. I'm sure the USNS Comfort qualifies as a "gunboat"

[jberryhill]

13. Well, hmmm, someone might have a sidearm? /nt

[PacerLJ35]

15. Medical personnel, vessels and vehicles aren't allowed to be armed

When I flew Army medical evac helicopters in the 1990s, we weren't allowed to have door guns per the laws of war. As pilots we did carry sidearms (when deployed), but that's because we weren't considered "medical" personnel...but the medics in the back were completely unarmed.

[jberryhill]

18. Needles! Big Scary Hypodermic Needles!

They roll into port and just go nuts sticking people with them!

[PacerLJ35]

20. Touche

Perhaps needle diplomacy is an apt title then...

[wolfgangmo]

27. And tongue depressors.

Don't forget the tongue depressors.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. And per the laws of war you were allowed to carry those side arms

to DEFEND yourself, your patients and your assets.

Medic here.

In fact, Red Cross Medic... and you'd be amazed how many times I got shot at.

[PacerLJ35]

48. Yeah, I know...but actual "medical personnel" normally don't carry weapons

Helicopter pilots aren't medical personnel. Docs, medics, etc are. That law doesn't state we are allowed to defend the patients...if that was true we could have hung 7.62 guns on the side of the Hueys.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Actual medical personnel are allowed to carry a side arm

per your national choice or an SMG. Why in the US it would be a 9mm Beretta.

That is military medics, who rarely chose to do it. It is optional. And as I said it is very rare that a medic will carry. Usually this happens when the opponent is not a signatory... like now.

Red Cross Medics, nope, we are not.

And damn it those white vehicles with target acquisition devices do attract ammo.

One of my shticks at one time was training both military and civilian personnel in the laws of war.

Hell when the civil war started in Mexico my three cell mag light became debatable. After all IT IS a weapon.

[shireen]

62. thank you for your service

i really admire people like you ... :hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. Nah we shoudl not be admired

but do pray for the rescue teams if you believe in praying. They are going into a hell of a situation...

It is a worst case scenario in so many damn ways.

[madokie]

74. I just knew there was something special about you Nadin

Now I know what that was. :hi:

may Peace always be by your side, helping to guide your every move.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. And your problem with that is?

You know SECURITY is part of the fucking mission?

[jberryhill]

49. Have a seat, breathe normally

You'll be fine in a few minutes

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. You are that ignorant, aren't you

JEEZZZUUSSS!!!! age.

[jberryhill]

61. I suggest you read the thread

I was having some wordplay with the Reagan era phrase "gunboat diplomacy".

You... I don't know what you are on about, but I hope you feel better in the near future, and can manage to avoid reacting to something you seem to want to fight against.

[KoKo]

11. Nice....Thanks for this Post. K&R!

[Odin2005]

12. YAY!

:patriot:

[Jokerman]

14. Wow - A military deployment I can actually support!

Those are VERY few and VERY far between.

[onestepforward]

17. +1

:patriot:

[Parker CA]

19. +2

[alsame]

26. Exactly. This kind of deployment makes me so proud. nt

[Beaverhausen]

29. +3

[Hell Hath No Fury]

35. THIS makes me proud!

We have an amazing capability to help the world -- not just bomb it to smithereens.

More deployments like this, please!

[flamingdem]

38. yes nt

[renate]

16. beautiful

They remind me (on a wildly bigger scale, of course) of the boats in the Hudson that were at the scene in minutes when the plane crashed. That made me cry, too--to see that automatic human instinct to help.

These pictures are beautiful.

[me b zola]

21. The USS Bataan followed Hurricane Katrina-bush* to shore

...meant to provide assistance if needed. When the levees broke, the Pentagon would not let her give aide. :(


That said, I'm am so very glad to see this response for Haiti.

[Captain Hilts]

58. IWO JIMA. nt

[MyNameGoesHere]

22. When did they cut the bow finger off the Vinson? n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

33. Not sure how old the picture is, but the Vinson just got out of a major refit in Norfolk.

[MyNameGoesHere]

43. Arggh i feel old now

I did the shake down cruise on her.

