Knowing When to Call off The Censors

We have been waiting for this moment. Background, Last week Eagle1 discussed the "people smuggling" and refugee problem taking place between Somalia and Yemen, linking this article with very interesting insight into the issue including the role of the United Nations. Timing is everything. Today the USS Russell (DDG 59) encountered exactly the type of scenario Eagle1 highlighted. AP is carrying the story this morning.

A U.S. Navy ship rescued a small boat carrying about 70 people, some suffering from severe dehydration, in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and Somalia, the military said Monday.

The USS Russell responded to a ship distress call on Sunday and found the 45-foot boat, which had been adrift for two days after experiencing serious engine problems, the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said in a statement.

"There were approximately 70 personnel on board the vessel, some of whom were in need of immediate medical attention. Seven personnel were transferred to Russell and treated for severe dehydration and malnutrition," the statement said.

The Navy said the Russell was towing the boat toward Somalia where it and the passengers would be turned over to Somali authorities.

When we first learned of the Destroyermen blog, this was one of about eight scenarios we saw as a possibility for the blog to make a significant impact to the discussion. Most Americans really don't understand what the Navy is doing in the 5th Fleet AOR, the media can report something and even give one picture but greater depth is required to understand the problems and issues the Navy deals with on a daily basis don't quite come through. Blogging from those at the scene can fill that void in the discussion.

What an excellent opportunity for the Destroyermen blog to make a significant impact to the human Somalia sea based refugee discussion. Milbloggers in Iraq (great example), officers and enlisted alike, give the unedited truth about their experiences. Such brutal honesty would be very effective for the Navy in this situation as well. Hopefully the Navy gives the Russell blog writers the green light to tell the rest of the story, and allows the details to be told in full, from the rescue to the turnover in Somalia.