Talking Hospital Ships

A couple of items popped up on the web today regarding the US Navy Hospital Ships; USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).

The first is an article from strategypage that cites statistics on the aftermath of last years South Pacific deployment of the USNS Comfort (T-AH 19).

It was in 2006, after one of those ships spent six months in Indonesia, treating 61,000 patients, that many noted what a powerful effect that had on attitudes towards the United States. Most of the Indonesians received some medicine, or some dental work. Only about two percent involved some surgery. As a result of all this, favorable attitudes towards the U.S. by Indonesians doubled (to 30 percent, so more work is needed.) The Indonesians were getting American quality medicine, which explains the average cost for treating each patient; $280

The article states that an anonymous Admiral suggested giving the ships to the State Dept. The merits of the anonymous Admirals arguments reflected a shortage of funding and the light casualties in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While I would agree there is certainly a place for the State Dept. on a Navy hospital ship, the Navy role is clear. I'm not sure the Admiral was being serious.

In the hospital ship deployments, including the South Pacific clearly show the Navy is the institution to make these initiatives. In these humanitarian deployments, the Navy is the vehicle while the State Dept. role is that of passenger. We learned in both the South Pacific Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina that the capabilities are best left to the Navy, because while the State Dept. could do the job, the Navy is who has the right tools to get it done right. More importantly though, The US Navy is better suited to respond to a nuclear disaster, not the State Dept., and the United States cannot count on all future wars having small casualties.

As an observer, it appears to me the US Navy understands this, as it is now sending the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) on a similar mission to last years USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) South Pacific deployment.

Speaking of deployments, the Embassy in Guatemala has announced the the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will be in Puerto Barrios and will remain in Guatemalan waters for one week, starting June 26 through July 1, 2007. (link in Spanish)

Between the Partnership of the Americas 2007 deployment, the Global Fleet Station deployment, and the upcoming deployment of the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) it would appear South America is finally getting the attention the US needs to give it.