Just your friendly neighborhood Navy

[unhappycamper]

Sailors are working on a gentler approach in the Persian Gulf to build stronger relations with locals


Just your friendly neighborhood Navy
By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, October 26, 2007


ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE — It is around 7 p.m. and already pitch black in the middle of the Persian Gulf.

On the port side, sailors suddenly notice a flickering searchlight. Thinking it is a distress call from a small fishing boat, this amphibious assault ship launches two boarding teams to see if they can help.

The incident last week turned out to be a false alarm, but sailors said the fishermen thanked them for their concern and quick response.

While international law requires military and civilian mariners to assist other ships in distress, the Navy is eager to help and make friends with those who make a living in the gulf. The Navy along with the U.S. Coast Guard and allies are trying their best to win the hearts and minds of fishermen with the aim of deterring piracy and gaining information on possible terrorist activity.

The nearly 3,000 sailors and Marines aboard this amphibious assault ship haven’t captured any “bad guys” on this deployment, but ship commanders in the Kearsarge Strike Group say they are helping police the gulf, which the Navy calls “maritime security” operations. Piracy has been a concern in these waters for centuries.

“We’ve got ships that are pretty much in the northern, central and southern Arabian Gulf that are doing that,” Kearsarge commander Capt. James Gregorski said, using the name the Navy uses for the Persian Gulf. “And they’re talking to fishermen. When they need assistance, they’ll usually share some information, ‘Hey, by the way, there’s some guy running around in a skiff out here, and he’s threatening my ship.’ ”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49788

[Eagle_Eye]

1. Just what Arab fishermen want to see

Pissed off, 20 year old young men, who have had six hours of sleep in the last 48, with M-16 coming on board their boat.

"Hi, were from the government. We are here to help!"

[Captain Hilts]

2. No, that's not necessarily the case. nt

[Eagle_Eye]

3. You mean they have had even less than six hours of sleep?

[Captain Hilts]

4. No, that some of them will behave in a professional manner and avoid confrontation. nt

[NYVet]

5. Typo in your reply mookie

It should read "Just about all of them" instead of "some of them".

Contrary to what most of DU posters like to say about them, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are well behaved.
You and I both know that though.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Damn, too late to correct...

Keep up the Good Fight!

[NYVet]

7. changing hearts and minds

one post at a time...