On December 26, 2004, an undersea megathrust earthquake precipitated one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it was the third largest quake ever recorded. The resulting tsunamis, moving walls of water up to 100 feet high, slammed ashore in some 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean, killing some 230,000 people.
By December 29, President George W. Bush had outlined a huge relief effort. He said it was an “international coalition,” but the vital center of the coalition was the United States Navy:
The U.S. military responded quickly, sending ships, planes, and relief supplies to the region. Coordinated by Joint Task Force 536, established at Utapao, Thailand, the Navy and the Marine Corps shifted assets from the Navy’s Pacific Command within days. The rapid response once again illustrated the flexibility of naval forces when forward deployed.
AdvertisementThe Navy deployed four Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 P-3 Orion patrol aircraft from Kadena, Japan, to Utapao to fly reconnaissance flights in the region and five VP-8 P-3s began flying missions out of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. The Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group [including Shoup (DDG 86), Shiloh (CG 67), Benfold (DDG 65) and USNS Ranier (T AOE 7)] and the Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Expeditionary Strike Group [including Duluth (LPD 6), Milius (DDG 69), Rushmore (LSD 47), Thach (FFG 43), Pasadena (SSN 752) and USCG Munro (WHEC 724)] steamed to Indonesia from the Pacific Ocean. Marine Corps disaster relief assessment teams from Okinawa, Japan, flew in to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, and were later joined by U.S. Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Units from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Lastly, a total of eleven ships under the Military Sealift Command (MSC) proceeded to the region from Guam and Diego Garcia.
At the UN, meanwhile, Kofi Annan interrupted his holiday to go to New York where he held a “media availability” on the crisis. Annan, who frequently registered his “horror” and sadness at the event, appealed to the “international community” for aid. Annan talked. The United States Navy said little but carried out scores of rescue operations and aid deliveries.
On March 11, 2011, an undersea megathrust earthquake erupted off the east coast of Tohoku, Japan. With a magnitude of about 9, it was the worst earthquake ever to hit Japan. It triggered a tsunami some 30 feet high which devastated coastal areas. As of this writing, 10,000 are reported dead (some reports estimate the final figure will climb to 100,000) and 500,000 have been displaced. Property damage is enormous. The disaster severely damaged several nuclear power stations in the prefecture of Fukushima. To date, engineers have been only partially successful in cooling the nuclear fuel and containing radiation.
Within hours of the disaster, President Barack Hussein Obama … went golfing. Later, he had dinner with admirers from the liberal media. The next day, he outlined his predictions about who would win this year’s men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
At Powerline, John Hinderaker — citing a story from the Daily Mail — quotes an associate professor at Chiba University:
I think the death toll is going to be closer to 100,000 than 10,000. Where is the sense of urgency? We need somebody to take charge. We’ve had an earthquake followed by fire, then a tsunami, then radiation, and now snow. It’s everything. There is nothing left. The world needs to step in. Where are the Americans? The Japanese are too proud to ask, but we need help and we need it now.
Hey, world. Miss us yet?
The complainers were like the kid who says to his parents, “I hate you. Now, take me and Brittany to the mall.”
Roger,
Minor quibble, but the year is wrong for the Japanese Earthquake. Other than that, excellent article.
I think you mean March 11, 2011.
My objects to candidate Obama was not his race, but his inexperience. That he had not failed at any effort and been forced to regroup constituted a huge hole in his resume. Somebody has always bailed him out, always made the way smooth for him.
But the Left and the media (oops, same thing) could not believe this. They thought Obama was so perfect, no one but a RAAAAACIST could be against him. Now, time has proven us doubters right. Will we see apologies or even a grudging “you were right” from these people? Yeah, sure, when Micheal Moore flies.
Michael Moore DOES fly. First Class.
I don’t think anyone said Obama was perfect, but it was clear that he was a far better choice than the alternative of John “I don’t know jack about the economy and I’m gonna die in office” McCain and Sarah “Watch me quit my elected duties to make $$$ on Fox News and reality TV” Palin. And I have no apology for you because I’m still right and you’re still wrong. But nice try and very clever handle.
Well on the subject of another current crisis… funny how after 3 weeks the fact, America’s worst president in history finally decided to follow Sara Palin’s advice as to what she would have done (3 weeks ago) had she been in a position to do so.
Sarah Palin did not quit her elected job to make more money. She had achieved as much as she could in Alaska and then stepped down. Now, THAT is political balls. Remember, she is an anti-establishment person, that’s why even GOP people diss her. However, the populace is very much in an anti-establishment mood, and she is its public face.
She had more experience, as Governor of Alaska, to justify her being POTUS than Obewanda, who had actually done NOTHING in his entire life, and is a nothing as President.
Sarah Palin will be the first female POTUS.
“I don’t think anyone said Obama was perfect.”
Wrong. The news media implied he was perfect. They got “tingles up their legs” over Obama. And as little as McCain knows about the economy, he certainly knows more than Obama. He must have learned more during his life as a senator than Obama, who voted “present” 150 times during his two years in the senate.
