There’s a WAR Ship In Costa Rica!
Costa Rica was the first country in the world to formally abolish its military. This is a great source of pride for its people and those that have chosen to call Costa Rica their home.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former two-term Costa Rica President Oscar Arias continues his efforts in urging other nations to abandon their own militaries as he accurately points to the enormous amounts of money these countries spend on armed forces while their citizens suffer in poverty, go hungry, lack adequate healthcare and go without proper education.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica is in a paradox itself with an ever escalating crime and violence problem associated with the smuggling activities of regional drug gangs and cartels.
In stark contrast to Dr. Arias’ worldwide agenda, his successor and current President Laura Chinchilla along with the Legislative Assembly voted nearly unanimously to expanded a previous “Joint Patrol” counter-narcotics maritime agreement with the United States allowing the U.S. armed forces full Costa Rica in-country access through the end of 2010 to help fight drug trafficking.
On the eve of the first U.S. ship docking in a Costa Rica port, Presidenta Chinchilla admitted that this small country with no military does not have the resources to effectively patrol its own waters while calling on the United States to offer an anti-drug aid program just for Central America – in addition to money already provided through the Mérida Initiative where a bulk of the anti-narcotics funding goes to Mexico and only a small amount is provided to other countries within the Central American drug trafficking corridor.
Humanitarian - My Butt
The news of the U.S. military being given access to Costa Rica was less than palatable to many and the backlash went viral – especially on the Internet.
Opposition from within Costa Rica’s own government went public followed by an immediate legal challenge of the legislative decision to the Costa Rica Supreme Court.
Organizations formally condemned the decision. Peace groups and students protested; albeit in far fewer numbers than they had promised. Expat foreigners that had relocated or were considering moving to Costa Rica after being sold on this being a country of peace were rethinking their decisions out-loud. And those that propagate conspiracy theories were having the dreaded times of their lives.
The end result was a Costa Rica government that felt compelled to respond in attempts to tamp down the tide of discontent.
President Chinchilla’s administration assured the public that Costa Rica would be in charge of any anti-drug operations. That only the U.S. Coast Guard would assist as needed on a case-by-case basis – and that any United States Navy or Marines operations would be limited to humanitarian efforts such as healthcare, infrastructure projects, disaster relief (if necessary), etc., etc.
These statements were deemed disingenuous by those opposed to the plan and humorous to those in favor of whatever it will take to stem the tide of drug related criminal activity.
There’s A BIG War Ship in Costa Rica!
On August 20th, 2010 the first of an approved 46 United States military ships docked in Puerto Limón, the largest port on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
The Costa Rica government announced the USS Iwo Jima’s arrival with great fanfare as proof that humanitarian aid had in-fact been delivered in the form of a military vessel. Pundits were put on notice that the Chinchilla administration had been completely truthful that the war on drugs was not turning into a foreign armed forces operation.
But such statements only angered anti-military pundits. What exactly is “humanitarian” about a hulking battleship?! The USS Iwo Jima is a WAR ship – not a PEACE ship!
Critics say the facts speak for themselves and the real story is easy to ascertain in part due to the free-flow of Internet information.
FACTS:
The USS Iwo Jima is a U.S. Wasp-class amphibious assault ship designed to land fighting forces on hostile shores by air and sea. The ship is the largest vessel of its type in the world with a sea level “well” deck for launching smaller landing craft and a flight deck that hosts an air group of helicopters and Harrier ground-attack jet aircraft.
Here’s some more factual statistics listing the USS Iwo Jima’s standard mission complements:
- 104 officers, 1,004 enlisted Navy personnel along with a 1,894 Marine detachment,
- Six Boeing AV-8B Harrier II marine attack aircraft,
- Four Bell AH-1W SuperCobra marine attack helicopters,
- Twelve Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight marine tandem rotor troop/supply cargo helicopters,
- Four Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion marine heavy-lift troop/supply cargo helicopters,
- Three Bell UH-1N Huey utility helicopters,
- Two RIM-116 RAM battery missile launchers (defensive surface-to-air, 42 ready to launch infrared homing missiles),
- Two Sea Sparrow battery missile launchers (service-to-air, 8 ready to launch missiles),
- Two Phalanx CIWS 20mm six-barrel radar guided Gatling gun auto cannon systems,
- Four M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, and
- Three Mk 38 Bushmaster 25mm chain guns
Additionally, the Iwo Jima is capable of being a “Harrier Carrier” of up to 20 Harrier attack jet aircraft during full military operations.
