The Washington Post and some liberal blogs are saying that our efforts in Afghanistan are stopping us from sending as many helicopters as we could to aid flooding victims. The United States has already diverted six Chinook transport helicopters from the Afghanistan war to Pakistan over the past 10 days for rescue missions and aid delivery. It has also sent hundreds of thousands of prepackaged military meals and a pledge of more than $40 million in disaster assistance, far more than any other country. 'Risk mitigation' A senior U.S. military official said transfer of additional helicopters, which are in short supply in Afghanistan, would require a political decision in Washington. "Do they exist in the region? Yes," he said. "Are they available? No." "It's a question of risk mitigation," the official said. "Helicopter lift is critical to the mission" in Afghanistan, where road transport is difficult and dangerous, he said. "It's not like we have a great surplus of helicopters in theater that are not engaging." Wow, so we only sent six helicopters because we were busy using the rest to strafe civilians in Afghanistan right? Oh wait a minute. MACDILL AFB, Fla. (Aug. 11, 2010) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates today authorized the deployment of 19 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft consisting of 12 CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters, four CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and three MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters as part of the United States’ continued humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the recent monsoon. 19 helicopters? But I thought the stingy war mongering Americans only sent 6. In situations like this we can't just immediately send every piece of equipment in our arsenal. Arrangements have to be made w/ the host government and logistical support as well. In this case it was smarter to send a ship like the USS Peleliu which has it's own logistical support than to divert birds from Afghanistan and try to move their support into a devastated area. You have to wonder why these journalists have such short memories. Has there been a natural disaster anywhere that we didn't send enormous amounts of help to? No, but we do have to organize the right kind of help. That doesn't make nearly as "good" a story though. Hmm "US military organizing incredible amount of aid for Pakistan, like they always do" v. "US war in Afghanistan means civilians in Pakistan must die".Shocking which meme they chose eh?
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/BxAPFOvpBmQ/reporting-wrong-on-us-aid-to-pakistan.html
Posted
Aug 12 2010, 12:25 AM
by
BLACKFIVE