Georgia Relief Mission Goes On

Air Force C-130s and C-17s, along with Navy transport aircraft, have flown 62 missions to Georgia since Aug. 13, delivering humanitarian aid, Pentagon officials said yesterday. Further, two ships, the USS McFaul and Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, have delivered 1,138 short tons of supplies to help Georgia in the wake of Russia’s invasion there Aug. 8. A third ship, the USS Mount Whitney, will arrive in the next few days. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the US will continue the mission “as long as it’s needed.” He refuted Russian claims that the US is covertly bringing in weapons for the Georgians, calling them “false, untrue, unfounded, accusations without merit.” Roughly 100 US servicemen and Pentagon civilians are in Georgia coordinating the relief. This includes airmen of the Air Force’s 86th Contingency Response Group from Ramstein AB, Germany. (Includes AFPS report by Jim Garamone and Ramstein report by SMSgt. Hollis Dawson)