2 Former Presidents Lead Private Fund Raising Relief Effort

MoonHowler

Former Presidents Clinton and Bush have been asked by President Obama to head up private fund raising for Haiti relief, very similar to what President Bush the elder and President Clinton were asked to do. 

The 2 issued the following joint statement:

We are deeply saddened by the devastation and suffering caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. The people of Haiti are in our thoughts and prayers.

We are pleased to accept President Obama’s request to lead private sector fundraising efforts. In the days and weeks ahead, we will draw attention to the many ways American citizens and businesses can help meet the urgent needs of the Haitian people.

Americans have a long history of showing compassion and generosity in the wake of tragedy. We thank the American people for rallying to help our neighbors in the Caribbean in their hour of suffering – and throughout the journey of rebuilding their nation.

For information on how you can contribute, please visit www.georgewbushcenter.com/haiti and www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake.

Both men plan to go to Haiti in the near future.  Right now, they would both be in the way because of security.  Both men look down-right distinguished in the above picture. 

USNS Hope Heads to Haiti

MoonHowler

Originally an oil tanker, the hospital ship, Hope, is the third ship to bear the name Hope.  She docks in Baltimore and can be readied for service in 5 days.   USNS Hope now heads out to Haiti to bring much needed medical help to the earthquake victims. 

USNS Hope is owned by the Navy and is considered a state of the art floating hospital, with operating rooms, state of the art diagnostics, and now a staff that is dedicated and impressive.  It can treat a thousand people at a time. 

With docks in shambles, the game plan for getting those in need aboard the Hope is unclear.  Americans should be proud of this floating hospital.  Wikipedia boasts:

Operated by the Military Sealift Command, Comfort provides rapid, flexible, and mobile medical and surgical services to support Marine Corps Air/Ground Task Forces deployed ashore, Army and Air Force units deployed ashore, and naval amphibious task forces and battle forces afloat. Secondarily, she provides mobile surgical hospital service for use by appropriate US Government agencies in disaster or humanitarian relief or limited humanitarian care incident to these missions or peacetime military operations.

 

There are other hospital ships currently in operation.