Palaver from Persimmon Crossing
with Warren Faulk
Hey NAVY (and DOD and STATE)
Sometimes there are emergencies that cannot wait for the usual diplomatic process to take place.The Kursk submarine disaster, for example. There will almost certainly be other grave situations where the rapid extension of a helping hand, however "foreign", might save lives.
I don't believe anyone in the US chain of command would hesitate to accept humanitarian aid from a foreign power when American lives are at stake, but we should check and make sure. For example, could that Doctor, who was snowbound at one of our sites, having to treat herself for cancer, have been helped by someone else? Who checked? What were the responses? Should we be following up on this?
If our press is to be believed, the Russians, in the case of the Kursk, were either hesitant to accept our help and/or thought that the coordination and implementation of any effort would take so long as to be of no practical value. All of the coordination needed for a joint attempt to rescue the crew of the Kursk could have been done years ago. A US/Russian/ Nato/Any Interested Party joint liaison and training effort could be ongoing and could have provided a conduit for a rapid agreement and action.
The things that could have been done ahead of time, should have been. I don't see any benefit to us for Russian sailors to die in training accidents. I doubt there are many Russians who would see our youth at risk in a similar situation and not render aid. I believe nearly all countries would take a similar view if we did our ice breaking chores far enough in advance.
It is the right thing to do. We are the right people to start the ball rolling. There does not need to be a boss. Countries in agreement would just toss in a Commander, Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent and turn them loose. They would produce a useful program in no time. The good will generated might even snowball. Merchant fleets, Naval and other Military sea and air activities would benefit. A general sharing of rescue knowhow, equipment and position advantage would save lives and money.
-- Warren Faulk
Smarr, Georgia
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