“Nice try” back to you.
I do not believe that for a minute.
The Left knew exactly how destructive Obama is as “Leader”.They fronted him as their standard bearer precisely to show/prove their, justified it appears, contempt for the mealy mouthed politicians of all major political parties and their constituents, who elect them again and again for the primary public service “what’s in it for me”.
Those who insist the LEFT has not been CONSPIRING to do exactly as they are now doing since the election of Kennedy the First do not want to know. Recall that Kennedy the First, with his successor LBJohnson BOTH PROGRESSIVE “democrats” EMBROILED THE USA IN WHAT WAS A CIVIL WAR in Vietnam.
The brilliant success of LBJ’s and Congress actions in esblishing a military draft that EXEMPTED “elite”/college students as the first ploy to pit citizen against citizen. Then anti-war protests by these exempted. The protests world wide IN THE WEST / Danny the Red in Paris and elsewhere.
Tainted false media reports of American military actions on the ground / air / sea. The drumbeating and trumpet blowing by “elite” and Media to brainwash civilians to treat the young men caught up in the draft as criminals rather than honour them as having answered the call of duty. Behaviours that still stain America.
Payment of their debt made by the exempted “elite” in the half century since by assuring “liberal / progressive / “democrats” retained power of management of ALL major civic institutiona in the nation. To continue the brainwashing (Manchurian Candidate anyone?)as “elite” against lesser citizens who MUST answer the call to duty.
They even got an icon of their group who declined the call to duty in the President during the Advent to the Millenium. Now a “pillar” of the “liberal/progressive/democrats” who despise the People as dumbos, red-necks, nazis, teabaggers, racists, sexists, gunhappy cowboys and Christians.
For insurance the Left made the race card trump. As default the gender card. and the growth of government dependent populations contrary to and destructive of America as a nation of independent citizens free to pursue their own destinies, which must include the possibility of failure.
To establish a large dependent population to be maintained from the labours of the independent/responsible citizens, with no restraints on the behaviours of the dependents, is a cardinal/colour me red template for civil discord / citizen against citizen.
Remember at the loss of the Millenium election to that “vast right wing conspiracy” named by Hillary Clinton, that Nancy Pelosi in her habitual irrational rage “vowed revenge”. Wonder why her smirking triumphant march gavel raised high after their gangster tactics passed the Obama/Hillary Care.
Wonder why Obama is decisive in criminal manipulation of laws via his praetorians e.g. E. Holder the Chief of the JUSTICE Department. Wonder why they are passive if not downright resistant to examining anything of the organised criminality of blacks, i.e. Black Panther voter intimidation?
Wonder why of all the other remissions they fail, along with Congress and the Judiciary to examine the entire legality / consitutionality of the “election of 2008″?
The LEFT fronted Obama precisely on the plan that he could not be criticised OR EVEN QUESTIONED.
And so the LEFT has played American politicians and their constituents to the place in which they are now: triumphing with their feet on the chest of the erstwhile lion of nations.
It is not a problem of inexperience but of quality.
Maybe he’s setting something up: say that, due to any number of smoldering crises being reverse-fanned, the American street erupts. Coming off his passivity/incompetence baseline, the president can leap forward (“finally, thank goodness!”) and seize the initiative (“at last, some action!”) –and use the commotion to lay in another half dozen of Comrade Sunstein’s thitherto impossible wet dreams for the dismantling of the American boojwahzee.
In the meantime, because there’s a little homer simpson in all of us, Let’s Go to Rio!
Thank you, Mr. Kimball, for putting the harshest and most accurate light on this administration. The damage he and his minions are doing is catastrophic to this country and the entire world. I have no idea how to fix any of this beyond applying a little common sense and decency. I only know Obama and his ilk have not a whit of either.
I can’t say the UN is much better. I remember its response to the 2004 disaster: one of its first aid shipments was condoms. One of its first responses to the US’s heroic efforts came from some Swedish or Norwegian — can’t recall which; it was one of those annoying little countries — who said US accomplishments were “irrelevant” because our troops didn’t wear blue UN helmets.
There was a wonderful, but short-lived blog the Diplomad (and oh how I miss it)that had biting commentary on the daily shameful behavior of the UN during the Indonesian tsunami. Real Eye opening stuff. Maybe the wayback machine can find the cached pages.
Boy, do I miss that Diplomad. That was one great blog.
Gary in Jersey, just this minute had the same conversation in the kitchen with husband. Not one poster here said anything that was not said in my kitchen. Believe it or not folks people are beginning to wake up and look to the future. But what future? The American people have been slack in their duties in choosing leadership for years now. Their is no quick fix.
There is a vacuum at the top. Repeat that over and over. Start looking at 2012 now. Not only president, but congressmen and senators need to go. Dump
all of the old Bulls and start over. When it is rotten throw it out. The smell of corruption is overwhelming. Maybe you should call every one and start up kichen conversations. I am dead serious about this. Soon there maybe no America.
Speak for yourself, YOUR SLACKNESS!
