BLACKFIVE: Disaster relief is hard

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Disaster relief is hard

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

All the way around apparently, the Burmese government is run by evil heartless thugs and we never sem to have all our ducks in a line either. A message from very close to these efforts.

Operation Caring Response or Unending Resolve, is finally beginning to draw to a close.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit or MEU has finally broken out of the endless circles they have been sailing (modloc or modified location, or as a victim of 52 days of that in 1993, the hated Gator Squares) They have started the trip back here to Thailand to pick up their gear and the Marines and sailors that remained behind for Cobra Gold then they start the return trip to Okinawa.

Once we have finished pushing the supplies we have here in Thailand we
get to turn off the lights and head home as well. Sadly, the damage done by the storm, the damage done by the government in

Burma, and the successfully played game by that government of holding Marine Forces Pacific, PACOM, my Brigade and the MEU hostage (let's not forget the French and British) for nearly 6 weeks, is only the beginning.

Since the Junta formally assumed power in 1988, and even since 1962 while they were nominally in charge, the military has committed numerous crimes against humanity, and the seeds have been sown (as they can't plant rice) to see the most horrific violence in it's
history. The people are angry, they are starving, many have lost some, if not all; of their family, possessions and life. They truly have nothing and therefore, nothing to lose. The only hope I have is that we leave before Burma explodes.

The US media has been interesting in this, calling our efforts a failure. We didn't fail, we have airlifted thousands of tons of relief supplies into the country. We have the most sustained effort of all, we just couldn't get the large amount of supplies the ships hold directly to those that needed them most. Our helicopters and other methods of transporting the stuff to the most demanding of needs and worst hit areas.

The failure was and is solely in the hands of the junta. Senior General Than Shwe and his henchmen, hide in their mansions in Nay Pyi Taw while their citizens die. They walk around in their military uniforms bedecked in every piece of flair they can find, awards received for "combat operations" against the ethnic minorities of Burma and other "enemies of the State"…like those damned Buddhist Monks, obviously one of the most feared Military forces in all the world. The bald head and flowing robes, hiding all sorts of military hardware, like bowls, candles and walking sticks. Yes, nothing like bringing a walking stick to a gun fight.

The French considered bringing the concept of direct intervention to UN Security Council, a concept that has some merit but maybe not a good move in the long run. The people of the Irrawaddy, the western and eastern delta's know the US was there. They know the ships came bearing aid, and more importantly, to them, those ships carried freedom. Carried in the hands of a young Marine. One who has already probably served in Iraq and understandsthe price freedom carries. The people of Burma have waited patiently for that young Marine since 1988. Had we forced our way in, we would have had tofight our way out. What would the press say then? If or when, the govt of Burma reverts to its hobby of violently and bloodily suppressing its citizens with my Command here on the sidelines in Thailand, will the media force us to intervene? Or blame us for not stopping it? The GOB demonstrated last year during the Saffron Revolution, that they do not care who is in their country when they start the killing…and as the Japanese photo journalist learned, if you get too close with a camera, they will kill you too.

I would love to fly with one of the Relief flights to say I went to Burma, I don't think I want to conduct combat or peacekeeping operations there, at least not today. No, I would like to add a little land and space and hope the people can figure out a way to remove their tyrants.

One last thing the people of Burma know, is the ships have sailed. What happens next is anybody's guess, but I pray for the people of Burma.

Semper Fidelis,

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June 06, 2008 • Permalink
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Comments

All the way around apparently, the Burmese government is run by evil heartless thugs and we never sem to have all our ducks in a line either. A message from very close to these efforts.

Operation Caring Response or Unending Resolve, is finally beginning to draw to a close.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit or MEU has finally broken out of the endless circles they have been sailing (modloc or modified location, or as a victim of 52 days of that in 1993, the hated Gator Squares) They have started the trip back here to Thailand to pick up their gear and the Marines and sailors that remained behind for Cobra Gold then they start the return trip to Okinawa.

Once we have finished pushing the supplies we have here in Thailand we
get to turn off the lights and head home as well. Sadly, the damage done by the storm, the damage done by the government in

Burma, and the successfully played game by that government of holding Marine Forces Pacific, PACOM, my Brigade and the MEU hostage (let's not forget the French and British) for nearly 6 weeks, is only the beginning.

Since the Junta formally assumed power in 1988, and even since 1962 while they were nominally in charge, the military has committed numerous crimes against humanity, and the seeds have been sown (as they can't plant rice) to see the most horrific violence in it's
history. The people are angry, they are starving, many have lost some, if not all; of their family, possessions and life. They truly have nothing and therefore, nothing to lose. The only hope I have is that we leave before Burma explodes.

The US media has been interesting in this, calling our efforts a failure. We didn't fail, we have airlifted thousands of tons of relief supplies into the country. We have the most sustained effort of all, we just couldn't get the large amount of supplies the ships hold directly to those that needed them most. Our helicopters and other methods of transporting the stuff to the most demanding of needs and worst hit areas.

The failure was and is solely in the hands of the junta. Senior General Than Shwe and his henchmen, hide in their mansions in Nay Pyi Taw while their citizens die. They walk around in their military uniforms bedecked in every piece of flair they can find, awards received for "combat operations" against the ethnic minorities of Burma and other "enemies of the State"…like those damned Buddhist Monks, obviously one of the most feared Military forces in all the world. The bald head and flowing robes, hiding all sorts of military hardware, like bowls, candles and walking sticks. Yes, nothing like bringing a walking stick to a gun fight.

The French considered bringing the concept of direct intervention to UN Security Council, a concept that has some merit but maybe not a good move in the long run. The people of the Irrawaddy, the western and eastern delta's know the US was there. They know the ships came bearing aid, and more importantly, to them, those ships carried freedom. Carried in the hands of a young Marine. One who has already probably served in Iraq and understandsthe price freedom carries. The people of Burma have waited patiently for that young Marine since 1988. Had we forced our way in, we would have had tofight our way out. What would the press say then? If or when, the govt of Burma reverts to its hobby of violently and bloodily suppressing its citizens with my Command here on the sidelines in Thailand, will the media force us to intervene? Or blame us for not stopping it? The GOB demonstrated last year during the Saffron Revolution, that they do not care who is in their country when they start the killing…and as the Japanese photo journalist learned, if you get too close with a camera, they will kill you too.

I would love to fly with one of the Relief flights to say I went to Burma, I don't think I want to conduct combat or peacekeeping operations there, at least not today. No, I would like to add a little land and space and hope the people can figure out a way to remove their tyrants.

One last thing the people of Burma know, is the ships have sailed. What happens next is anybody's guess, but I pray for the people of Burma.

Semper Fidelis,