General asks for U.S. warships in typhoon relief
By Barbara Starr
The Marine Corps general in charge of U.S. military aid efforts for victims of Typhoon Haiyan is asking the Pentagon to urgently send a number of amphibious warships to the Philippines.
Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy tells CNN he needs the Marine Corps amphibious ships specifically because they can carry a variety of small boats, trucks, equipment and supplies needed, as well as making potable water. "They are the Swiss army knife of the U.S. military," Kennedy told CNN in a telephone interview from the Philippines. Kennedy says he believes his request will be approved by the Pentagon in the coming hours. As many as four of the warships could be headed to the Philippines.
The amphibious ships can also carry helicopters and tracked vehicles known as "assault amphibious vehicles." These vehicles can carry supplies and move over and through piles of debris to distribution points where aid is needed most.
The U.S. military will take supplies to distribution points, but it will be then handed out by Philippines forces, Kennedy said. Local forces are in the best position to know community leaders and make sure those in the most need are getting the help, he added.
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If one were to base their convictions and opnniois on the propagated talking points in the western media, and accept their delusional contextualization of the Iranian issue, one would think that the Iranian state is a menace and an existential threat to, not only the U.S. and Israel, but the entire world. If one was sufficiently convinced that Iran posed a direct threat to their security, in such a state of fear, one might even support a preemptive attack. This contextualization is so twisted and backwards that while laughable, is also extremely dangerous as it could possibly lead to the death of hundreds of thousands of human beings.10 years ago, Brian Whitaker wrote in The Guardian that “One of the oldest tricks in the run-up to a war is to spread terrifying stories of things that the enemy may be about to do. Government officials plant these tales, journalists water them and the public, for the most part, swallow them.” This was, as we all know now, the method used to justify the murder of Iraqi civilians and the destruction of their nation by the Bush and Obama administrations. It was a pack of lies – weapons of Mass Destruction, ties with Al Qaeda etc. – destined to occupy Iraq, steal its wealth and keep it under control, regardless of “civilian casualties”
WHY? I mean WHY? The US won't care for their own people yet they spend billions caring for people that hate US.
Some of US would like some food! Or health care? Or jobs?
Anyone going to send US a war ship?
FIX AMERICA NOW
It really is amazing how we rush to help every other nation when they get hit by a storm but our own gulf area is still trashed from katrina. We have a hard time authorizing aid to our own people when it hits the fan here. We sit and watch our infrastructure crumble as we build up places like iraq that end up effectively worse than before. Im all for helping others once you help your self.
If we can't afford things due to politicians not doing their jobs, how can we afford this? We can shut the country down and lose billions and devestate peoples lives over nothing but then when someone else needs help we are all over it. Its like we chose to take all the budget cuts from ourselves while giving what is left to other countries.
Atleast this one doesn't chant death to america while our own politicians try to pretend it doesnt happen. Atleast there is no good reason not to help these people. But still. Its gotta rub people still screwed from katrina the wrong way.
Just noticed how huge this was. The death toll is approaching the trade centers eh? Perhaps that was slightly insensitive but I guess that is the point eh?
Sorry for your loss
Yes, those pesky Fillipino's make our lives a living hell here in America. We do it because it is the right thing to do, not because we are looking for any reward. That's how we should all treat one another.
Pesky or not, it is our moral obligation to help everyone. I agree that it is the right thing to do.
And so it begins. Iraq 3.