[Silverdrake]

According to this article "Russia has offered boats and aircraft. On Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered to send a group of military special forces specializing in search and rescue to the region. That offer was rejected by the State Department."

It's NewsMax, which I take it with a grain (or pound) of salt, but that much should be fairly accurate.

[Clara Lou]

I can imagine that we might refuse those particular offers from the Russians. They'd be in danger of being shot by the crazies. I actually read about the offer at some Russian-related site, but it didn't say that the offer had been refused.

[When do we get liberated?]

Um, just a thought, but maybe Geoge didn't want a battaliion of Spetsnaz (also trained in finding dead people, but mostly trained in making them) shooting up NO?