Posted on 01/16/2010 6:06:39 AM PST by kristinn
ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON — Helicopters sit ready to go from this US aircraft carrier off Haiti, but there's a problem: after a day of frantic aid runs there is simply nothing left to deliver.
Aboard the warship some 3,500 US military personnel have been coordinating the flights of 19 US helicopters carrying aid since early morning.
SNIP
In less than 12 hours, helicopters from the USS Carl Vinson made some 20 trips to scout the ravaged landscape and deliver items that were originally intended for the ship's crew.
Among the supplies dropped off were thousands of bottles of water and energy drinks, 8,000 sheets and hundreds of camp beds.
Dozens of hospital beds have been arranged on board the ship to accomadate those injured in the quake, including a US citizen evacuated from the US embassy in Port-au-Prince.
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The relief work also faces logistical and coordination challenges, according to Rear Admiral Ted Branch, the most senior military official aboard the USS Carl Vinson.
"We have lift, we have communications, we have some command and control, but we don't have much relief supplies to offer," said Branch, who commands the battle group led by the nuclear-powered Carl Vinson.
"We have no supplies at the airport that we have access to. There are other supplies there that are under the control of other agencies, other organizations and we haven't yet coordinated together to make those supplies available for anyone to deliver," he added.
SNIP
The commander noted that some supplies remain at the airport, and could easily be delivered by US helicopters.
"The problem is, some people are perhaps not ready to release their stuff to the most efficient transportation makers and want to deliver supplies themselves."
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God bless the crew of the Carl Vinson. It must be maddening knowing that they could be helping more people but instead bureaucrats and selfishness are stopping them.
President Obama should have taken control of the situation when it became clear the aid was getting stuck at the airport. Instead he's afraid of being a take charge leader.
Maybe Hillary can bust some (heads) when she hits the airport today. This is one occasion when being a (head)-busting (alpha female) will come in handy.
As I said days ago, grab Gen. Russell Honore out of retirement.
Bubba is the special envoy to Haiti. He should be down there not Hillary.
Bubba is the special envoy to Haiti. He should be down there not Hillary.
Then who would help save Ol’Kennedy’s seat in Mass????????
There is no reason why the US merchant fleet cannot deliver aid. This administration then could claim some job growth as merchant operators would need to hire seaman, stevadores, engineers etc. The US fleet is supposed to be on patrol and doing combat readiness training. That is what we're paying them for.
Priorities...Bubba’s in NY campaigning for Coakley. (end/sarc)
it took us several days just to get control of the airport. it looks like we should have negotiated for control of coordinating the whole operation from day one with Haiti’s prez. it hurts me to know that so much is sitting there waiting to get to people.
......There is no reason why the US merchant fleet cannot deliver aid. ....
Except there is no US merchant fleet
That is disgusting to me.
I wanna know who's pulling that BS.
And the ports appear to be heavily damaged as well. Cranes for loading and unloading ships laying in the water etc.
You couldmarshal supplies at the airport and fly them in the Haiti no problem.
Social workers ... that’s what you need the most when you have a disaster like this. Where are the social workers?
This is incredible. Heads need to roll. You’re 100% right- our military is trained and ready to FIX this now. The UN is keeping this from being done efficiently and quickly. They have blood on their hands.
Rwanda, part II.
Almost 500 ships and 70 thousand merchant mariners as of 2006
You are correct.
This is a sorry excuse for employing our limited military resources.
This limits preparation and practice for combat. Fixed wing aircraft are now not flying sorties, getting rusty at hitting the boat. Marines are not rehersing landings, and crews are not sharpening skills.
Plenty of civilian assets are available. If not, then why not? This like the Katrinia response, is being handled skillfully by our military because they are available—
but not the best option.
I remember dodging the machetes in Port Au Prince-Hillary
2012!
As I said days ago, grab Gen. Russell Honore out of retirement.
Excellent idea.....Gen Honore would know how to get things done.
But, Obama and his minions are just “stuck on stupid”
This is how bureaucracies operate. Just head Honore on CNN say apparently the problem last night with Gupta was “medical protocol”...he said they were using the same protocols as they do under normal circumstances.
The left forms a committee that ponders, thinks and then talks about it...the right sees the problem and acts to solve it today- not after the committee is formed.
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