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LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Military aids quake victims

Bucklin Moon's Nov. 21 letter offered good suggestions about using U.S. military to provide relief to Pakistani earthquake victims. Actually, those efforts have been ongoing since a few days after the earthquake. The Nov. 11 "60 Minutes" program highlighted the laudable efforts of the New York City paramedics. The "60 Minutes" Web page lists some of the medical and aid organizations currently operating in the disaster zone: NYC Medics, Islamic Relief, Doctors Without Borders. There is still no mention of the U.S. military efforts, which explains why Moon wasn't aware of those efforts.

There is a lot of information available. There is a list of articles at www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2005/Pakistan/index_flash.html that shows the extent of the U.S. military relief activity in Pakistan.

This effort includes more than 1,000 U.S. servicemen and women in Pakistan, aircraft and crews delivering supplies, 18 helicopters, three Navy ships, $100 million from Department of Defense funds, $100 million pledged by other U.S. government agencies and $46 million donated by the American private sector.

In addition there were cargo planes and helicopters from the Russians, French sailors, Qatari medics, Afghan National Guard. It is amazing that "60 Minutes" didn't see some of this activity.

I hope that Moon will check the references I have provided and see the extent of the support that is being provided by the U.S. military to earthquake victims in Pakistan. We can be proud of our efforts.

STEPHEN E. WATKINS

Eugene

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