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WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2009 – As the U.S. military continues to provide assistance to victims of storms and earthquakes in the Philippines and Indonesia, tsunami relief operations in American Samoa are tapering off, a Defense Department spokesman said here today. The humanitarian-relief operation in American Samoa “is essentially winding down,” Bryan Whitman told reporters. The U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean was hit by an earthquake-caused tsunami Sept. 29. Eleven C-17 cargo-plane missions provided nearly 700,000 pounds of supplies, blankets, electricity generators, vehicles and other help to American Samoans, Whitman said. A 14-member civil-support team from the Hawaii National Guard...

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 5, 2009 – The Hawaii National Guard’s medical mission in American Samoa wrapped up over the weekend, but 14 Guardsmen with the state’s civil support team will remain there to conduct joint hazardous-material and damage assessment operations, Guard officials reported today. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lisa Bartolome of the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Medical Group shows an American Samoan boy how to make a paper airplane at the Congressional Christian Church of American Samoa in the Fafatiua village, Oct. 2, 2009. The Hawaii Air National Guard provided basic medical care to residents after a tsunami struck...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BUTLER, Japan, Oct. 2, 2009 – The U.S. military is providing critically needed disaster-relief supplies to mitigate suffering and prevent further loss of life in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana, which struck the Philippines on Sept. 25. "Marines and sailors are working with the Philippine government to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the areas the Philippine government deems most in need," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Douglas Powell, spokesman for the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. U.S. military personnel are delivering relief supplies to remote areas by way of air and ground, providing...

For 11 days in late August and early September 1995, U.S. and NATO air power defended Bosnian Muslims, who were being attacked by Bosnian Serbs, who were supported by Serbian Serbs. This was merely the overture to something much more ambitious — a grand concert of nation-building that began when the Dayton agreement reached in December of that year calmed the Balkan furies of revanchism and revenge, for a while... Political scientists Patrice C. McMahon and Jon Western note that Bosnia was “once the poster child for international reconstruction efforts” and was considered “proof that under the right conditions the...

British diplomats in Khartoum have demanded that the vehicles, computers, office equipment, medical stores and cash be returned so that it can be redistributed. But Sudanese officials have scoffed at this, saying that neither the British government nor the aid agencies have "the right to control these assets". In total, Oxfam and Medecins Sans Frontieres' French and Dutch operations have reported that they lost roughly £3.25 million of equipment. They had also been forced to pay another £5.6 million to Sudanese staff as lay-off payments because of the shutdown. Sudan has demanded the right to redistribute the materials to its...

(IsraelNN.com) The United States is funding a Palestinian Authority project to place non-Hebrew road signs throughout Judea and Samaria. The PA plans to implement it in exclusively Israeli-controlled areas as well. The project is part of American aid “towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” as a top official of USAID (United States Agency for International Development) in the PA, Howard Sumka, told the Al-Hayat Arabic daily.

I am outraged at our government withholding aid from a country that simply was following their constitution in removing a corrupt dictoator who was trying to subvert the rule of law. Freepers, how can we contribute to Honduras as individuals? Is there an organzation like "Americans for a Free Honduras" that we can support and send money to? I'm as tight with finances as anyone in this economy, but I'll give up some small luxuries to support this movement! SARAH PALIN, WE'RE NEEDING YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE, PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

7/28/2009 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- Whether Joint Base Balad servicemembers have a wingman or a battle buddy, the ethos of helping a comrade in need arose during a basketball game here July 14. Headed by their coach, Army Sgt.1st Class Anthony Jones of the 699th Maintenance Company, a basketball team compiled of Airmen and Soldiers aided their fellow team member, Army 1st Sgt. Eric Colvin of the 699th Maintenance Co., after he showed heart-attack symptoms during a game at the west side gym. "I knew he had a heart attack years ago," Sergeant Jones said. "Actually, it...

Prime Minister Gillani Petitions Envoy for Drone Technology, Real-Time Data ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 22 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on Wednesday called on the United States to provide real-time intelligence, unmanned aircraft technology and other military assistance to help his country combat the Taliban without relying on attacks from U.S. drones. Gillani raised the issue with Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, who is on his fourth visit here since becoming the U.S. envoy to the region, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Pakistan has asked before for the capability to carry out its own drone strikes,...

