[endthematrix]

We can be thankful that Diego Garcia airbase rode out the tsunami. They are in a position to help with rapid relief!

[kb2614]

More aid from the "stingy" Americans. Must drive the UN weasalcrats nuts that the evil, warmongering US military will be providing the bulk of the humanitarian aid support.

[SkyPilot]

This is welcome news--and the US will provide substantial relief via airlift. We have the largest airlift fleet in the world, and the only one that can haul certain oversize equipment. Also, this airport has the capability to receive the C-5, C-17, and commercial cargo aircraft such as the 747.

I was disgusted listening to NPR yesterday. NPR gleefully reported that a UN spokesman has said they were sending in "hundreds of aircraft laden with relief supplies."

The UN does not have hundreds of aircraft. In fact, the only aircraft it does really own are executive transports to ferry the UN high rollers around.

Later on ABC Radio, an Irish relief worker lamented the fact that the UN has no real logistical capability, and called it a "tragic failure of the United Nations, it is almost criminal they do not have one."

So, the US will provide the relief, and the UN will mug for the cameras and blame the US.

[sargunner]

--Utapao is well known to pilots of the Vietnam War, when it served as a base for U.S. B52 bombers.--

During the war it was sometimes referred to as 'Vitamin U' because it was such a great source of IRON.

[csvset]

Our troops must remain vigilant. The Islamic wackos wouldn't be beyond sending suicide bombers against troops providing relief efforts.

[Dilbert56]

BTW - isn't it still a base for B-52 bombers?

[shield]

The World needs to thank America....instead of being American Haters!!! It's always US .... that's sends in the volumes of EVERYTHING!!!!

[dead]

The ignorant masses who feed their minds a steady diet of NY Times wouldn't know that these sorts of contributions towards the relief efforts are not included in our "stingy" talley by the UN.

These planes, their crews, and the fuel that moves them are not paid for by US taxpayers. They are made from fairy dust and moonbeams and spring spontaneously to life when disaster strikes.