14 May 2008

Who ya gonna call...



It is the forward deployed presence of United States steel, in the form or a carrier strike group, near the cyclone wrecked Burma (Myanmar) which is the latest stunning example of the failure of moral relativism. Burma, a backwards nation torn by corruption, brutality and oppression, has also been socked by a devastating cyclone (the Pacific name for hurricane). This monumental storm, which would hardly have affected a developed nation, has done apocalyptic damage to this fragile state.

It just so happens that US forces (mainly Navy) are in the area for their annual Cobra Gold exercises. This fortuitous military resource, an immensely capable group of men and women, would serve well either in peace or war. They have construction equipment, helicopters, medical personnel and power generation capability.

The Burmese, much like the Indonesians during the tsunami, are reluctant to reveal themselves for the petty, tyrannical, ineffective autocrats that they are by allowing outside aid into their country. The French president (I am liking him more and more) is speaking of an armed intervention in order to deliver aid to the desperate and destitute.

Even during my own experience with PANAMAX 05, it was US Navy forces (specifically HM-15) first to respond to storm racked New Orleans. To those who point accusing fingers at the United States and its global policies need to take a second look at the net effect of those policies.

Forgetting military operations – which are substantial – the impact of humanitarian aid, presence of forces and deployed capability eclipses all other nations in the world combined. Our major adversaries (and potential adversaries) have no such record of activity or effort. One never reads in the press about the Chinese led humanitarian effort or rescue operations conducted by Russians.

Some of that capability is a function of our wealth and prosperity. But it is driven by our will. It is a will to extend help without condition and a vision as to what is morally right.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I won't argue that the USN was first into N.O., the Army could have been first. We are just configured for a different mission. Someting like; On order, deploy to the French Quarter and put the storm ravaged residents out of their misery...

sonicfrog said...

I know a lot of people like to characterize G W Bush as evil, but he's not. Not compared to the madness that is the Myanmar government. This is inhumane and shames us all. The U. S. ... no. Not the U. S. - The entire world community must roll right in and use force to get aid to these people.

Citizen Deux said...

And now, of course, China is facing the same problems with its earthquake. Despite marshalling more than ten divisions of the PLA, the death toll will likely continue to rise.

Now an earthquake and a cyclone are different animals with different survival profiles, however, preparedness and response are still similar.

sonicfrog said...

Global Warming will be blamed (Oh, Gore already went there).