Turkey Earthquake: U.S. Military Provides Humanitarian Aid To Victims

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military will begin airlifting blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene kits and other supplies to Turkey in the next day or two to help victims of the powerful earthquake that struck Sunday.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is authorizing U.S. European Command to begin providing humanitarian assistance after receiving a request from the Turkish government.

The 7.2 magnitude quake leveled about 2,000 buildings in eastern Turkey, killing at least 575 people and leaving about 2,500 injured and thousands of homeless.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby says the U.S. will assist in any way possible. He says Turkey continues to work with local authorities and other international relief agencies to cope with the aftereffects of the earthquake.

Comments

[seaangel1991]

12:06 PM on 10/29/2011

It takes more than the willingness of the United States of A to send in help and assistance to any independent and sovereign states or countries. This time I wonder what the USA offered to the Turkish government so that it can formally request civil aid from the Americans of the USA. For the meantime, the State Department has to work better with the US Congres and the White House so that the DoD/US Armed Forces can do what it does best: One Day Delivery Service or Next Day Delivery Service. Are the US aircrafts going to make those expensive circuitous flights because of restrictive no flight or unfriendly zones?

[shootr687]

10:40 AM on 10/29/2011

Remembering back a few years the US military wasn't allowed to land a plane there or even cross Turkey's airspace. Looks like we are welcomed now when they need us. Wonder if their neighbors to the south are helping out...

[lakotawmn1]

01:58 PM on 10/29/2011

shootr687, I guess we are not the Infidels when it comes down to life or death after all.

[ruchankaya]

05:32 PM on 10/29/2011

Unfortunately there is almost no accurate points in your post. There are a couple NATO bases in Turkey and US war planes have (and always had) a right to land and fly. The US even has its own base in "Incirlik" close to Iraqi border of Turkey. It could even keep nuclear weapons to keep Iran and Russia under control.

The only time US war planes were not allowed to fly was to bomb the Iraqi forces in 2nd Gulf War (in 1st one they even did that). Turkey did not want to get directly involved in "bringing democracy" to its neighbor.

Also its neighbors Greece, Armenia which Turkey has a problematic past, and Israel (long time ally, though currently problematic) are also helping. That's a humanitarian situation, not an issue of hard politics.

It's good to see not every person is as heartless as some of the people in Huff Post.

[shootr687]

06:19 PM on 10/29/2011

I was referring to the Iraqi freedom campaign and it's neighbors Iraq and Iran. My points were quite accurate.