Operation Assured Delivery
Operation Assured Delivery was the United States Armed Forces' logistical support to humanitarian aid efforts in Georgia following the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. The operation provided medical supplies, shelter, food and personal hygiene items for the civilian population of Georgia.[2]
Deployment of U.S. Forces
U.S. Air Force
As of August 27, 2008, the U.S. Air Force had flown 55 airlift sorties delivering 1,944,000 pounds of supplies since 13 August.[3]
U.S. Navy
As of August 27, 2008, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS McFaul had delivered 155,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies to the port of Batumi.[3] In addition, the command ship USS Mount Whitney arrived in the Georgian main port of Poti on September 5 with additional supplies.[4]
U.S. Coast Guard
As of August 27, 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Dallas had delivered 76,000 pounds of aid for displaced persons.[3]
Russian reaction
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the States of using Operation Assured Delivery as a cover for delivering military support to Georgia. Media reported have suggested that USS McFaul docked in the Georgian-controlled port of Batumi, rather than the primary Georgian port of Poti which was controlled by Russians at time.[5]
However, the USS Mount Whitney docked in Poti. Russian authorities were concerned about the ship's arrival, claiming that the ship's size and weight suggested that it was not bringing humanitarian aid, but instead bringing significant U.S. military weapons. The source also noted that the Mount Whitney was a command-and-control vessel coordinating a group of NATO ships in the Black Sea.[6]
See also
- Georgia-NATO relations
References
- Angelika Lantz (September 15, 2008). "Operation Assured Delivery ends". Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
- Specialist 2nd Class Dana M. Clark (August 23, 2008). "U.S. military humanitarian efforts dubbed 'Operation Assured Delivery'". Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
- Specialist 2nd Class Dana M. Clark (August 27, 2008). "U.S. military delivers over two-million pounds of aid". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
- "USS Mount Whitney Brings Aid to Poti, Georgia". Sixth Fleet Public Affairs. September 5, 2008. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- "US aid ship avoids Russian troops". BBC News. August 27, 2008.
- "USS Mount Whitney arrives in Georgian port of Poti". RIA Novosti. September 5, 2008.