[Stinky The Clown]

51. Heh .... ya wanna feel old? ........ the refit was her "midlife makeover".

[Captain Hilts]

57. I got a detailed tour shortly after commissioning. Ouch! nt

[Dappleganger]

23. Now THAT's the kind of military action I wanna see!

*beaming with American pride for our men and women in uniform*

[Gregorian]

24. Now I feel pride!

Swords to plowshares.

[laughingliberal]

25. Good job. I may cry. nt

[wolfgangmo]

30. I am proud of our military personel but...

... I would be prouder still if they had some part of the military that was actually meant to help with rebuilding, logistics etc.

We can't just keep showing up and then insisting that the government aid gets funnelled through Haliburton et. al.

How's this for an idea? From Thomas Barnett - former advisor to the sec. of def. -- http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/thomas_barnett_draws_a_new_map_for_peace.html

[rockymountaindem]

32. One thing these ships can provide is electrical power

The nuclear reactor on one of our carriers can crank out all kinds of power when the ship is not making headway, so it can function as a mobile power plant. The oil-fired boilers of those other ships can function similarly. If nothing else, that will represent a major contribution. In addition, the engineering skills, equipment and manpower capabilities represented by those ships will really help. Hopefully the Seabees and others will be along soon, but for a rapid response the nuclear reactors of one of our carriers is nothing to sneeze at.

Good for the Navy :patriot:

[jberryhill]

34. And water

The Carl Vinson can distill 400k gallons a day.

[wolfgangmo]

37. I agree completely but the point I was trying to make with the link...

... (did you watch the link?) was that these things like electricity generation and water purification will leave with the ships.

Our military no longer leaves anything of lasting value. Up to 1947 we had 2 parts to the military, the part that kicked ass and the part that rebuilt (marshal plan ...).

I think we need to go back to that successful model.

But huge KUDO's to our military for helping out. The service members I know (non evangelicals mostly) are way decent blokes and I am proud to know them.

[CBR]

36. Coast Guard!! nt

[Captain Hilts]

59. They have that, actually. nt

[Bluerthanblue]

31. it is so good that we are prepared to help-

this is the kind of terrorism that the whole world needs to rally behind.

Thankfully, this administration isn't wasting time playing guitar and staging photo ops.

We are all citizens of this planet.

:grouphug:

[Maru Kitteh]

39. Oh wil they be a wecome sight! God's speed to them all. I hope couseling wil be

available to the rescuers. The scale of human suffering is off the charts, and it will be traumatic for those who go there to help.

[BreweryYardRat]

40. Good news.

This is a very good deed.

[blondeatlast]

41. Kick for a swell of pride. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

42. I'm kicking this again for hope and mercy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Just a point of order, we are not alone

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7459327

[Stinky The Clown]

54. Yes, we're not alone.

Here is a glance at some of the international aid pledges for victims of the earthquake in Haiti:

• The United Nations is releasing $10 million from its emergency funds.

• The United States is sending ships, helicopters, transport planes and a 2,000-member Marine unit.

• Canada is sending an immediate $5 million Canadian (US$4.8 million) to the Haitian government and has put transport planes, helicopters, a hospital ship and a disaster response team on standby.

• The Irish telecommunications company Digicel said it would donate $5 million to aid agencies and help repair the damaged phone network.

• The European Commission has approved euro3 million ($4.37 million), with more funds likely.

• Spain has pledged euro3 million ($4.37 million), and sent three planes with rescue teams and 100 tons of emergency relief equipment.

• The Netherlands has donated euro2 million ($2.91 million) and will send a 60-person search-and-rescue team.

• Germany gave euro1.5 million ($2.17 million) and sent an immediate response team. Another team with 20 rescue dogs is on standby.

• Denmark has donated 10 million kroner ($1.9 million).

• Italy is pledging euro1 million ($1.46 million).

• China will donate $1 million, according to Xinhua News Agency.

• Sweden has offered 6 million kronor ($850,000), along with tents, water purification equipment and medical aid.

• Venezuela has sent doctors, firefighters and rescue workers.

• Mexico will send doctors, search-and-rescue dogs and infrastructure damage experts.

• France is sending two planes with doctors, food and medical equipment.

?? Britain has sent 64 firefighters with search-and-rescue dogs and 10 tons of equipment.

• Iceland is sending 37 search-and-rescue specialists.

• Taiwan is flying in 23 rescue personnel and 2 tons of aid and equipment.

