Posted on 01/14/2010 11:22:58 AM PST by traumer
The US is sending up to 3,500 soldiers and 2,200 marines to Haiti to help rescue efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake.
President Barack Obama pledged one of the biggest relief efforts in recent US history and said Haiti would "not be forgotten" in its hour of need.
The search for survivors continues but rescuers lack heavy lifting equipment and many are using their bare hands.
The Red Cross estimates 45,000-50,000 people are dead and up to 3m affected.
BBC correspondents say the situation is increasingly desperate, with aid only trickling in.
Mr Obama confirmed that some US rescuers were already working on the ground in Haiti.
Speaking in Washington, he promised the country "every element of our national capacity, our diplomacy, and development assistance, the power of our military and most importantly, the compassion of our country" following the disaster.
"To the people of Haiti, we say clearly and with conviction, you will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten," he said.
However he warned it would take time for much-needed help to reach people.
Mr Obama also promised an immediate $100m for Haiti's relief effort and said that investment would grow over the coming year to aid long-term recovery.
The first 100-strong contingent from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division is expected to arrive in Haiti by the end of Thursday, with several hundred more due by Friday.
The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier will arrive on Thursday. The USS Bataan, carrying a marine expeditionary unit, is also on its way.
The US forces will join Haitians and international search and rescue teams already on the ground.
Aid groups say it is a race against time to find people trapped under the rubble of the collapsed buildings.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Finally a Liberal use for the horrible military.
When you really need to dial 911 and get an answer:
“Marine Expeditionary Unit”.
******EZ to Help Haiti, The State Department recomends the Red Cross******** Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross Haitian Relief Effort. $10 will be billed to your cell phone bill.
Didn’t the Messiah need 90 days to think it over?
This thing hit suddenly less than 48 hours ago so “aid trickling in” shouldn’t be a surprise. It takes time to get ships, troops and such equipment as might be necessary over there. I hope that private relief efforts are able to give the kind of help Americans always have, but I’m genuinely concerned that many just don’t have much to give right now.
It’s going to take a huge undertaking from the US Military to even get the infrastructure in place to get the help where it’s needed.
And you just can’t simply drop supplies in, because the ensuing riots to get at them would just make things worse.
James Cameron, are you not ashamed now of your depiction of murderous, redneck, rampaging US Marines in Avatar.
Half way to Venezuela... :o)
In my 30-plus years associated with the Navy (20 active), it was always said that when the -er- stufff hits the fan the first question is.......
“Where’s the nearest aircraft carrier?”
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) left Norfolk Tuesday to return to the west coast after a 4 year refuelling overhaul. Going to San Diego via the Straits of Magellan. Since they were heading that way already.........
USS Bataan (LHD-5) with her large medical facilities and the other ships sent with her will leave today, go pick up Marines at Camp Lejuene, NC and proceed to Haiti. Bataan was the ship sent to New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.
They have to get those bodies buried or burned to prevent disease.
Are they going in with the security they need? Common sense says yes but political correctness may make them reduce it.
I don’t plan on seeing the movie, but weren’t the bad guys in Avatar private mercenaries, and the “good guy” was a Marine?
I’m just basing this on what I’ve heard.
The ships should be able to anchor offshore and ferry Seabees in to repair the port. Then they can move outward from there.
People on the ground are clearing the runway for planes to land. Even if the terminal is down flat, if they can find fuel for the bulldozers they can get the runway clear. And then they'll move outward from there. I read on Fox news that the first U.S. plane is scheduled to land this afternoon.
Although I think the port would be a more defensible position than the airport . . . if things get out of hand and people panic.
The MEU comes with it’s own logistical support. I’m trying to wrap my brain around the logistical effort necessary to sustain an Army brigade in a country in complete chaos where markets aren’t functioning.
I fail to see why we should be spending money on Haiti’s problems. I don’t seem to recall any Haitian marines landing in New Orleans in August 2005.
but they did help us in 1776
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