Your response indicates that you are undoubtedly a leftist shill with lots of Kool-Aid in the kitchen cupboard. As a naturalized citizen I have had kitchen conversations about the ability of the US voter since probably the seventies. Politically I certainly never expected such a poorly informed population, of which only about 30% should be allowed at the voting booths. Before you attack others what exactly are you doing or contributing to improve the situation?
xschild, why would you EVER even suggest that there be no America? The USA id the best thing to ever have happened to the planet. Yes, not everything we do is perfect and yes we have screwed up some. But our pro’s by far outweigh our con’s! The lives we’ve saved and the help we given out.
There will ALWAYS be a need for a US!!
God Bless the United States of America, her Military and her People.
Who knew that the capital “O” in the Obama stickers was actually a zero?
I did! Obama’s use of the cop out vote “Present” while an IL State Senator should’ve been the 1st clue for everyone HE was a zero.
And also while in the US senate.
…. Who knew that the O in the Obama stickers was actually a zero …?
The slightly more than half of the legal voters – unfortunately overwhelmed by the millions of criminal aliens and the felons and the long dead who voted and/or whose votes were counted fraudulently – who voted against 0′Zero in the “election.”
I think the Americans are there, Mr. Kimball.
“Let me comment briefly on the USAID assistance that the United States is providing. USAID response includes the USAID Disaster Assistance and Response Team which is now on the ground in Japan and is working to coordinate overall U.S. government response efforts along with the U.S. Embassy. The USAID/DART team includes four experts from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They are advising USAID/DART on nuclear issues, including the ones I previously made reference to, and are again consulting with their Japanese counterparts.”
“Urban Search and Rescue teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County are on the ground in Misawa, Japan and will begin search-and-rescue operations today. Comprised of 144 personnel with emergency medical skills, engineering, and water search capabilities, they are clearly going to be important in the disaster relief efforts. They also, by the way, include 12 canines trained to detect live victims.”
“The Government of Japan, and I should emphasize this, is directing the search and rescue teams to conduct operations along with Japanese firefighting units in the areas that are hardest hit by the tsunami.
“Now, as you know, a major, major effort is underway by the United States military and earlier today General Field had the opportunity to visit some of the disaster areas. So I thought in this briefing today it would be helpful for General Field to provide an overall view not only of his thoughts with regard to today, but the military effort.”
http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entries/roos_japan_earthquakes/
So you mean that a handful of USAID bureaucrats are in Japan to hold endless meetings under the nebulous rubric of coordination? And that LOCAL city governments in the US have bypassed federal inertia and put boots on the ground in Japan themselves? And that the good General declined to state specifics about what the US military is doing, other than to say it is “massive” (BTW, what is his definition of that word?)?
Yes, I guess all that proves that this administration is really out there doing something effective. As a result, no doubt the Japanese will award a well-deserved medal to Obama after it’s all over.
I keep waiting for a disco revival. Its so 1979 its frightening. Violence in the Middle East, major foes emboldened, lack of support for freedom loving minorities, Iran in upheaval, price of gas doubling, commodity inflation, a weak dollar, high unemployment, our friends don’t trust us and our enemies don’t fear usm, and a dithering, in-over-his-head, nanny in chief, who feels its all our fault and we should get used to a lower standard of living.
And the major television hit…..”Welcome Back Carter.”
Hory Clap.
Great Column! By the way, that’s Rudolph CaRnap, the logical positivist, and I think the translation of Heidegger is better as ” Nothing nothings”, with nichtet = nothings, as the verb form in English, like finish “finishes”
He doesn’t care. Obama ran for POTUSINO, if there was a new honorary title higher than that of the President, he would be resigning immediately to run for it. What’s higher than the President of the United States anyways? Secretary-General of the UN? No, that’s beneath. He’s bored with the job he has but likes all the perks that comes with it.
John Hinderaker wrote a fine post on this very topic, at Power Line on March 10, “Let’s make Obama King”.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/03/028558.php
At first I thought, “What the . . .?” But then I read the column and altogether agreed.
What a great idea: King Obama, Queen Michelle, and Princesses Malia and Sasha, living in splendid and opulent isolation, so the U.S. could elect a real president.
Not a bad idea at all …
In fairness to Obama
1 He did like Cameron make silly hostile noises about Libya. Should Gaddafi retain power he will want revenge. The worst thing you can do to a savage beast is to annoy or wound it but let it live. Saddam Hussein is dead.Bush comes out best yet again.
2 He is already writing Japan into his next speech to left-wing environmentalists.
If you strike at the King, you must kill him.
Ironically, for years the rest of the world has been constantly criticising america, and the bush administration in particular, for constantly sticking their nose in world events where they were not wanted. And by the way, why couldn’t the US be mulitarlateral, and rely on the UN more.
Now the world has their wish. The US, under Obama, wont blow their noze without a UN resolution. The good part about this is maybe the world will finally realize how badly they need those pushy americans, now that they dont have us anymore. The bad part is the world will probably disintegrate before we get back on the world stage, with a new, competant, courageous, prez, to finally fix things.