Not exactly the “The Love Boat”, is it Señora Presidenta?!
Operation Continuing Promise 2010
Admittedly conspiracies can be darn interesting! But sometimes the entire facts are worth exploring for those interested in the REAL story – minus the spin.
Like many United States Navy Ships, the USS Iwo Jima can be put into service for many different purposes.
The U.S. Department of Defense keeps its equipment and personnel in a state of constant readiness by way of training and humanitarian exercises because thankfully there is not always a military conflict requiring all of its resources.
The USS Iwo Jima is a Norfolk, Virginia based U.S. Navy ship currently on deployment as part of “Continuing Promise 2010”, an annual humanitarian mission under the directed operations of the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).
So what is ‘Continuing Promise’? It sounds promising! Humanitarian missions are always good – right? Or is this just another trick to __insert conspiracy theory here__?!
Costa Rica Blogger Investigates
“REAL, Honest, Unbiased Information on ALL Things Costa Rica”. That’s our tag line here at Costa Rica Blogger and we’re sticking by it as we approach our 3rd anniversary:
On Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 04:00 hours we began our recon mission of the U.S. Navy’s USS Iwo Jima Wasp-class amphibious assault ship anchored in the Costa Rica Caribbean port town of Limón. Based on our intelligence, below radar ground transport was deemed the best approach. We diligently made our way through the Depresión de la Palma pass of the Cordillera Central volcanic mountain range; then on through the tropical flatlands of Limón Province under-cover of ample banana agriculture plantations. Once we arrived near Puerto Limón, we disengaged from our vehicle and continued on foot. Camera in hand and a pretty Costa Rica girl to talk us past port security, we made our way to the ship to discover what was really happening on the ground.
… ♪ Mission Impossible theme music fades ♫
O.K., so we were really just going to the beach for some sun and swimming. But with all the news, opinions and flat out catastrophic scenarios being thrown around - we also had to check out what the fury was all about while in the neighborhood.
Our Findings
This is a CostaRicaBlogger.com exclusive!
Approximately 1 kilometer due West of the USS Iwo Jima at the Limón public sports complex (Polideportivo de Limón) people had gathered since the early hours in the morning for entrance into the facility ... and they weren't looking for a pick-up game of fútbol.
There were 3 orderly lines that ranged in age from elderly to babies. As time passed, the lines grew longer with the sun and humidity growing more intense.
Inside the sports complex was an international crew of military personnel from the United States Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, The Netherlands, Canada, Columbia, Paraguay and other countries – along with the civilian U.S. Public Health Service and supplies or services from many other non-governmental organizations such as Project C.U.R.E. – all brought to Costa Rica aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
In talking with on on-site troops, they were deployed on a four month mission of the Americas – and yes, it was “humanitarian”!
The USS Iwo Jima’s first stop had been the island nation of Haiti that is still recovering from their catastrophic January 2010 earthquake. Then it was on to South America’s Columbia before coming to Central America and Costa Rica for their current 10 day operation.
The team of medical doctors, nurses, ophthalmologists, optometrists, x-ray technicians, pharmacists, lab technicians, dentists, dental assistants, interpreters and even veterinarians were staged throughout the complex to treat any condition that walked through the gate.
Onsite services included: general medical attention and condition diagnosis, pre-surgical evaluations, eye exams, women’s exams, infant exams, x-rays, lab work, dental work and distribution of medicines.
Some will ask with extreme skepticism, why are such medical services needed in Costa Rica?
Surely this must be part of a bait-and-switch scheme. Why are all these troops in Costa Rica on such a “humanitarian” medical mission when Costa Rica is highly touted as having excellent health care?!
Well, here are some more REAL facts. Costa Rica has two medical systems; a social medical system and a private medical system.
All residents of Costa Rica are members of the social healthcare system (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social – CCSS). This system is adequate for most purposes, but heavily burdened. Wait times for appointments to see a specialist or receive an MRI in non-emergency situations can be 12 months. Non-critical surgeries can take years.
A person of means can buy private health insurance or simply pay out-of-pocket for excellent private health care at a fraction of the costs found in other countries such as the United States.
