Pray for those who go in harms way

AF6872

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USS McFaul & Coast Guard Cutter Dallas. Relief efforts in the Black Sea. The tip of the spear indeed.
 
Boy, I bet they'll be on hair-trigger alert. :eek:
 
I wouldn't want to be a cutter with a bunch of Russian warships around. Stay safe boys and girls!
 
Oh, I would LOVE to be on DALLAS with a bunch of Russian "warships" around!

:thumb:
 
My understanding from the news articles related to this effort is that the reason the DALLAS is included in the relief effort is that warships passing through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus into the Black Sea must have formal prior permission from the Turkish Government. Both ships had prior approval for passage based upon their inclusion in scheduled NATO exercises. They already had right of passage prior to the conflict so were pressed into duty. I am sure we are requesting permission for more ships. The MOUNT WHITNEY is now loading (or has finished) and preparing to provide more relief. I am sure the Russians will like to have her there with all the electronic gear she has onboard.
 
Coast Guard to the rescue again!

russia_span.jpg


The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Dallas at Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi on Wednesday.
 
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Fantastic picture.

Quote:
Stay safe boys and girls!
Oopppsss! I think you meant "men and women". I doubt there are any boys and girls on those ships.

I figured you might say something. It's not demeaning, but something we can say to each other without offense.
 
*****Warning!! Off Topic here!!*******
I figured you might say something.

Is this a personal "you", as in you figured JAM would say something? or a general "you" - as in someone on the forum may say something?

If you meant it as a personal "you" -
How did you guess? Is it the parental advice and wisdom that I bring to this forum? I hope so.
Honestly Hornetguy, if I was your mother I would knock that chip off your shoulder right into the Atlantic Ocean and pound your butt right down to sea level. Call your mother and ask her if it would be proper for a Cadet to refer to CG and Navy sailors, enlisted and officers who are heading into harm’s way as “boys and girls”. Better yet – go ask your Tac officer – does the AFA have TAC’s?
I won’t pretend to speak for the male gender but – many adult females are indeed offended to be referred to as “girls”. It is demeaning and insulting to make such a reference on a professional level – both in the military and out of the military. I would hope that as an officer you would never refer to female airmen as “girls”. It would be especially inappropriate in the heat of battle. You also might want to rethink referring to a black male airman as “boy”.
Referring to adults as boys and girls can be done to the right people and in the right context. On the golfcourse, i.e. if you are playing in a foursome of three females cadets who you know well, may not mind if you teed up and said, “Hey girls, watch this- I am going to actually hit the ball on the first swing this time!”.
Has the AFA Superintendent ever addressed the Wing with “Good Morning boys and girls”, or refer to you Cadets as boys and girls? I would be quite shocked if Admiral Mullen would refer to these CG and Navy sailors as boys and girls.

It's not demeaning, but something we can say to each other without offense.
Exactly, who is "we" and who are "each other". While YOU may not find it demeaning - don't speak for others who would take offense.
 
Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa. I didn't want to start something like this. :eek:
 
Not your fault at all. Glad to hear where our people are headed out to.
 
Agreed.

I'm sure the kids would appreciate it. :thumb:
 
The Awesome U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas and USS McFaul

The US ships docked at Batumi, Georgia instead of Poti:
http://www.star-telegram.com/279/story/866715.html

And left Batumi yesterday:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/EDIS-7HXQ77?OpenDocument

NATO Ships in Black Sea Raise Alarms in Russia:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/world/europe/28russia.html



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BLACK SEA (Aug. 26, 2008) The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) and the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) transit through the Black Sea en route to the Republic of Georgia to deliver humanitarian relief supplies. Dallas is carrying more than 76,000 pounds of supplies, including soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, baby wipes, toilet paper and other necessities. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen)

And here is an article about the USS Mount Whitney:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=67909&sectionid=3510203
 
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I would think, whether correct or not, that the straits are "international straits", in which vessels don't need the "permission" of Turkey, or boarding nations. This isn't the only one. Internation straits are all over.

I've liked the coverage and DALLAS' pretty little mug being plastered all over the place. Simply outstanding.
 
LITH:
I don't think they are "international" As they are bordered by Turkey and pass through their territory. The rights of passage are goverened by the Montreaux Convention of 1936. Although not signatory the US abides by the provisions.

http://everything2.com/node/1953670
 
AF this is not the only place this happens, also look to the most transited waterway in the world, in southeastern Asia. In fact, it's quite amazing how much water is open to the passage of vessels, including military/government vessels.

I suddenly wish I had my maritime law book and a great power point...but alas, I do not! :frown::wink:
 
The most traveled and transited? Possibly the "Malacca Strait"?? The straits are bordered and surronded by independent and Soverign City States or Soveriegn Nations. Specificaly Indonesia, Maylasia and Singapore. The straits do not pass through or are bordered by any single nation unlike the Bosporus and Dardenelles. I think they are considered "International Waters" due to the breadth of the actual strait and the lack of single national control but I don't know the actual definition. The pirates in the area certainly consider them free hunting grounds and I would like to see a Cutter in there to tear them up.:thumb:.
 
The "Cutter" would at all times, of course, be operating in international waters and enforcing the established rules of the sea and maritime law!!:smile:
 
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AF6872 is correct- the Dardanelles are not International waters- they are legally defined as territorial waters governed by the Montreaux convention which gives Turkey the right in both peace and wartime to fortify and control the Bosporus and limits the size, type of warship and armament on non-Turkish warship passing. The Montreaux convention is still in effect as Turkey is not a signatory of the UN Law of the Sea convention-The most recent example of the control of the Bosporus that Turkey exercises is the reason that the US ships bringing supplies into Georgia were a USCG Cutter and a Destroyer- the Turks rejected passage of anything larger- including USNS Hospital ships. The Straights of Malacca on the other hand- are the very definition of international waterways- and most definitely could use some help from the US. although, given the number of acts of piracy there - probably half of the USCG could be gainfully employed there - the Malaysian, Singapore, Indonesian and Thai navies already patrol there with apparently limited results.
 
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