re: "What are the responsibilities of the people of these United States?"
As always, Dr. Jerry Pournelle at Chaos Manor ("The Original Blog *") is worth reading.
Money quote(s):
"Now no one questions the motives of those who want to help in Burma, and there's no question that the US military is probably the organization best trained and equipped to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. And I make no doubt that if you took a referendum on the matter, a majority of taxpayers would agree to send the military in to help the Burmans.
My question, though, is just how far does the responsibility of the US go? To give expensive health care to anyone who shows up at a US airport? To send tax supported aid anywhere there is a disaster? To send in the Army if the aid is refused? Shooting our way in to set up Red Cross shelters does seem a bit drastic. It might work with Burma (although I am not sure that it would add a lot to our reputation). Fortunately it hasn't been suggested that we use military force to require China to accept our help.
I can't say I know the answer to this question, but it is interesting. Just what do we owe, and to whom?"
Money quote(s):
"Now no one questions the motives of those who want to help in Burma, and there's no question that the US military is probably the organization best trained and equipped to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. And I make no doubt that if you took a referendum on the matter, a majority of taxpayers would agree to send the military in to help the Burmans.
My question, though, is just how far does the responsibility of the US go? To give expensive health care to anyone who shows up at a US airport? To send tax supported aid anywhere there is a disaster? To send in the Army if the aid is refused? Shooting our way in to set up Red Cross shelters does seem a bit drastic. It might work with Burma (although I am not sure that it would add a lot to our reputation). Fortunately it hasn't been suggested that we use military force to require China to accept our help.
I can't say I know the answer to this question, but it is interesting. Just what do we owe, and to whom?"
posted by Consul-At-Arms at 6:54 AM
1 Comments:
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The argument always seems to have been "Because we can, we should." That certainty colors the recent despatch (and futile waiting-around) of the USS Essex amphibious task group to the waters off the coast of Myanmar.
Recent experience has proven that the U.S. Navy's amphibious task groups (each centered upon one of the "gator freighter" helicopter carriers capable of functioning in the sea control ship role) are extremely valuable in disaster relief work.
They take some time to get where they're needed, and on the presumption that the Essex group was going to be accepted as emergency aid, the decision was made to send them into the area as quickly as possible.
The Myanmar excuse for a government has every right to keep foreign military forces out of their country. But has anyone thought for a moment what an outcry would have been made by the internationalists (abroad as well as at home) had the FedGov not put such assets immediately into play to be able to offer immediate aid to the people of Burma?
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