The Costa Ricans seeking medical services by the international crew of the USS Iwo Jima were most certainly not people that could afford to pay for private health care – and for many, waiting was no longer a requirement with such services being generously provided.
And it wasn’t just individuals that lined up for services; Costa Rica’s own national healthcare system (Caja) had patients ready for surgical treatment on-board the USS Iwo Jima with its complete hospital and operating rooms.
A U.S. Marine sergeant advised Costa Rica Blogger that many hernia and eye surgeries had been completed on the USS Iwo Jima on Saturday, August 21st and more were expected in the coming days after pre-surgical examinations were completed. When asked why these operations had not been completed by the Costa Rica Caja, he replied “they were either too complicated or they didn’t have the capacity”.
So there you have it, one U.S. WAR ship delivering its punch to the peaceful people of Costa Rica. Up to 45 more ships to go.
Costa Rica Invasion Alert
No report on such matters would be complete without some juicy inside information. And our investigation did turn-up one such incident.
THE Costa Rica Blogger has it on good authority there will be a limited occupation of Costa Rica in the next several days … a 10 man squad are up for shore leave and they do plan on spending some time in Puerto Viejo … they’ve already been given good intel regarding the local hotspots and are looking forward to their stay 
.
Next Stops
After pulling-up anchor from Costa Rica, the USS Iwo Jima is scheduled to bring these same services to:
- Puerto Barrios, Guatemala,
- Bluefields, Nicaragua,
- Chiriquí Grande, Panama,
- Georgetown, Guyana, and
- Paramaribo, Suriname
*Note to Daniel Ortega - some of the online conspiracies have the U.S. government putting themselves in position to take out your Nicaraguan Sandinista government (or Hugo Chavez over in Venezuela). But the reality may just be some much needed health care for your people while maybe a few marines slip out the "well" deck to chase down some drug runners.
full picture slide-show video:
related post: 7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: launchers gangs mri mission u.s. 2010 invasion united states surgeries attack netherlands well missiles ship limon drugs news ch-46 latin america caribbean guyana southern command oscar arias doctors personnel canada sea knight social smuggling costarricense crew radiology nurses mk 38 bushmaster columbia dentists ussouthcom harrier patrol wasp operations dental nicaragua marines air forces optometrists peace assault armed costa rica training rooms ah-1w ch-53 supercobra trafficking caja deck health suriname surgery av-8b anti helicopters uss iwo jima examinations jet private navy central america aircraft puerto viejo humanitarian huey army battleship vessel ophthalmologists mexican exams amphibious service mexico veterinarians canadian class seguro social project phalanx ciws pharmacy medicine public cartels narcotics phs government panama healthcare crime eye ram violence dutch lab laura chinchilla guatemala x-ray sea sparrow sea stallion hospital medical cure paraguay haiti polideportivo operating coast guard columbian conspiracy uh-1n continuing promise insurance rim-116 care m2 browning theory ccss war military air force corridor
This is all about fighting POVERTY at its roots. Limon Province, just like Chiriqui Grande, Bocas del Toro Province in Panama are located in remote areas prone to extreme flood events at least twice yearly. These Humanitarian Missions in the Caribbean Coasts of each Nation mentioned in this very neutral and factual report live and on the ground from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, where this new member is also located, shows the diplomacy used back in the late 1950's and early 1960's especially by the late JFK (John Fitzgerald Kennedy). He loudly and boldly told the Citizens then living in the USA (I was 9 years old in 1960), 'Ask not what Your Country can do for you, ask what You can do for Your Country!) These Military and Civilian Men and Women are bravely re-implementing this strategy openly to these impoverished Coastal Communities of Central America and the Caribbean, subliminally stating,´We may have forgotten you in the past, but in this post-economic crisis period, you will be the FIRST LOCATIONS to show you will never again be forgotten!´ My prayers are with all who participate in the Spirit of Faith, Hope and Love toward these impoverished people who, especially here in Puerto Limon, Siquirres, Sixaola and Matina and Batan remember the US Embassy and the Costa Rican Government working together in 1960, distributing milk and cheese freely to the women, children and teachers in the excellent Costa Rican School System, showing Loveboat Diplomacy which has once again returned the Limon Province. May Costa Rica be commended for her firm decision of fighting pverty at its roots with kindness and mercy! God Bless Costa Rica and the USA!!!
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its a peace ship.