Barack Obama has been a hard lesson for everybody. America has learned the folly of electing a charismatic empty suit to the highest office in the land, and the world has learned what it’s like to live in a world without America. Let’s hope we can all survive the Barack Obama administration.
By the weight of the evidence, that “or” now becomes “and.”
Obama is and has been a malevolent force in the Oval Office. It’s no longer a plausible exculpation to call him stupid or incompetent; as Joe McCarthy said of George C. Marshall, mere stupidity would imply that now and then he’d get something right, by the laws of chance. Thus, we are confronted by the first malevolently stupid president the United States has had to suffer.
The GOP caucuses on Capitol Hill had better draw the moral.
And the only thing saving us from Dear Liar’s malevolence is his incompetence.
The US Navy, with an aircraft carrier is off of Japan, so we are there. But when North Africa started to catch fire, a prudent US president would have sent an aircraft carrier task force to the Mediterranean, if we didn’t have one there already. We don’t need to put boots on the ground to assist the Libyan rebels, just carry out some airstrike to kill Gaddafi & his sons.
What if the rebels are the Muslim Brotherhood?
Should the US intervene?
Or maybe do like many large corporations – send arms (funds) to both sides so they can liquidate each other.
Let’s send some union thugs to fight for the side that’s “right”. That will fix the problem.
…. We don’t need to put boots on the ground to assist the Libyan rebels, just carry out some airstrike to kill Gaddafi and his sons ….
Too bad, though, that Gaddafi and his sons are 0′Zero’s and his mates, Farakhan’s and Wright’s, dear friends.
As does his attorney-general — and as did the Cli’ton “administration,” 0′Zero’s Gang subordinates America’s interests to his own — and to those of his cohorts and cronies.
rbj: “And the only thing saving us from Dear Liar’s malevolence is his incompetence.”
Well, I believe the only thing saving us THUS FAR from the Dear Liar’s malevolence is the grace of God, as millions of people are praying continually that this country would turn back to HIM as our God instead of the nihilistic, bacchanalian, traitorous God-hating swine that we’ve collectively allowed to ruin America, especially during the past six decades.
With his background (or lack thereof), one would expect that Barack Obama would be a completely incompetent President – he shouldn’t even have been on the ballot for dog catcher, let alone POTUS. But the scary part is I think that everything he’s done (and hasn’t done) since taking office is based on disrespect and malevolence to the USA.
He was the teflon tool that the the rich & powerful America-haters could use as their puppet for their wishes. They knew that by 2008, politcal correctness would be SO prevalent that no one would DARE criticize Obama without the “racist!” epithet drowning out any discussion based on truth and common sense.
For TRUE equal rights for all, everyone must adhere to the same level of standards and critique, REGARDLESS of race, sex, religion, etc. Equality doesn’t mean one group is “more equal” than others, and those who don’t agree & can’t take the heat should, as Harry Truman said, “get out of the kitchen”.
Finally, I must also mention that “tolerance” means “respect” even to respectfully disagree, not “accept every idea being as good as the next”. Funny how the various groups that have screamed the loudest for “tolerance” are the most intolerant people of all. Our USA Judeo-Christian heritage has been taken advantage of by those who would use our goodness against us, guilt-tripping us into weakness and self-hatred, and bringing about our destruction.
The Japan earthquake was in 2011.
A followup on my previous comment. I suspect what the rest of the world really wants, is to have the US DO everytning, instantly with no delay, but with the UN being the ones that decides what is done. So with Bush, they were upset because the US did everything, in a timely fashion, but not always with UN approval in advance. Now, Obama always waits for UN approval, but as a result, never gets around to actually doing anything.
Obviously, the world is filled with countries acting like spoiled children. If you want the US acting swiftly and decisively in every world crisis, you cant wait for the corrupt idiots at the UN to decide everything, and you have to expect a lot of unilateral US actions, and a US leadership role when limited multilateral action, like NATO action, is taken.
Bush occasonally made some unwise decisions, and sometimes took unilateral action when he could have waited for UN approval, like in Iraq. But the Bush approach also payed dividends when swift decisive action was actually needed. Bush may have made some wrong decisions, but at least he MADE decisions, unlike Obama.
Even better, would be a compromise between approaches. Take swift, unilateral US action when timeliness is critical, like disaster releif. But when getting the decision right, and having worldwide backing, rather than getting a swift decision, is more important, like deciding to invade Iraq, it might be OK to wait for the UN wheels to grind on.
This is, in a word, a travesty. For better or worse since the end of WWII, Japan has been one of our closest allies. They may have disagreed with us on occasion, but they’ve been overall very civil about it. And our president can’t even give them the time of day. Just some vague speech about sending aid, the dispatch of a few ships, and that’s it. He’s moved on to more important things like NCAA basketball brackets and perfecting his golf swing. He could spend months on an apology tour of countries that loath us but he can’t be bothered to spare more than a day for a very close ally.
This is not how you treat a good friend. And I get the distinct impression that this is going to come back to bite us in the behind. Hard.
