Exciting news -- US Military aid to Nepal

[Bill Marsh]

Security forces from the US Pacific Command left this week after visiting Rolpa and Gorkha to assess military needs. Five earlier missions looked into development. The teams will now put together a support package ($20 million each for security and development) prior to endorsement by the US Congress. The RNA’s shopping list includes assault rifles, armoured Mi-17 helicopters, fixed wing STOL transport, communication equipment, and night vision aids. Development support will be channelled through USAID and used to rehabilitate hospitals and damaged infrastructure, and launch a “massive” job campaign in insurgency areas. The US Foreign Military Support Programme delivers hardware directly and does not hand out cash. Sources in New Delhi tell us the US money will be handled by India to buy the helicopters from a former Soviet state for delivery to Nepal. A State Department source, however, ruled out this possibility.

Read about it here--picture of choppers

http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue91/exclusive.htm

 

[snipehunta]

Great news, lets hear it for our other uncle, Sam.

 

[sams]

It sounds like the action is moving in the right direction.

 

[Matt H]

Good news. They should add a couple of fully armed Mi-24's to that list.

 

[firkin]

Not much out of the State Dept. lately though--Last statement regarding Nepal was the 24th.
Guess no reporters have asked about Nepal in the last couple of days.

Hope the statement excerpted below doesn't cause trouble later:

---------
April 2002

Defense Department Briefing


Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke and Air Force Brigadier General John Rosa, deputy director for current operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed reporters April 24 at the Pentagon.

Following is the Pentagon transcript:

U.S. Department of Defense News Transcript
Presenter: Victoria Clarke ASD (PA)
Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 11:30 a.m. EDT

DoD News Briefing - ASD PA Clarke and Brig. Gen. Rosa

(Also participating was Air Force Brig. Gen. John W. Rosa, Jr., deputy director for current operations, Operations Directorate, the Joint Staff.)
.
.
.
Q: What can you tell us about sending military advisers to Nepal, to help the government combat Maoist guerrillas? There's a report that that's taking place. Do you know how many advisers, when they got there, what they're doing?

Clarke: Don't have — don't have anything on that.

Rosa: I don't have anything.
.
.
."

 

[Bill Martino]

They never know anything.