Posted on 08/21/2008 6:11:49 AM PDT by maquiladora
Two U.S. Navy ships, including a guided missile destroyer USS McFaul, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are getting underway to transport humanitarian assistance supplies to Georgia, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) said on August 21.
It said USS McFaul (DDG 74) departed from Souda Bay, Crete, on Wednesday and the cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) will depart later this week.
McFaul and Dallas are scheduled to transit into the Black Sea and arrive in Georgia within a week, according to the U.S. European Command.
The announcement comes after it was reported that Turkey gave its go-ahead to sail through its straits into the Black Sea.
“The ships will transport thousands of blankets, hygiene items, baby food and infant supplies to save lives and alleviate human suffering,” U.S. European Command said.
Meanwhile, a team of U.S. European Command, led by Army Brig. Gen. John Miller, is already in Tbilisi “to assess the current humanitarian situation and make recommendations on continued humanitarian support to senior military leadership.”
“The EUCOM team will conduct a deliberate and focused assessment, encompassing variables such as transportation, infrastructure, manpower and many other life support considerations,” the U.S. European Command said.
Poti is under the grip of the Rooskies... where will they make port?
That what I was wondering. And will the Russian Navy try to stop us?
I hear Jeckyl Island is nice this time of year.
;^)
German and Spanish warships carrying aid to Georgia entered Istanbul's Bosporus Straits on Thursday. Turkey earlier approved the transit of two U.S. navy ships to the Black Sea to transport humanitarian relief supplies to conflict-torn Georgia.
The United States was also in talks with other governments in the region to facilitate movement of relief aid to Georgians ravaged by the conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi.
"Turkey has approved three ships for transit into the Black Sea to transport humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia -- that will consist of two U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter," U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.
Yes, I often send a fully-armed guided missile destroyer on my humanitarian missions!
*I am surprised that the USS Comfort isn’t in this 3 ship task force, though.
Anyway, Bush rocks for standing firm with Georgia!
They probably won’t dock in Poti, since there is a large port in Batumi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batumi
The Turkish would not let US Hospital ships in because their tonnage would exceed the passage tonnage granted to nations that do not border the Black Sea. Its explained in the link about the Spanish and German aid ships.
Ukraine calls for NATO control of Georgian waters
‘’NATO warships are authorized to enter the Black Sea and control Georgia’s territorial waters,’’ Commander of Ukraine’s Navy Boris Kozhin has announced. According to the commander, if Georgia officially applies to the NATO for help, the NATO member states will be authorized and even obliged to protect Georgians from the Russian aggression.
Mr. Kozhin condemned Russians’ behaviour in Poti port and said they were ‘’pirates’’.
‘’NATO boats should resume operating in accordance with international marine law and the culprit must be brought to justice before the Hague Tribunal for intrusion into Georgian territorial waters,’’ Mr. Kozhin said.
http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=12078
Russians arrest the ambassador of France
Russian militaries detained Erik Fournier, the ambassador of France to Georgia, at one of the checkpoint stationed in Gori. The ambassador was on his back way to Tbilisi from Sachkhere.
Shida Kartli administration reports that Vladimir Vardzelashvili, the Governor of Shida Kartli, is trying to convince the aggressors to release the French Diplomat.
http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=12072
Regardless of what others don't do (I'm sure the Europeans are talking), it is our duty to stand on the side with Georgia, a free republic ruled by law.
We need to do all we can to assist.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
Stop us from what? Sailing in the Black Sea?
What’s Putin gonna say, “Oh my. The US sent in some ships. I’m sooooooo afraid. We’ll have to pull our troops back to Moscow.”
Romania’s nice this time of year. I don’t remember off the top of my head if Romania is a member of NATO yet. Anybody?
Probably not. They may try to spy on us, though.
Yes, Romania is a NATO member.
Well, it’ll certainly harden their stance quite a bit, won’t it?
Prayers for those on board. This is not going to calm down any time soon.
Has our navy ever been in the Black Sea before?
This is kinda like having the Russian navy in Lake Erie
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