It all becomes clear when you understand Obama is not an American. He is only pretending to be one. You see: the liberals realized that they could never get a real American to do what this administration is doing to this country, hence Obama.
The US Navy has responded to Japan. There is already a carrier- the USS Ronald Reagan, offshore using helicopters as well as a number of surface ships. Several amphibious ships are also either already assisting or enroute, including a big deck LHD.
Maybe President Obama was not playing politics and didn’t need to publicize the efforts that are in place already. He is not using the death of innocent people to forward his political agenda. He has humility, something the former president never had. Don’t forget president bush’s lack of quick response for 9/11. Kinda like someone who gives a donation to a charity anonymously instead of groveling for the attention. Shouting, Look at me Look at me !! Look what I did.
Yeah, maybe. Are you in the market for real estate in Florida?
obama has humility??
you’re not serious, are you?
How about Obambi’s quick response to the Fort Hood Massacre – he gives a SHOUT-OUT for TWO MINUTES and then he blathers on about health care reform before even mentioning the shootings. Yep, he’s an idiot.
If I were your parents, I’d try to get a refund on your college education.
More and more President 0.0 resembles Dennis Kucinich — no offense intended, Dennis.
øbama’s motivations and capabilities would not be an issue if we didn’t have a voting public consisting of credulous star-struck poorly-educated political dunces.
I heard one defending ø on Medved’s show, and the passion in the caller’s voice indicated an ego-identification with “our wonderful president”. How likely is that person to engage in serious political thought, if it might challenge their personal self-concept and world-view? Pitiful.
It’s a cult of personality. We roll our eyes at his focus on March madness but ESPN speaks to his base.
After 50 years of whining by Europeans each time America took decisive international action, now I’m supposed to believe Europe wants America to take decisive action.
Damned if you do,…
“the difference is that [now] you’ve got me.”
Jeremy, please tell us about any of Bush’s pride that ranks with that howler.
President Obama is doing the best he can. Literally, this is it, he can’t do any better, not capable of any better.
First, the US is present in Japan as noted by others. However, it’s difficult to deduce what real actions are being taken and what progress if any is being made.
It feels as if weeks have passed, but I have to keep reminding myself we’re just now approaching the one-week anniversary of the initial earthquake and tsunami.
The Japanese people have withstood an inconceivable series of tragic events with dignity, strength and stoicism. My fervent hope is the US Navy and US charities have used these crucial days to put people and resources into place, so rapid, efficient and meaningful relief action occurs. Today.
The the first citizen of the world, man who would be king, figures out a way to even dis the Japanese allies. If only he would apply that guile to doing something helpful or leader-like. One can only guess just how much energy it takes to demonstrate this much arrogance and disinterest.
Obama can’t be bothered. He’s on vacation, again. This time in Rio. Give the guy a break, he wore himself out figuring out who to vote for in the college basketball games.
It’s not that we are not rushing into Japan to help out. No, it’s the shit storm the American media is raining down on them that’s disgusting. Fox news, along with O’Riley, leading the way. And we wonder why the American media is persona-non-grata most everywhere in the world.
That’s not entirely fair – There is a major US effort involving the Navy flying relief flights and providing aid going on in Japan. There is also a lot of speculation that the Navy is heavily involved in trying to help the Japanese with the damage control at the reactors.
Orion
Lets’s not forget Katrina and the lethargy. Lets not forget the weapons of mass destruction, not found. Lets not forget the billions robbed by connected “industry in Iraq! To many rose colored classes with selectively permeable memory.
We went to Iraq without a Marshall Plan to rebuild and befriend the people of Iraq. We went for a pissing contest. Oh yeah, how are our wounded vets being treated.. Fight for me then we forget you. Please think with your entire brain on two sides of many issues and you will more likely find a more solid truth. Stop bashing and starting building up the middle class dream, not the richies tax break.
“We went for a pissing contest.” The other things you said were legitimate criticism (even if I disagree with them), but this wasn’t, and the only good thing I can say about it is that it’s not as gross as the version I heard.
I don’t know why liberals and leftists do this kind of thing. It just undermines their message and makes them look infantile and mean, plus I doubt they’d want anyone doing that sort of thing to actions they themselves have taken.
I am so sick of that Katrina BS. The Feds were there, they were turning around convoys headed for Mississippi, because NO had been lucky again, until the levies went- whose repair money went for “other projects” for the totally rotten DEMOCRATIC machine in the state. The same machine that wouldn’t evacuate the city before the storm, that turned away convoys in view of the Superdome, and continued to screw up everything for the 1st 48hrs. of the disaster. The only effective immediate action came from the Coast Guard, feds, and nothing really worked untill the feds took over the whole action. I agree that “Brownie” was nothing to brag about, but Bush reacted as well as any Pres. did during that kind of mess. He was the one who gave it all to the Coast Guard, so at least he reacted to the problem.
