US seeks more NATO help on Katrina aid

[tocqueville]

23 minutes ago

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States asked NATO on Thursday for help in transporting European aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina amid concern that assistance is not getting through to the devastated region quickly enough.

U.S. ambassador Victoria Nuland asked allies at an emergency meeting to study "a stronger logistical and transport role" for the 26-nation defense alliance in shifting the mass of pledged European humanitarian aid, NATO and U.S. officials said.

"Especially heavy sea-lift may be used," said one NATO official, who requested anonymity. Some airlift assistance was also being examined.
..................................
The mission would be an early test of the alliance's much-heralded NATO Response Force (NRF), a rapid reaction fighting unit created to allow it deploy in trouble zones across the globe within a matter of days.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050908/ts_nm/katrina_nato_dc