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Not paying attentionRussia’s foreign policy and defense establishments really don’t care for the presence of US warships in their back yard:
Oh, contraire. The US Navy’s tradition of humanitarian assistance goes back as least as far as the Irish potato famine. In more recent times, the Navy provided HA support to East Timor in 2001, the USS Abraham Lincoln assisted the people of Indonesia after the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami struck, and a Navy/Marine Corps team delivered relief supplies and logistics to Pakistan after a catastrophic earthquake in October that same year. Although not a combatant, the hospital ship USNS Mercy has made three full HA deployments since 2005. Nothing could be a more common practice than rendering assistance to those in need. It’s the protesting humanitarian assistance that’s uncommon in the 21st century. 16 comments to Not paying attention |
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One seems to recall Lexington (or perhaps Sara) supplying electrical power to Seattle/Tacoma back in the 1930s as well.
I didn’t know that bit about the potato famine. My Irish ancestors thank you retroactively.
I believe that it was neither a battleship nor a Navy ship but rather the Cutter Dallas of the USCG delivering the goods to Georgia.
Larry,
While the USCGC Dallas did make a trip, so did the USS McFaul, a Burke class destroyer.
Too bad we don’t still have an actual battleship in service. I bet an Iowa could carry a lot more humanitarian supplies than a destroyer. And provide the Russians with ammo resupply — 16 inches at a time.
(Okay, I’m just fantasizing. Every now and then I indulge my battleship fetish. )
Part of me says send the ships to Poti and dare the Russians to stop them. Which is why I can never be President. Teddy Roosevelt-esque tactics have no place in a nuclear world.
Interesting point, Mike. I too long for having a real battlewagon in the fleet, but for tactical rather than strategic reasons. A CBG tends to get everybody within 500 miles sort of on edge, they being quite within range and all. An Iowa-class? Not so much, but there’s a sudden pacified region within visual distance.
Too bad they were so crew-intensive, and made of steel we’d have trouble producing these days. Every once in a while your target is indeed a nail, and the best tool is a BFH.
They were beautiful, too. The lines, that teak glowing in the sunlight… Don’t make them like that anymore.
– Max
Don’t be angry just because your Navy can barely float and has no history of helping those in need.
Ah, but who brought the damn potatoes to Ireland in the first place? Probably the navy…
snicker, snicker…
Funny how a food with such a short history there has been indelibly associated with that country!
In all seriousness, if I needed help, I’d call the Navy! In fact, what are you boys doing this afternoon?
d
Pooty is likely upset that all the other countries mentioned (save Eire) are third-world. He probably doesn’t like the neighborhood.
Therapist1,
I’m assuming that the use of the pronoun “your” refers to the Russian Navy? Because if not, I’d say you were probably on the wrong blog.
Let’s not deceive ourselves. There is an obvious difference between purely humanitarian aid – like potatoes to the dying Irish – and an unusual show of force in the Black Sea as tensions grow.
While I support both our aid and naval display in this instance, I also recognize – as do the Russians – the dual actions of humanitarianism and mild saber rattling for what they are.
It’s the protesting humanitarian assistance that’s uncommon in the 21st century.
I seem to recall an instance similar in spirit to this in Myammar.
Interesting moves by the Russians. They are pushing to make sure the Turks enforce the Montreux Convention. For those not up on their history, only 9 warships from non-Black Sea countries allowed in the Black Sea, and no ship larger than 15,000 tons allowed to pass theDardanelles. The article I read (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/world/9759360.asp?scr=1) said that the Turks had already disallowed some US request(s), citing the 15,000 ton limit. Wonder what we wanted to send, LHD or LHA? Something else?
Anyhow, I think we are right at 9 “foreign” (ie, non Black Sea country) ships right now, so theoretically, a new one can go in only if one already there leaves. Oh, and another restriction of the Convention– foreign ships can only remain in the Black Sea for 3 weeks before they must leave.
The Russians are playing a long game with their best cards, wonder what our (ie USA) long term game plan is.
I suspect there are going to be nine extra warships in the Black Sea a lot more often these days. I wonder if there is any decent liberty in the Ukraine? Wasn’t on the list of options back in the day…
Like the Navy has 9 extra ships these days……..
There are no “extra” ships-just not enough ships.
fliterman, were you thinking the Navy brought potatoes to the Irish to save them from the famine? Or am I reading you wrong?
Still amazes me that most of the jokes about the Irish involve a non-native plant, which got such a hold on the country in less than 100 years that when the crop failed, millions died. Yet most (non-Irish) think that the Irish have “always eaten potatoes.” In fact, ask people where potatoes come from, the vast majority will say Ireland!
d