You guys have to re-write that constantly because it doesn’t fit your narrative, which might be pretty from your point of view, but which is totally based on lies, mis-representations, and foggy headed turn of the century(19th) philosophy. Unfortunately, our current “leader” and the equally incompetant, leftist loons he’s hired believe in that narrative. Indeed, you’re making sure our kids are indoctrinated in it, too.
The following military assets have been mobilized for Japanese disaster relief.
The USS Ronald Reagan strike group
Carrier Airwing V, and the crew of the USS George Washington
The tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel assigned to Japan have either been mobilized or put on high alert.
17,000 additional sailors and Marines
15 total surface vessels
U-2 and Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft.
Several CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) response teams.
I don’t know where you’re getting the idea that the U.S. military isn’t assisting, but it is a disgusting slur on the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.
@ Jeremy
You wrote ” Don’t forget president bush’s lack of quick response for 9/11.”
What is it that you expected President Bush to do after 9-11? Information about the suicide murderers had to be gathered and analyzed, then a plan of action had to be developed and implemented. I believe that President Bush was quite clear when he visited the site and told those gathered there at the time that “He can hear them and soon the rest of the world will as well”. (not an exact quote so relax) And so he carried out his promise which of course drove the left into spasms of mental instability which to this day they have not recovered from. Meanwhile, little Barry is playing golf, partying at the White House, going to RIO and dragging his feet on any kind of decision. If Barry has humility it’s only when and because Shelly yells at him to shut his face.
As much as I detest the socialist bastard I feel it’s time for someone else to step up to the plate and show some leadership. The U.S. is continually at the plate and is continually crapped on by the rest of the world. Let those socialist Euro ninnies look after their own backyard for a change. Time to park your tongues and stand up for yourself, it’s your ass on the line.
I think by his own inaction Obama will wind up falling into the right decision like a drunk falling off a cliff unharmed.
The U.S. is providing aid.
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages/JapanEarthquakeTsunamiResponse.aspx
Besides the miltary’s response, I’ve also seen reports on local news about civilian Search and Rescue teams which have been sent to help.
Yes, Obama’s preoccupation with his golf game and his NCAA brackets over such trivial concerns as Japan and Libya(“Lybia”?) is embarrassing, but things are being done.
I read the link, and every one of those ships is:
1) …already in the area because it was stationed close by, not because it is part of a coordination and redirection of additional naval resources;
2) …waiting to do something “if directed”.
No disrespect to the US Navy, because I don’t think it’s their fault, but this doesn’t sound like the Obama administration has formulated anything like a genuine concerted effort to actually DO something.
Malevolence. It is the most definitive word yet written to describe Obama. I have referred to him as being SADISTIC but why mince words. He is utterly evil, stone cold, and malicious. He has the perfect character traits for his Marxist mindset.
It does seem that Obama has check out but fortunately for Japan, the US Military already has assistance agreements in place as well as a fair amount of resources. There’s only been tidbits but just like the Navy Seabees during Katrina, I’m sure the local commanders coordinated and rolled out of their bases. Of course, the US press wouldn’t dare report on it as it would make the military seem less of the bad guys they are mandated by their political beliefs to portray them as.
Right now the White House is trying to figure out how to use the crisis to their advantage not realizing that indecision is the worst decision they can make.
Where are the Americans? Playing golf, watching a fawning media worship him & making basketball predictions. Isn’t that what we have presidents for?
Perhaps if it were closer to the 2012 elections Obama’s “handlers” would get him to appear more decisive (for once) to help distract voters from the record long term unemployed (over 10%), under-employed (up near 20%), record deficits ($78 billion addition in just one day this week – probably more paying off unions in preparation for the upcoming election), near record gasoline prices, death threats by public service employee union members to republican legislatures in Wisconsin, and, of course, recent indictments of Democrat Party officials for election fraud in Michigan (running fake Tea Part candidates in an attempt to dillute votes for legitimate Tea Party candidates or Republicans).
Obama appears to be getting his re-election helpers ready to raise over a billion dollars to get him re-elected so Democrats (and their MSM media partners) can keep the country spiraling downward. There are enough idiots out there that he will at least garner 45% of the vote despite the current horrific conditions in the American economy to make this a closer race than it should be.
Eventually though (we’re probably there now), we will run out of other peoples money (me and the other working taxpayers who always get called greedy because we tire of paying for the parasites and would rather spend our hard worked earnings on our own families than send it to lazy, ignorant, incompetent public employee union members who don’t work even 25% as much as we do and don’t have to fear competition in the work place or fear getting layed off if the business suffers or fear not getting a raise if we underperform or fear large increases in our benefit contributions – which occur every year for those of us in the private sector) to pay for this crony capitalism (think GM and GE) and public employee union bailouts.
Having President “NOTHING” is hardly surprising…
He has 2 hospitals in Hawaii that know “nothing” about his birth.
His school and college records are allowed to show exactly “nothing”.
He was given a Social Security # from Connecticut, where there was “nothing” about him.
He has acquaintances from Columbia that knew him, but knew “nothing” about him.
He was President of the Harvard Law Review, where he excelled at writing virtually “nothing”.
