Dubya discuss humanitarian aid
From the impromptu press conference on Dubya's return from Camp David:
"The question is on humanitarian aid. In the south of Iraq, coalition forces have worked hard to make the port area secure, to make the transit of humanitarian aid as safe as possible. As -- I was told this morning in my briefings that humanitarian aid should begin moving -- massive amounts of humanitarian aid should begin moving within the next 36 hours. And that's going to be very positive news for a lot of people who have suffered a long time under Saddam Hussein.
We've got a massive ground assault going on, and right behind it will be a massive movement of humanitarian aid, to help the people of Iraq. We have made that promise to the people of this country that we will do everything we can to protect innocent life. And we're doing that. And we'll do everything we can to help the Iraqi people. First thing, of course, that will help the Iraqi people is to rid them from a brutal dictator, somebody who has stayed in power through mutilation and rape and torture. Somebody who has starved his own people so he could build palaces. When free from that dictatorship, life will be a lot better.
But we also understand we have an obligation -- and this is just not America, it's coalition forces -- have an obligation to put food and medicine in places so the Iraqi people can live a normal life and have hope. And that's exactly what's going to happen shortly when the area is completely -- safe enough to move the equipment forward. "
"Massive amounts" of aid should begin moving soon...if it is safe enough to move the aid forward. However, it can move less than 50 miles before it hits Basra. The aid will competing for trucks and road space with the logistic effort to supply the troops - my guess is that aid will lose.
In the meantime, from the Agonist:"Both water and electricity have been cut off in Basra since March 21, and electricity cables powering the major Wafa al-Quaid water station -- which supplies 2 million people and is the biggest source in the region -- have been destroyed, the Red Cross said March 23."
But don't worry boys and girls, Dubya is pleased with the progress of the war, so we should be happy.
10:03:11 PM 
|