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...and part of keeping the peace is establishing good relations with friendly countries while letting rouge states understand they can and will be dealt with if needed.
Operating rooms made available to the underprivileged and attack aircraft with supporting ground troops on the same vessel sends this message quite succinctly.
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THATS OLD NEWS, they send 36 war ships, 7000 military and helicopters and more to fight the war on Drugs there infiltrating, the beach areas and punteranas.. I knew that long time ago one more reason not to be there
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Opps I just read it they sent more than the orginal publication my god ok people REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS? NO ONE BELIEVED ME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NOW
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FIGHTING THE WAR ON DRUGS Columbian drug dealers, and more...Meaning inocent are going to suffer too along with the bad
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What is a War ship doing in Costa Rica? Is it really Humanitarian Reasons?
Reason number 1, SMOKE and MIRRORS. Yeah, they are spreading the empire, oops backup, I meant Democracy and Security for the poor nations that need Big Brother to ...watch over them.
Reason number 2, Sell the occupation of foreign troops, by treating the needy. A sure way to get the ignorant to look the other way.
The US economy is in shambles, yet they continue the fate of the Romans, Greeks and most recent USSR empires. These policies will end badly for the US and its people. But hey, why worry about little things like money, right.... The US has a printing press cranking money like crazy, it can't end like Germany before WWII or Zimbabwe right.....
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Do you think Costa Rica would have the ability to not have a military if it didn't have the constant support of large nations such as the US and it's other Military possessing friends?
You know that if Nica or some other country invaded CR, US troops would be there kicking ass and bleeding on behalf of Costa Rica.
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Kick them OUT of my country!!!
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Just how do you think CR exists without a military. On the goodwill of Nicaraugua, Venezuela, and other world countries? No......because of those same soldiers you hate. Anyone who thinks CR doesn't have the protection of the US is misguided.
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Good Nathy. Tell that to the thousands of poor they are helping throughout your country for FREE, and the thousands of others they have helped over the years for FREE. And if your country is ever invaded or in trouble, who do you think is on speed dial to come save you? Sorry, gotta go back and lock myself behind the bars of my house now. Jeez.
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interesting article..thanks
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Regardless of where you stand on the subject, the facts seem to point to the Costa Rica government and Presidenta Laura Chinchilla administration as being the ones who are inviting the U.S. military into this country.
So 'kicking them out' is really up to the same Costa Rican people asking them for and receiving their assistance.
COSTARICANEWS | Monday 23 August 2010
Costa Rica Urges U.S. Navy For Closer Patrols Of Pacific Coast
The Comisionado Nacional contra el Narcotráfico (National Anti-Narcotics Commissioner), Mauricio Boraschi, confirmed that Costa Rica has asked the U.S. Navy to navigate closer to the Costa Rican coast in the fight against drug trafficking.
Boraschi said that the request was made in order to prevent the arrival of boats onto Costa Rica's Pacific coasts, loaded with cocaine. The request was made during a meeting with officials of the Southern Command, the U.S. military entity in charge of the fight against drugs for the United States government.
Costa Rican authorities suspect that 10% of the illegal drugs that reach Costa Rica's coasts are from Colombia and remain in the country for local consumption.
Last July the Costa Rican legislature approved the presence of up 46 U.S. war ships and 7.000 U.S. marines to enter Costa Rican waters until December in an joint effort with the Costa Rican Coast Guard in the fight against drug trafficking. However, Ann Andrew, the U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica says that only 10 - 20 ships will actually enter Costa Rican waters between now and December.
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Very cool. Great humanitarian work. Don't hear anyone complaining about that part of their mission!!
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Costa Rica presindent are a pussy,strangers coming and go how many times theys want with out permision.sh***t
I nt very happy with all tha sh***t goin on in Costa Rica...some shut do something,because the predindent she dont have any idea where she seating....do something or lets others to do IT...
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I have no doubts this is a humanitarian mission. About one year ago I was on a Copa flight between San Jose and Panama City when I was upgraded to business class. When upgraded, I found myself surrounded by an executive committee from the Church of Latter Day Saints. The women sitting next to me was very high up within the church and explained to me that her and the others in business class (I was the only none LDS in business class) were visiting Latin American countries arranging for a joint mission with the U.S. military (they already had done some operations in Panama and other locations) She explained that the U.S. military had approached the church asking if it could donate medical supplies and nurse volunteers for the mission. The military's goal was two-fold: build goodwill in the region and provide an opportunity for medical personnel in the military to hone and maintain their skills. From the military's perspective, the warships were being underutilized at the moment, thus it would be better to use them from humanitarian purposes and hopefully rebuild some of the goodwill the nation had lost over the last decade.
