There's an emerging political message on the Left that because Donald Trump is a racist that doesn't care about brown people, he's ignoring the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
As with most Left narratives, it's utter bullshit.
Carl Prine, the San Diego Union-Tribune's military reporter, is hardly a Trumper. And yet, he's at least honest enough to tweet out exactly what the military is doing to conduct relief operations in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group has deployed to PR.
— Carl Prine (@CarlPrinetweets) September 26, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
3rd Airlift Squadron, 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and 433rd LRS began shuttling Globemasters full of supplies to PR several days ago
— Carl Prine (@CarlPrinetweets) September 26, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Beach Master Unit Two is taking supplies in directly from the beach!
— Carl Prine (@CarlPrinetweets) September 26, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Coast Guard Cutter James is now operating as a command and control platform. USCG has opened San Juan harbor for vital supplies.
— Carl Prine (@CarlPrinetweets) September 26, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The 143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), boarded the New Orleans, a U.S. Army LCU, for deployment to PR.
— Carl Prine (@CarlPrinetweets) September 26, 2017
Puerto Rico, even prior to the hurricane, had a fairly limited logistical infrastructure. The loss of power throughout the island also means that simply establishing airport and seaport operations would be a challenge. Fortunately, the US military has units that exist solely for that purpose, and they are being deployed to do so.
Our friends at Think Defence wrote a fantastic essay on the challenges of responding to the massive 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti. It's a long, but fascinating read. Many of those same challenges are present today in Puerto Rico and the USVI, and the lessons learned in Haiti will be used. I cannot emphasize enough that you really should read that essay.
Leave a comment