Gates: U.S. Military Ready to Help, Ships, Air Support Staged

The Navy is dispatching helicopters from the USS Essex strike group to a staging area in Thailand, where they will be able to reach Burma with relief supplies “in a matter of hours,” Gates said. In addition, six C-130 aircraft also are available to provide humanitarian support and could airdrop food and water if granted position, he said.

Gates said the United States will work with other countries, if necessary, to help. "Our interest here is totally nonpolitical," he said. "It's to try to help the people of Myanmar,” he said.

[I assumed as much from our military - and isn't that a blessing...]

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