• Israel is sending an elite army rescue unit, including engineers, rescue workers, doctors and medics.

• Cuba already had field hospitals on the ground when the quake struck.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/13/world/main6093107.shtml

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. Well this leads to a story

from the Mexico City Quake, speaking of disasters bringing the best in people.

The IDF sent their search and rescue team, and who was in the support role for that team? An Egyptian team that was drilled, trained and very green.

Yes there was already officially peace in our times, but some of the third party in that rescue. the Red Cross mostly, the two translators, feared a little fist to cuffs to come. And they had to play diplomats a couple times with a few privates on both sides.

In the end they rescued people, worked together and a few started friendships.

This will lead to a few stories like that.

[Quantess]

50. Best thread of the day.

:kick:

[varelse]

53. Thank you

It is good to see that we have not completely forgotten how to be good neighbors.

[Captain Hilts]

56. 400,000 gallons a day from VINSON.

Haiti's THAT way!

[shireen]

60. The best use of our military!

Awesome! Our soldiers always do an outstanding job in disaster relief!

[Mithreal]

66. Absolutely

[Bigmack]

65. Send the Marines....

after all, they ran the country from 1915 to 1934.

[smalll]

67. Yep, clearly this whole "earthquake" was some kind of MIHOP operation to give our -

imperialist military forces an excuse to occupy Haiti again. Because there's nothing the powers-that-be want more than anything these days than -- the chance to GOVERN HAITI!

It's all about stealing that sweet, sweet Haitian oil. Also, building a pipeline. ;)

[Bigmack]

76. Umm... Fuck off!...

How did you get some kind of tinfoil-hat message out of my post?

I intended to point out our "special relationship" with Haiti. We ran it... we broke it... we should give extraordinary help.

Seems to me that even the fucking Marines running the place would be better than the chaos to come. Even if the Marines have little experience in nation-building.

From one of my earlier posts....

I certainly wasn't trained to help in the Corps. Every kind of school you can imagine on how to blow shit up and kill people, but nothing about loving our fellow man.

Maybe the "new" Marine Corps is training aid workers.

The "people" of the US are (or should be) the "government". My so-called government has unlimited funds for war and expects us citizens to have a fucking bake sale to support relief.

Sorry to be a little cranky today. Haiti has a special place in my heart... it was where I learned that military force is obscene... and I hadn't even been to Vietnam yet.

Not to be too specific, but during the Cuban Missile Crisis, our outfit was tasked with impressing the locals in part of Haiti that the US could be quite unpleasant should some of those dirt-poor people listened to the Cuban message. We carried out our mission. Thoroughly.

I sent a big check today.... If I was half the person I think I am, it would have been more.

[liberalla]

68. That's beautiful! I'm so proud. I have tears and goose bumps

just looking at these pictures. My Mom, Dad and brother all served in the Navy.

[bdamomma]

69. Thank goodness those people need help ASAP.

[ShortnFiery]

70. These wonderful humanitarian missions makes me so very proud of my country.

Without sounding sticky sweet and jingoistic, THIS is what the USA should excel at, i.e., humanitarian aid.

I wish we could stop the Killing and Dying MIC industry. If only there were money to be made by HELPING OTHERS instead of blowing them into kibbles and bits. <longing sigh>

Bless all those who are providing aide and comfort to the people suffering in Haiti. :loveya:

[bdamomma]

75. I totally agree with your sentiment!!!

"wish we could stop the Killing and Dying MIC industry. If only there were money to be made by HELPING OTHERS instead of blowing them into kibbles and bits. <longing sigh>"

[freddie mertz]

71. Bataan has excellent medical facilities, not to mention the Comfort.

The Vinson and Bataan can operate lots of helicopters to drop food and emergency supplies, Carter Hall and McHenry have copter facilities too, and like Bataan, have docks that can operate landing craft to get to places inaccessible by roads.

It is refreshing to see our military might used for humanitarian purposes.

[madokie]

72. This is the way I want my country to act

makes me proud that I once wore that navy uniform when I see those ships heading their way even though I was a dry land sailor.

[annabanana]

73. This kind of work should always be the PRIMARY MISSION

of our military, once our genuine physical safety from invasion is secured.

[anonymous171]

77. AGREED