Now we have our relief helicopters taking defensive measures while delivering those supplies. Want to know a dirty little secret that the Marine Corps and the Defense Department refuses to admit?
Our forces are in danger while providing this relief. The Pakistani Intelligence Agencies are thoroughly infiltrated by terrorist and the MANPAD threat inside Pakistan is more of a threat than it is in Afghanistan. Look at the following pictures...a CH-53E firing off flares? Hordes of people allowed to crowd around our helicopters when they touch down?
We definitely need to revamp this mission. Allow the USAF to run with this ball. The USAF can transport goods into the country and the Pakistan Army can distribute it from different airfields. USAF Red Horse teams can establish/reinforce existing fields and they can use trucks or aircraft to get it to the population.
The way that we're doing it now is putting our people at risk, is needlessly tying up our strategic reserve (26th MEU) and is (in my opinion) not efficient than a squadron of C-17 flying supplies into a relief hub.
Byline: Sgt. Jason Bushong
Date: 2010-09-11 01:07:00
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit shoots off flares as a self-defense measure while delivering supplies in support of the flood relief effort in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Bushong/Released)
Byline: SSgt. Wayne Gray
Date: 2010-09-10 09:03:00
U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary use a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter to deliver food to flood victims in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray/Released)
Byline: SSgt. Wayne Gray
Date: 2010-09-10 08:43:00
U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary use a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter to deliver food to flood victims in Pano Aqil, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2010. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray/Released)
Sending in the USAF means a bigger (ground) footprint, which is a risk in itself and the Pakistanis would not stand for it. The Marines have the helos that are so needed, as most infrastructure is just gone, so even runways are either unavailable or overcrowded.
ReplyDeleteIt is/was hoped that it would give some good PR, that it may sway rural Pakistani opinion away from anti-US sentiment (as most never seen an American anyway).
The Pakistanis still demand (on board)Pakistani soldiers distribute the food, especially Western donated, just so they won't look bad.
Great photos though.
not necessarily Marcase. the USAF can do LAPPES (I believe that's the acronym) drops on certain airfields and never have to land. and how is it more dangerous for US forces if the USAF takes the lead? instead of operating out in the boonies delivering supplies directly to victims, they will stage out of bases. the USAF simply brings it in and the Pakistani military distributes it.
ReplyDeletemuch safer than the way we're doing it now.
I think the big problem with sending in the USAF is that the moment you hand the supply chain over to the Pakistani's it goes to hell. The rampant corruption coupled with the anti-Western sentiment within the armed forces would mean little if any of the aid would actually get to those who need it. In fact it wouldn't surprise anyone if much of the food ended up on sale in the black market and the ISI put out propaganda that the Americans were forcing the people to pay or something like that. Pentagon guys must have decided to just do a direct drop mission instead and accept the risk upfront than the potential PR disaster indirectly.
ReplyDeleteThe Pakistani's are not just unreliable allies, Hell I would call them open enemies given their record of fraternizing with terrorists...
ok ...
ReplyDeletethose are some pretty good points.
time to chew on this some more.
First of all, lets get it in the open its a CH53E super stallion. As one of the few people involved in this mission I can tell you there is no legit. threat from the Pakistani government or their people. just really hungry people looking for a way out. the flares shoot off when they over-heat a common occurrence with them. as for the other post about using 50 cal machine guns, I think I would have noticed if the helicopter I was flying on had loaded weapons on it.
ReplyDelete