Thanks Mark for the link...
SIDENOTE: Chaos 56 left this comment...
via the International Business Times.
1. Read it for yourself. The whole thing.
2. The USMC better get ahead of this story like TODAY!
3. As usual, the UN is causing additional friction in a relief effort (if this is true) and it helps explain why supplies are slow to reach survivors.
4. Instead of setting up a MEB to deal with this type of situation, the Marine Corps would have been better served to insert a couple of logistics officers into USAID to get them up to speed on how to plan, organize and carry out operations of this type. Once USAID is up to speed (something I doubt they've ever been before) then the officers remain to act as liaisons in case of future incidents.
5. The USMC better get ahead of this story like TODAY!
SIDENOTE: Corruption is known to exist in the Philippine govt. Ours too. It also exists in Haiti but for some reason the relief effort proceeded at a quicker pace for one reason. The military took the lead, ended up pushing an ineffective USAID out of the way and simply got the job done. There is no reason why a one star general (MEB Commander) would allow a bottleneck to form at an airport. This concept has failed and its obvious that early arrival does not ensure early success. Without the full power of a MEU to conduct operations this is just a dog and pony show. Additionally the UN has proven time and time again to be a hinderance and not a help in almost every arena. They are simply an administrative organization without the ability to lead or direct operations in the field.
SIDENOTE: Chaos 56 left this comment...
In III MEF, requested to go, got told to pound sand.... gotta love Division. HA/DR should not be a Marine Corps show, we should be facilitating NGO/IGOs, State Dept, and UN aid to the area, the DoS has the lead in these things and we should be doing everything possible to put of GoP face on it rather than an American one. Especially when that country has an ongoing insurgency in the south. We should be making the GoP successful rather than them supporting us. But alas I'm going back to my cave to color in the lines.Not only should we be propping up the Philippine Govt, but the UN order goes against our own interests in the region. We want to get back onto Subic Bay. We want the insurgency put down in the south. The UN could care less. The more this story churns the worse it gets. The saddest part? There are people hurting that are getting swept up in politics, the desire to prove a concept or plain old power grabbing....its a shame.
via the International Business Times.
The U.S. Marines were reportedly instructed not to let Philippine government officials and politicians touch the relief goods that will arrive in Samar. Five C130 panes are scheduled to arrive, carrying relief goods from the United Nations.A few things....
Six days after one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded hit the cities and towns in central region of the Philippines, survivors became increasingly frustrated with the government's slow response to distribute badly needed food and water
1. Read it for yourself. The whole thing.
2. The USMC better get ahead of this story like TODAY!
3. As usual, the UN is causing additional friction in a relief effort (if this is true) and it helps explain why supplies are slow to reach survivors.
4. Instead of setting up a MEB to deal with this type of situation, the Marine Corps would have been better served to insert a couple of logistics officers into USAID to get them up to speed on how to plan, organize and carry out operations of this type. Once USAID is up to speed (something I doubt they've ever been before) then the officers remain to act as liaisons in case of future incidents.
5. The USMC better get ahead of this story like TODAY!
SIDENOTE: Corruption is known to exist in the Philippine govt. Ours too. It also exists in Haiti but for some reason the relief effort proceeded at a quicker pace for one reason. The military took the lead, ended up pushing an ineffective USAID out of the way and simply got the job done. There is no reason why a one star general (MEB Commander) would allow a bottleneck to form at an airport. This concept has failed and its obvious that early arrival does not ensure early success. Without the full power of a MEU to conduct operations this is just a dog and pony show. Additionally the UN has proven time and time again to be a hinderance and not a help in almost every arena. They are simply an administrative organization without the ability to lead or direct operations in the field.
as an 0402, and 0530... that goes against all sorts of doctrine....
ReplyDeleteya know i've always wondered why civil affairs didn't have a MUCH bigger role in these type operations than they do. seems we should have one of those bubbas sitting in a chair next to the CO with a lawyer sitting one seat behind him to keep us straight. this is going to blow up and they have a shiny one star MEB commander to pin the blame on.
DeleteIn III MEF, requested to go, got told to pound sand.... gotta love Division. HA/DR should not be a Marine Corps show, we should be facilitating NGO/IGOs, State Dept, and UN aid to the area, the DoS has the lead in these things and we should be doing everything possible to put of GoP face on it rather than an American one. Especially when that country has an ongoing insurgency in the south. We should be making the GoP successful rather than them supporting us. But alas I'm going back to my cave to color in the lines.
Deletei hadn't even considered that side of the story. ok, you paid attention in school! the thought that we could be propping up the Philippine govt in the eyes of its people if we handled it properly should be our number one consideration...especially since we want bases there.
Deleteoutstanding point. i'll be placing your comment in the body of the story...
I've done some HA/DR mission planning and reviews with USAID when I was assigned to CENTAM and I will tell you 90% of them are professionals and very competent on disaster relief. The main things the military adds to their effectiveness is transportation assets. The largest friction point is that, in the case of HA/DR, the MIL Assets actually fall under USAID and, as we saw with Haiti, that causes a ton of problems. No GO will want to give up command to some "civilian" even if the guy has 30yrs of experience in these operations. I found it was best to see USAID as CW05s, while I technically outrank you, you're the expert and defer to that expertise.
ReplyDeleteLong story short, I've seen UN forces and command structure limit effectiveness due to crazy bureaucratic chains of command and then the relief provided usually ends up rotting on the pier while they try to figure out where to put the volleyball court.
Sol,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this is off topic (so feel free to remove this post).
Y'know what's the biggest and annoying thing a base commander for Subic and Clark is? Typhoon. Subic and Clark are in the middle of the Philippine's "typhoon alley".
Sure, the USN or USAF can setup shop there. But look south. Look further south. Cast your eyes on Zamboanga. Not much there but Zamboanga is a gateway. A gateway to one of the largest infiltration/exfiltration routes of south-east Asia. Set up shop there. Located in the south-west of the Philippines, Zamboanga has never been touched by any typhoon. Drone flying weather? Perfect. Jungle Warfare Training? The best you can find.