He was a state senator from IL that regularly voted for “nothing” (present).
His election mantra of “Hope and Change” has amounted to “nothing” for the average American (and often times less than nothing!)
And 2008-2012 will be known as the “NOTHING YEARS”…
Same high unemployment, same housing market issues and problems, same unchecked government debt, same drivel and “nothingness” coming from the White House…
Missed opportunities here and abroad, and NOTHING to show for 4 totally wasted years! (Especially after the Supreme Court daggers Obamacare!)
And he gives truly moving speeches in which he actually says…nothing!
But he frequently says that,
“My administration and I will not rest until…” we do absolutely nothing.
Don’t forget, he was the ‘constitutional law expert’ who has never published anything on the Constitution, law or any other subject (except himself–aren’t there 2 memoirs already?).
I always have to laugh (somewhat bitterly, though) when I hear him described as a “law professor”.
Will it ever happen that he himself realizes that enough of us aren’t rapt admirers any more? (speaking loosely–I never voted for him, thank God).
There’s always what will be his 1/2 of the national debt!
Actually, doing nothing is a stragegy,too…at least as far as the Middle East is concerned. obama apparently favors a new alignment w/ iran/Muslim Brotherhood/Hizbalah/Hamas/Syria & the vacuum that will be filled w/ Iran leaning new governments in Yemen/Ethiopia/Egypt & maybe Lybia, if Gadafi fails. Saudia Arabi/Jordan/Kuwait/Mubarak’s Egypt/Baharain have been thrown under the bus…say nothing of Israel. Who wants to be a friend of America w/ Obama at the helm. Smart ally countries will find new friends to “trust”.
I want this MF to do absolutely nothing… keep him in Rio for the rest of his Presidency…. just keep dancing the rhumba, the salsa and the merengue (sp?) down there..
That way he will not be shoving any more Socialist clap-trap down our throats.
yeah – where are the Americans? – all those liberal elites, both at home and abroad, complained beccause “Americans” were there interfering with their might (when it wasn’t the midst of a cirsis), that “Americans” were taking everything over, sticking its nose where it wasn’t wanted. European (and middle eastern) elites wanted obitheboywonder to win the presidency becasue they wanted “Americans” ‘out’. well, be careful what you wish for . . . . .
there were those of us who tried to warn all these useful idiots this would be the result of an obithegreatiam win. How’s that hope and change working for you? I’m off to adjust my tin-foil hat now.
I answered poll after poll regarding whether the US should interfere in Libya – NO. However, Japan is a different matter. Yes we must help Japan, not with useless bureaucrats but with effective action and money. It is simple, even Costco check out asks whether a customer wants to contribute. It is handled through the Red Cross.
“Where are the Americans?” For once, we are exactly where the world tells us they want us to be most of the time: in America, minding our own damn business.
On Libya and Japan, Obama has done exactly what everbody insists we should do: nothing, until given permission by the “international community” as represented by the United Nations.
The world needs to make up its mind. Do they want us to unilaterally spring into action like a bunch of cowboys, or do they want us to defer to…well, everybody else like good international citizens before we act? Can’t have it both ways.
The Wall Street Journal has said that Japan did not want lots of organizations coming to help because of coordination problems. They have their own Red Cross, for example. The problem of getting help to the sticken areas is due to destroyed roads and few safe places to land helicopters. Also, 23% of Japanese are over 65. In the North, the percentage is even higher because the young head to the cities. That means that the need for assistance is greatest where the capability is the least.
Our military forces there are helping as much as they can.
Remember, the only way Obama and his allies in Congress will cut government is by cutting defense forces, so our ability to help is being reduced as well as our ability to act in our own national interest.
In fairness to Barack, those people in Japan are not “his people”.
Two points:
1. Obewonda is not incompetant; he is disinterested. He is what the world has been waiting for; he will lower the oceans …etc. He is a vainglorious nincompoop and I am certain the state departments of most serious nations have figured this out. He is not respected.
2.Do not forget also our allies are saying “Where are the Americans, our allies”. Nope. This president has voted not-presnt on the international stage too.
Obama “Jimmy” Carter Husein whateverhisnameis.
Well, Yes. I thought everyone already knew that 0bama doesn’t start with an “o” but a zero. Anything into zero remains zero, and zero times anything is zero. Nothing comes of nothing in Shakespeare’s formulation. Libya has Colonel Gadhafi, and America has Captain Zero. Both seem right out of the comic books.
Yes, Obama is a zero
The navy is in japan:
http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/03/19/operation-tomodachi/
I don’t know if that link covers everything.
Latest on Navy involvement is posted here:
http://www.stripes.com/the-latest-on-navy-support-to-japan-1.138299
Stars and Stripes is a good site to follow for military responses to the quake.
Truth Time: we all had another choice for President in 2008, the Constitution Party’s Chuck Baldwin and Darrel Castle. Every vote counts- do not dismiss the choice of a third party. Every American has the obligation to NOT pick the Lesser of Two Evils but THE RIGHT CHOICE to keep America.
