DoD: Military Relief Flights to Georgia

By Al Pessin

14 August 2008

The U.S. military is sending at least two huge cargo planes into Georgia to deliver humanitarian supplies, and will also put an assessment team into the country to help determine future needs.

President Bush, accompanied by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (r) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivers a statement on Georgia, 13 Aug 2008

During a White House statement, President Bush said he had ordered Defense Secretary Robert Gates to lead a U.S. relief effort for Georgia, and announced the dispatch of the first planeload of supplies.

"This mission will be vigorous and ongoing," said President Bush. "A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead we will use U.S. aircraft as well as naval forces to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies."

A C-17 can carry up to 77,000 kilograms of cargo. Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman says there are already plans for a second flight on Thursday, carrying medical supplies, tents and bedding. He also says a military team of about a dozen experts will be dispatched to Georgia to work with the local government and the U.S. embassy to assess further needs.

"The secretary will use all the capabilities of the department as he sees necessary to carry out the mission that the president has given us," Whitman said.

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Seksun Monroe, right, and Airman 1st Class Rogelio Munoz prepare cargo to be sent to Georgia from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 13, 2008. Monroe and Munoz are assigned to the 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Both Whitman and the president said that could include naval forces, but neither provided any details. Whitman would also not say whether the U.S. military assessment team would travel to the war zone in and around South Ossetia. But President Bush served notice on Russian authorities not to interfere with the U.S. relief effort.

"We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance," he said. "We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads and airspace remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and for civilian transit."

Meanwhile, the United States has canceled plans for a naval exercise with Russian forces near the Russian port of Vladivostok. Bryan Whitman confirmed the cancellation of the exercise, which was to have also included British and French forces.

"The exercise was canceled because it simply was inappropriate, given the current situation," he said.

Whitman noted that the United States has a strong military relationship with Georgia, and calls the country "a good ally." Georgia had 2,000 troops in Iraq until this crisis required them to be called home, and the United States provided transport for them.

Whitman says the U.S.-Georgian military ties will continue and the United States will look at Georgia's future needs in the wake of this conflict.