Israel Matzav

IDF communications and Saudi indifference in Haiti

In an earlier post, I mentioned that the IDF has set up communications capabilities in Haiti, including wireless internet and video conferencing. Here are some more details.

While the world has already heard about the remarkable work at the IDF field hospital in Port-au-Prince, not much has been written about the communications room set up on the island by reservists from the military's C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) branch.

"This is an unprecedented operation in its scale and size," explained Lt.-Col. (res.) Yaakov Magal. "We did not even have something like this during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last January."

According to Magal, before the rescue teams were sent to Haiti, the IDF ensured that the delegation would have around-the-clock access to one of Israel's Amos communications satellites. It also sent millions of dollars of equipment to Haiti.

"This operation is called 'End of the World,' but with our communications systems we gave soldiers and delegation members the ability to call home at the price of a domestic call in Israel," he said.

The wireless Internet has attracted, he said, journalists from around the world who come to send their materials back to their editorial offices.

Magal and his team also set up video conference systems in surgery theaters to give field surgeons the ability to consult with experts back in Israeli hospitals. "They can turn on the camera and even watch the surgeries in Israel as they occur in Haiti," he said.

Anyone still think we can't take out Iran's nukes?

Heh.

Meanwhile, Rachel Abrams marvels at the missing contribution from 'our friends the Saudis.'

So where, beyond an expression of condolence from the “king,” are the offers of help and money from the House of Saud? It seems it was God’s little joke to hand the greatest supplies of oil and natural gas to a people who part with their riches for their own ends only. Not only have the rulers of sand and oil donated not a single penny so far to the Haiti relief effort, but a scouring of the English-language Saudi press turns up not even a mention of the word Haiti. Perhaps they will be shamed into reaching into the very, very full pockets of their thwabs to pull out a contribution. If they’re shamable.

Just wondering: If his country were to suffer a terrible natural disaster, and the Israelis were willing to deploy their miraculous field hospitals and search teams to this most Jew-hating of states, would the Saudi “king” allow them to land on his oil-drenched soil to search for survivors and save the lives of his “subjects?” Would he first demand that any mention of the Jewish state be scrubbed from their passports?

Israel undoubtedly would try to send rescuers to Saudi Arabia - we sent them to Indonesia after the tsunami and I know we have offered to send them to Iran.

I have no idea how the Saudis would respond.

Here's an update on the Israeli field hospital's activities. Let's go to the videotape.



By the way, they're up to nine babies delivered as of this writing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:21 AM