The Last Hope are The Seahawk Helicoptors: US Indonesia Aid....Good Story by a German reporter

"Spiegel-Online" ^ | January 4, 2004 | Andreas Lorenz

[Red Sea Swimmer]

The market price for Beef Rendang skyrocketed in Banda Aceh after this incident. Beef Rendang Futures Dealers were behind the incident. :)

[Thinkin' Gal]

Vertical replenishment from Combat Logistics Force ships is the predominant mission of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ELEVEN; therefore the main feature of the insignia is the stylized arm grasping a cargo of bombs, rockets and missiles in the act of delivery.

The lightning bolts symbolize the speed with which the squadron accomplishes its mission and the capability to carry it out under adverse weather conditions. The lightning also represents the number ELEVEN.

The predominant green and blue colors of the sea and the primary color green also symbolize the squadron’s healthy and vigorous nature.

The nickname "GUNBEARERS" is derived from the title of an ancient warrior whose mission was in support of the front line musketmen and aptly describes the modern mission of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ELEVEN.

http://www.hc11.navy.mil/History.htm

[Chgogal]

Here are my favorite passages;

(1) "For the Americans the mission isn't just help for the desperate Indonesians, it's also an important PR-campaign. They are proving that they don't only wage war against Muslims, they also will stand by them in their hour of need. "

(2) "It was made up today. Beforehand, the Berlin soldiers had already decided to participate in the rescue operations by setting up an "air -land rescue center" in Banda Aceh: a small hospital tent equipped with an operating table, X-Ray machine and laboratory.

However, an advance team is necessary to do this, also. It should start out in the direction of Sumatra on January 6th. In the meantime, the technical relief organization is waiting for the arrival of nine Iljuschin cargo planes, that have nine Unimogs and two SUV's, plus equipment to condition water.

By then, lieutenant Bullaro will have flown quite a bunch of missions with his Seahawk, and will have delivered precious cargo to thousands of tsunami victims."


Hey, Andreas, did you ever hear of Bosnia? And Andreas, aren't Afghans Muslims?
Looks like the Germans can't take criticism and Der Speigel knows it. The dig found in the last paragraph so very subtle. And I was ROTFLMAO reading the second to last paragraph. At least Andreas has a brain and notices the difference between the American Military and what the Germans dare call a "Military Force".

[mewzilla]

International journalists line up impatiently at the airport to get hold of a spot on one of the helicopters. Dashing public information officers ("Call me Smack") make out lists with names, only to immediately throw them out again and then, full of bravado, bark at the reporters. Some have waited two days for the opportunity to see the disaster area from the air...

The presstitutes howl that we aren't getting aid there fast enough, then they try to take up space on the choppers?!

%$#&^*!

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Isaiah's prophecies are unfolding right before our very eyes...

[Billthedrill]

Please, those with broadband, click on the pictures. You don't get the full impact of the reporter's message without them. Longjack, thanks for another wonderful story.

The reporter saw fit to include shots of the Mercy setting sail and New Yorkers filling boxes with supplies. It's a very telling silent rebuke.

[processing please hold]

This type of article is a bombshell in the German media.

What do you mean 'bombshell'? As in good or bad?

[helper]

IN ALL OF THE PICTURES I HAVE SEEN, I ONLY SAW TWO PATCHES OF OUR FLAG. WHY IS IT NOT ON THE HEILOS SO YOU CAN SEE IT A MILE AWAY? WHY IS IT NOT ON OUR TROOPS HELMITS? FOR ALL I KNOW THEY ARE FRENCH.

[TXnMA]

International journalists line up impatiently at the airport to get hold of a spot on one of the helicopters. Dashing public information officers ("Call me Smack") make out lists with names, only to immediately throw them out again and then, full of bravado, bark at the reporters. Some have waited two days for the opportunity to see the disaster area from the air.

Want some cheese with your whine? Report to the French disaster aid tent -- if you can find one...

[longjack]

What do you mean 'bombshell'?

I find the German press to be anti-US Military. Reports out of Iraq, for example, emphasize set-backs, and characterize the US as occupiers.

