Posted on 09/02/2005 10:09:55 PM PDT by America First Libertarian
Three Canadian warships, a coast guard vessel and three Sea King helicopters will be sent to Louisiana on Tuesday with relief supplies for the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Defence Minister Bill Graham made the announcement from Moscow, Russia.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander will sail along with the Canadian Navy vessels, HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville De Quebec and HMCS Toronto.
Naval crews were busy loading gear on to the ships in Halifax Friday as 1,000 personnel prepared to head to waters off New Orleans.
Commodore Dean McFadden, who will command the deployment, said they were consulting with their American counterparts to determine what they will do during the expected month-long mission. He suggested duties would involve reconstruction, health care and humanitarian aid.
"We will have the capacity to move people. We'll have the capacity to bring medical supplies and fuel capabilities," McFadden said as he stood on the dock next to destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, the command and control ship for the mission. "The specific jobs we're going to do, I'll wait until the Americans tell us what help they need."
The vessels will work with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard and carry Canadian Forces personnel, some of them military engineers who might be able to help restore power and generate electricity.
About 40 navy divers from both coasts were also expected to deploy with the mission, which got clearance after American officials accepted a Canadian offer of help.
Rear Admiral Dan McNeil of the Joint Task Force Atlantic said organizers of the mission, dubbed Operation Union, were compiling a list of what's needed as U.S. officials continued to assess their requirements.
The ships are expected to arrive in the Gulf of Mexico three to four days after they leave Halifax.
Good for Canada. Thanks
Hope they make it.
"Defence Minister Bill Graham made the announcement from Moscow, Russia."
So...did we accept Russia's offer, or not?
If not, that had to frost 'em.
Good on ya', Canada!
Many thanks!
Their military rocks!
Thanks Canada. I am sure their help shall be appreciated.
I dont think it would be safe to navigate a raft down the Mississippi at this time.
Lots of canoes would help, too, in many of the shallowly flooded streets.
Defence Minister Bill Graham
And how would a canadian raft get to the the Mississippi. Perhaps a look at a map might help.
Or perhaps a picture of the "Raft" would be instructive:
Yes of course. They are our allies.
They come visiting all the time. Our ships visit their ports too.
What planet have you been living in for the past 50 years?
Reminds me of the movie Canadian Bacon
Chicago River
Too small for this "Raft". See pic above.
I know, but letting you know its possible to get from canada to the mississippi without going out to an ocean.
"Reminds me of the movie Canadian Bacon"
I think I saw that film. Wasn't it directed by a big fat guy? Michael something?
I always knew that they would try to attack us in our moment of weakness.
YAY!! One of the few good things our Ottawa liberal government is doing these days. I'm not quite as ashamed of them as I usually am.
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