I wonder how much the sweatshops in that part of the world factor in? Imagine if the U.S. lost all control of the regions with sweatshop labour? If China had all its labour force and control of all the regions around south east Asia what would happen to prices at Wall Mart?
Why is the US military Calling the Shots on Humanitarian Relief
There are some obvious reasons why the military would take immediate control of the disaster relief program, the urgent delivery of supplies for one, however it must be considered that Bush believes Southeast Asia to be a key front in his war. He has been trying to further infiltrate that area for a long time.
The United States is trying for control of the Strait of Malacca. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target. More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait. #msg-3404130 #msg-4961588
Have to wait and see where this goes.
-Am
Why is the US military Calling the Shots on Humanitarian Relief
Why in the wake of the disaster, is the US military (rather than civilian humanitarian/aid organizations operating under UN auspices) taking a lead role?
The US Pacific Command has been designated to coordinate the channeling of emergency relief? Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Rusty Blackman, commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, has been designated to lead the emergency relief program
Lieutenant General Blackman was previously Chief of Staff for Coalition Forces Land Component Command, responsible for leading the Marines into Baghdad during "Operation Iraqi Freedom."
Three "Marine disaster relief assessment teams" under Blackman's command have been sent to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
US military aircraft are conducting observation missions.
In a bitter irony, part of this operation is being coordinated out of America's Naval base in Diego Garcia, which was not struck by the tidal wave. Meanwhile, "USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which was in Hong Kong when the earthquake and tsunamis struck, has been diverted to the Gulf of Thailand to support recovery operations" (Press Conference of Pacific Command, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2004/n12292004_2004122905.html ).
Two Aircraft Carriers have been sent to the region.
Why is it necessary for the US to mobilize so much military equipment? The pattern is unprecedented:
Conway said the Lincoln carrier strike group has 12 helicopters embarked that he said could be "extremely valuable" in recovery missions.
An additional 25 helicopters are aboard USS Bonhomme Richard, headed to the Bay of Bengal. Conway said the expeditionary strike group was in Guam and is forgoing port visits in Guam and Singapore and expects to arrive in the Bay of Bengal by Jan. 7.
Conway said the strike group, with its seven ships, 2,100 Marines and 1,400 sailors aboard, also has four Cobra helicopters that will be instrumented in reconnaissance efforts.
Because fresh water is one of the greatest needs in the region, Fargo has ordered seven ships — each capable of producing 90,000 gallons of fresh water a day — to the region. Conway said five of these ships are pre-positioned in Guam and two will come from Diego Garcia.
A field hospital ship pre-positioned in Guam would also be ordered to the region, depending on findings of the disaster relief assessment teams and need, Conway said. (Ibid)
Why has a senior commander involved in the invasion of Iraq been assigned to lead the US emergency relief program?
Sale of Aegis weapons systems to Australia proposed
This is a world war, but do we call it III or IV - the Cold War being III?
-Am
WASHINGTON (AFP) May 23, 2005 The Pentagon Monday announced the possible sale of three Aegis naval weapons systems to Australia, saying it would increase the ability of the US and Australian navies to operate together.
The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) estimated the value of the sale at as high as 350 million dollars.
Aegis systems are centered on a sophisticated computerized command system that can cue air defense missiles to enemy missiles and aircraft detected by targeting radar. Using its AN/SPY-1 phased array radar, it can track over a hundred targets simultaneously.
Noting Australia's strategic location, the DSCA said helping the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) modernize its fleet of surface warships was vital to US interests.
"The procurement also aids in maintaining the US Navy (USN) production base and will improve interoperability between RAN and USN forces," it said. "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives, and facilitates burden sharing with our allies."
Lockheed-Martin Maritime System and Sensors, Raytheon, General Dynamics are the principal contractors, DSCA said.
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