In this article, and the one from yesterday, the author contrasts the actions of the Americans; flying aid, and the results; the grateful response of the Indonesians who were on the verge of hopelessness; with the burocratic complexities that renders the German detail of just 9 soldiers completely incapable of even helping themselves.

Secondly, he represents the US soldiers as selfless professionals, able to accomplish remarkable logistical actions with little fanfare or desire for recognition.

The behaviour he describes brings back memories of how well our GI's treated the Germans after WW II, Older german have never forgotten the first bread or fruit they received, or the face of the GI who gave it to them.

These articles shut the yapping of the German liberal US-haters down cold, because the author cynically and subtley decscibes the German effort as ridiculous, thus taking apart any response on the liberal's end that the Americans should take a good look at how the liberals would do it, which is their usual response.

As the author describes the events, the Americans, as cool as movie stars, can do the the German liberal endeavors of caring for the down-trodden astronomically better than the German liberals can themselves.

The liberal mantra of you wage war, we care for the down-trodden has been revealed as you can do both, we can't do either.

longjack

[RobFromGa]

The liberal mantra of you wage war, we care for the down-trodden has been revealed as you can do both, we can't do either.

That sounds like something that Mark Steyn would say. And that is a great compliment.

[Finalapproach29er]

Where are the German, French, Italian, and Spanish navies? Don't the Europeans have any airplanes or ships?

---

LOL Surely, you jest!


We've been EU-rope's military sugar daddy for 64 years.

[jackbill]

These articles shut the yapping of the German liberal US-haters down cold, because the author cynically and subtley decscibes the German effort as ridiculous,

The United States spends more on retirement benefits for the military than either the French or the Germans spend on their whole defense budget. And it shows.

We have the U.S.S. Lincoln on station and I've heard that another carrier is being deployed to the area. The Germans have no carriers. The French have one, but it would have to be towed to the area.

Frankly, after watching what is going on over there, and watching the DemocRATs and their media lapdogs complaining about the U.S.'s "slow start", I'm getting ready to kill.

Thank God for our guys in the military. They are just carrying on a very long tradition of caring. It goes back at least to WWII. And Damned the DemocRATs and their media pimps.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Owl558]

"...when there is a European reporter who rides with our guys who has the b*lls to put his praise of them in print, I'm going to translate it if I can."

Amen, longjack dude. And thanks!

I'm just asking questions like lots of people should be asking questions. The German soldiers in the article (along with others) are heroic, but the EU needs to be very ashamed of itself for being such poor world citizens. I have heard so many EUrophiles bragging that the EU economy is larger than the United States' and yet they are only able to muster an awkward belly-flop when called to saving these people's lives. This is not a controversial issue like Iraq and if the Europeans think they are ready for prime-time on the world stage, they are sadly mistaken.

Think about it, the US, Australia, and Japan all have committments in Iraq and are somehow able to undertake a major, international relief mission. Australia is tiny compared to the EU, and yet these amazing people stand heads and shoulders above their socialist Euro-counterparts in so many ways! Japan has been a true friend of America and a rock-steady ally. Both countries have known US soldiers in different ways. They remember our historic ties, while too many of the Europeans do not. Those folks should be ashamed.

God bless the US military.

[Steel and Fire and Stone]

"IN ALL OF THE PICTURES I HAVE SEEN, I ONLY SAW TWO PATCHES OF OUR FLAG. WHY IS IT NOT ON THE HEILOS SO YOU CAN SEE IT A MILE AWAY? WHY IS IT NOT ON OUR TROOPS HELMITS? FOR ALL I KNOW THEY ARE FRENCH." - helper

We have our aircraft disguised because they are combat aircraft flying during wartime. The USS Abe Lincoln was on a wartime mission before being diverted.

The French are irrelevant as a "combat" capable force, and are laughable as a nation capable of "war".

SFS

PS: I suggest you try using lower case characters. No one likes to be "YELLED AT!!".

[nw_arizona_granny]

Longjack has translated this article so that we might know what our troops are actually doing in the rescue operation.

I find his articles to be the best that I have read.

These Americans make me proud to be an American.

[Cindy]

Thank you granny for the ping.

[Cindy]

Thank you for the translation longjack.

[SuziQ]

I love those boxes that say "US AID, From the American people"!