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2009 – U.S forces delivered new skills, and hope, to Iraqis in recent training and humanitarian operations, military officials reported. Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, and the 19/5 Military Transition Team recently provided training to their counterparts from 5th Iraqi Army Division’s 19th Brigade. "Our main goal with these events is to provide these medics with the knowledge they need to save lives," said Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Mackey, a transition team medic. "Beyond the actual training, we are coaching the [Iraqi] brigade's medical leadership in planning and implementing brigade-level training." Mackey said the soldiers...

What kinds of assistance should the U.S. provide other nations? A Weekly Poll.

In a gesture of charity, the Canadian government has released the Republic of Haiti of its entire $2.3-million debt to Canada, Jim Flaherty, the finance minister said Thursday. The move, a part of the Canadian Debt Initiative, brings the total debt of impoverished countries cancelled by Canada to $965-million, including debt owed by Latin American and Caribbean nations. "Today’s announcement frees up valuable financial resources that can be better spent on Haiti’s priorities, not its liabilities," Mr. Flaherty said. "At a time of unprecedented hardship in the global economy, Canada continues to eliminate financial burdens faced by Haiti and other...

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2009 – Coalition and Afghan forces detained a suspected Taliban leader and provided medical aid to a wounded civilian in recent operations, military officials said. Afghan and coalition forces captured an area Taliban commander and a suspected associate in a June 13 operation to disrupt Taliban activities in northern Paktika province. The suspect is tied to numerous attacks against coalition forces in the area, military officials said. The wanted Taliban leader was wounded from debris when forces gained entry into the compound, officials said. Medical specialists treated his wounds, and he was evacuated for further medical treatment....

Should the U.S. give aid to Zimbabwe? ($73 million is being discussed) A Daily Poll Still 24 hours remaining to vote in A Weekly Poll. What would the President of Iran do if he acquired a nuclear weapon?

* Aid running at less than 55 percent of amount needed * Palestinian Authority borrows $350 million from banks * PA now close to borrowing limit

Opposition to anti-aid campaigner grows By William Wallis in London Published: May 22 2009 19:54 | Last updated: May 22 2009 19:54 A swell of opposition is building in the aid world to a new protagonist who has thrown down a strident challenge to the rock stars and liberal economists who have long dominated debate over foreign assistance to developing countries. Galled by the ease with which Dambisa Moyo, a Zambian economist and former investment banker, has risen to prominence this year, activists are circulating detailed critiques of her ideas and mass mailing African non-government organisations to mobilise support against...

WASHINGTON: Protestors demonstrating against misuse of American tax-payer dollars briefly disrupted a Senate hearing on US aid to Pakistan on Thursday, but US lawmakers by and large fell in line with the Obama administration's proposal to not legislate exacting conditions on the multi-billion dollar assistance but hold Islamabad to account through executive oversight. Shouting "Say no to a war economy," and "No more blood money," some half-dozen placard-waving demonstrators interrupted a testimony by top ranking US general Mike Mullen. They were evicted quickly even as law-makers agonized about throwing US tax-payer dollars at Pakistan without sufficient benchmarks and accountability. India...

An Iraqi woman receives a bag of food during a joint U.S./Iraqi humanitarian food drop in Firra Shia village, May 17. Photo by Jon Soles, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. BAGHDAD — Iraqi Army (IA) and U.S. Soldiers did their part to help some citizens here during a humanitarian food drop in Firra Shia village, May 17. The joint mission highlighted the use of both American and Iraqi military assets to meet the needs of the community where the Soldiers live and work.First Lt. Michael Neel, 8th Cavalry Regiment, said humanitarian missions show the many facets of the American and Iraqi...

CHAKLALA, Pakistan, May 20, 2009 – The kind of fast-action, humanitarian outreach used this week to help more than a million Pakistanis displaced by war is exactly the type of mission the Air Force’s 3rd Airlift Squadron was glad to take on, airmen in the unit said. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matt Pease loads a pallet containing humanitarian relief supplies destined for Pakistan into the cargo bay of a C-17 Globemaster III, May 20, 2009, in Southwest Asia. Pease is deployed from the 437th Security Forces Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt....

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2009 – Two Air Force C-17 airlifters have begun delivering humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in Pakistan’s northwestern provinces, the chief U.S. defense representative said today. U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson hands over one of the 120,000 meals destined for displaced people in Pakistan to Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed, coordinator of Pakistan's relief effort, Chaklala Air Base, Pakistan, May 20, 2009. U.S. State Department photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. For Navy Rear Adm. Michael A. Lefevre, who works out of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the humanitarian effort to help the...