The U.S. Coast Guard has been the first U.S. Department of Homeland Security agency to respond with humanitarian assistance and disaster assistance in the wake of yesterday's earthquake in Haiti. This is an important story, both because of the catastrophic toll in human life and economic impact the earthquake will have on the island nation, but also as an example of the United States (and the sea services in particular) commitment to humanitarian aide abroad, as articulated in A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower (PDF File). Rather than editorialize on this myself, I'll point you in the direction of my friend Ryan Erickson's post on the subject earlier this evening, "Coast Guard was one of the first to Haiti… and I don’t think we’ll be leaving anytime soon," and let Admiral Allen's comments and a Coast Guard overflight of the island speak for themselves in the videos below.Please direct your thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti, and also to our people -- military and civilian -- who are now working around the clock to bring hope and relief to a place and people that are desperately in need.