“On Tuesday, U.S. debt jumped $72 billion — in one day,” you write, even as you chastise the president for not unilaterally starting a war in Libya before there was a UN resolution to do so. Aside from the inherent absurdities of most statements about the debt, we should look at the difference between debt and investment. Did you write an article about how much the U.S. debt jumped every time we have instituted the Bush tax cuts? Did you write an article about how much the U.S. debt jumped every time Bush started a war? Had you done so, you would have underestimated that total debt by trillions, because the tax cuts, like the Iraq war, were supposed to pay for themselves in only a few years’ time. To paraphrase Palin, “How’s that trickly downy thing workin’ for ya?” At least the Laffer curve is aptly named.
You mentioned that in 2004 the U.S. Navy did X and Y without making statements, while Kofi Annan was out front making himself available for media, without even getting the irony. Do you think the American people WANT us to go to war in Libya? They don’t even want us to be in Afghanistan and Iraq any longer. Yet don’t you realize that the U.S. navy is doing X and Y now, without making statements, as well? And don’t you realize that has something to do with the commander in chief? Yet he knows he is doing enough that he doesn’t have to go on TV in prime time to gloat about it. No, he was on the phone with the Japanese leader and then went on TV earlier in the day when it could register that he had made a statement without it being about his ego.
The countries hit by the 2004 tsunami were pretty far from our major bases, in areas with limited to no infrastructure to begin with, which is why it was such a major decision to send troops to help; we have major bases ON Japan, and ships in the region. (We have major bases in the Mediterranean as well, which is why we were able to bring the requisite force to launch the attack on Libya the day the UN resolution passed.) And too, that was in some of the poorest areas of the world. Japan was, until last month, the world’s second-largest economy, with infrastructure that exceeds our own. You may have read, that is if you read sources that mention the objective facts rather than rake through to weed out pro-Obama facts and play up anti-Obama perspectives, that the corporation who runs the Daiichi nuclear plant wanted to abandon it three days into the event, and requested that it be handled by the U.S. and Japanese militaries. Which it HAS BEEN. (Chalk one up for corporate responsibility.)
We haven’t yet rebuilt the WTC ten years after the disaster of 9/11. We haven’t yet rebuilt New Orleans et al five years after the disaster of Katrina. We haven’t yet rebuilt the U.S. economy or fixed the languishing Afghan war two years after the disaster of George W. Bush. And all of those things and more from the Bush era have tripled our deficit.
We have been helping Japan since the first day when President Obama did go on TV to express our support and pledge that help. Maybe your favorite station didn’t carry that address, but acting like it didn’t happen is making a fool of yourself and your readership.
And Japanese seaports and airports are destroyed. Japan is a tiny country with a huge population. North Korea is across a narrow sea on their “good side”, itching to start a confrontation. Japan REQUESTED that we not send a huge contingent of aid, from both a logistical and a pride standpoint.
I’m really surprised at the hypocrisy. If you’re not damning Obama for the paternalism and the cost of his “socialist agenda”, you’re damning him for not being more paternalistic by barging in all over the world to pat heads and spank butt and spend billions every time somebody says boo. I’m not a fan of ideology in general, much less yours, but at least someone so deeply entrenched in one could be consistent and well-informed about it. I don’t know why I’m always so surprised how much ignorant loathing there remains toward this president.
If your point is that Pres. Obama has demonstrated no leadership past making a speech I agree completely. Then again, this is the sum total of his leadership on any issue to date. The impression you leave, that you feel the US isn’t doing anything, however, is completely wrong, as several here have pointed out.
First, it is erroneous to compare the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004 with the recent events in Japan. Japan’s infrastructure, human resources, knowledge, experience and wealth to help itself far exceeds that of Indonesia or almost any other country in the region under similar circumstances. Additionally, the US and Japan are close allies, with US forces and JSDF regularly training and working together, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of the forces we have helping. While this certainly doesn’t mean we, or anyone else, should turn our backs, it does mean that the same level of support is not necessary to have the same effect.
Second, despite the sentiments of those like Charles Stevens, the US is involved intimately with the GOJ at all levels to provide the assistance we can. As others have noted, the USS Ronald Reagan CSG, which was homeward bound, turned around to help. USS Essex, USS Harpers Ferry and USS Germantown are supporting the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Matsushima (near Sendai). US Forces Japan (USFJ) is coordinating with JSDF and GOJ to flow personnel and support from Okinawa, in addition to using USAR, USN, USAF and USMC personnel and equipment in place on Honshu. Firefighting equipment and technical advice has been provided to assist in handlign the Fukushima reactor plant situation. Reserve personnel have dropped everything to surge into theater to support the active duty component with the increased operational demand. I speak of this from personal knowledge, and with pride in what we are doing to help our dear friends, at their request and with respect for their soveriegnty.
I am no fan of Pres. Obama’s administration, but I would encourge all to not stretch so hard to condemn his actions (or lack thereof) at the expense of the good name and reputation of the men and women who are helping to save lives and rebuild Japan.