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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (344005)	1/19/2010 1:59:22 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793883

Is it totally impractical to imagine that pallets of water and food could be dropped with parachutes from planes other than helicopters? . Yes. People run toward the drops and get hurt. Most of it is smashed in the drop. We had a terrible result with this approach in Afghanistan during the 2001 war.

To: KLP who wrote (344005)	1/19/2010 2:44:58 PM
From: unclewest	1 Recommendation Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793883

Is it totally impractical to imagine that pallets of water and food could be dropped with parachutes from planes other than helicopters? .... Parachute and helo drops are definitely possible especially as an emergency measure for small pockets of people. Don't forget somebody has to reconfigure the pallets first. That takes heavy equipment. But you can't take care of millions of people that way. And someone would have to drive a truck in anyway to collect the parachutes for reuse. The problem is huge...gigantic. It takes time to get all systems in place to move all that stuff efficiently and effectively. First has to be rescue and medical. That means search parties with heavy equipment (cranes, dozers, loaders, dump trucks, etc.), medical supplies, water, electricity, and food and water for patients and staff. All the troops pouring in need facilities, water and food too. Vehicles need refueling points. With no power the Haitian gas stations are out of business. Army engineers need to certify bridges before we send convoys across them. They may need to install temporary bridges. The material and equipment for quick set up temporary bridges has to come by ship. The navy can provide power...but to where? Electricians have to certify which power lines are useable or install new. What I'm trying to say is the logistics are enormous. But the army knows how to do it. They just can't get it all done in a a couple of weeks...not when so many need so much. We should never should have put an Admiral in charge not for even a moment. Once he gets on the beach he is beyond his tactical expertise and it showed.