Defense Dept's web site for Haiti relief - worth reading, lots of news and info

[The Straight Story]

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0110_haiti/

[peacetalksforall]

1. Thanks. If only the people could see the photos and know that many are

trying.

P.S. - what do you think is up with the man carrying huge bags up towards the door of a ship(?) - as to enter it - instead doing down the plank? Loks like some kind of transport?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Well, according to the caption...

That's the USS Comfort which is still in port in the US and thus is being loaded rather than unloaded.

[NutmegYankee]

3. I wish people understood that ships require preparations to get underway.

Too many people here seem to think you just jump onboard and sail away. Good post on the other thread BTW!:thumbsup:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. People are used to emergencies being resolved in 90 minutes.

And then the credits.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Well, consider me one bitter person after the coup against Aristede by the US, France, Canada and

most especially by the IMF and World Bank. After watching the looting and buying of Iraq, the negative and suspicious thought I had in mind as a natural outcome of the recent history of this country, I imagined that they are taking money from the banks - or - they are taking care of some wealthy resident who is fleeing. I find it easy to think the worst about fine looking bags like that - given our history.

Yes, I'm very bitter about the coup. I have no respect for the IMF and World Bank, but I'm sure they are busy trying to figure out the most generous actions they are capable of for the poor people of Haiti - which all should be afraid of. And just because I single out IMF and World Bank doesn't mean that I respect our government for what they did, nor France or Canada.

[haele]

5. The man was carrying his seabags up the plank to get ready to go underway.

That looks like someone checking onboard the USS Comfort prior to deployment.

Haele

[peacetalksforall]

7. It looks like a worker carrying bags. very nice bags. See my other post, if

interested.

[haele]

8. Those bags were two new seabags and a large tool kit bag, nothing more.

I can get the seabags at the base uniform store for about $30. Sort of a mix of nylon and canvas, made in the USA last time I looked. Just a bag that "folds in" on a clip at the top that you put a lock on, a couple handles and back-pack/sling straps, and a couple pockets. They look "nice" because they were new and full. And they're made to handle at least 75 lbs of personal items.
The tool kit is made similar to the seabag, and they're government issue for whatever rate specialty tools that the Sailor or Marine might want to keep on him or her instead of loading on with the rest of the workshop load. (When I was in, I was authorized a small set of tools that fit to my smaller hands better than the regular ones that came with the workshop, as well as some specialtiy tools that I had taken a certification course to be "qualified" to use for that work)
I can't tell what rate the guy walking up the gangplank was other than his being enlisted, but if I were him and not sure how long this deployment would be, I'd get an extra seabag and pack some more personal stuff onboard to be a bit more comfortable.

I'm sure you can get similar bags at the Army/Navy surplus for around the same price we get them at the PX.
Nothing sinister or black ops with those bags at all.
And I'm not discounting your mistrust of some of our historical activities vis a vis Haiti, but the spooks that might be involved in what you fear the most would not be entering Haiti on the USS Comfort, they would have flown in on one of the Special Ops flights earlier in the week.

Haele