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Well. I think the hookers on the carribean coast will be very happy to cort seamen!
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It is a well known fact that the U.S. military has done humanitarian work through out history. But there is no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. An agenda will follow as it is to be expected. Some people might be ignorant but NOT STUPID. If I were to honorably donate my time or money expecting nothing in return, then others might consider my acts to be sincerely genuine, moral, noble reputable and maybe even trustworthy. But when it is a public official or Government behind the deed, one must be on high alert. After all it's very easy to pretend to be of good moral character when you spend other people's money.
Question? Would you feel the same if a Chinese aircraft carrier docked at a New York port with all sorts of supporting military personnel, vehicles and aircrafts with the same "humanitarian mission". It is no secret and a known fact that there is a lot of poverty and needy people in the US. No common sense, thinking individual would allow a sovereign nation to be occupied by an Army that is not their own, for humanitarian reasons or not! Except for us of course, the police of the world!!!!
We are well intentioned without any secret agendas!!
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As of Today, Nicaraguan forces have begun to usurp land on Costa Ricas Northern border.
After conducting its successful coup d'etat in Honduras against President Manuel Zelaya, the imperialistic Barack Obama administration is now bent on ousting Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega by massing a huge U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps presence in neighboring Costa Rica, a base of operations for Reagan administration-backed CIA operations in the 1980s in support of the Nicaraguan contras.
Costa Rican government officials, including President Laura Chinchilla, Vice President Luis Lieberman Ginsburg, Security Minister Jose Maria Tijerino, counter-narcotics Commissioner Mauricio Boraschi, and the Costa Rican Congress agreed to Operation Joint Patrol, which will see 7,000 US Marines, 46 mainly U.S. Coast Guard vessels, and 200 helicopters and 10 combat aircraft descend on Costa Rica, which does not have a military force, from July 1 to December 31.
At a time when the Coast Guard vessels could be used to assist in the clean-up of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, they will be used in an operation widely believed to be targeting the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, which incurred the ire of Israel and its Zionist ally in San Jose, Costa Rica, Vice President Lieberman, by severing relations with the Tel Aviv regime over the Israeli attack on the Gaza aid flotilla.
The official reason for Operation Joint Patrol is to combat drug trafficking but few in the Costa Rican opposition and in Nicaragua believe that to be the sole reason. The Joint Patrol operation is being likened to Plan Colombia, which has targeted the governments of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa from Colombian territory. The Costa Rican opposition has denounced Chinchilla's government for militarizing Costa Rica.
It is also believed by WMR's sources in Costa Rica that Costa Rican Vice President Lieberman, a noted Zionist, has arranged for Israeli special forces to enter Costa Rica in order to participate in operations directed against the government of Nicaragua.
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Rico,
The conspiracy web sites from which you copied this 'information' is exactly why I personally reported as to what was REALLY taking place on the ground here in Costa Rica.
Enjoy your Kool-Aid!
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"All residents of Costa Rica are members of the social healthcare system (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social – CCSS). This system is adequate for most purposes, but heavily burdened. Wait times for appointments to see a specialist or receive an MRI in non-emergency situations can be 12 months. Non-critical surgeries can take years."
SOCIALISM NEVER WORKS...you eventually ALWAYS run out of other people's money (Margaret Thatcher)
Without the USA's kick ass military, Costa Rica would have been overrun by Cuban Communists decades ago. Panama Canal is crawling with US Military and that keeps things humming.
Capitalism works every time it's tried.
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A couple notes...
CAJA MRI
U.S. Military Humanitarian Aid
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" I was personally at the humanitarian exercise and most of the eye and hernia operations performed within the operating rooms of the U.S.S. Iwo Jima were referred in advance by the Costa Rica CAJA medical system."
Thank you American taxpayers...proof that the USA is directly subsidizing the socialist Costa Rica CAJA...which is perpetually broke...just like all the other socialist healthcare systems..
Hey, how's that "We ain't got no army" working out for ya??? The facist Nic's are violating Costa Rica territory and not a dang thing Costa Rica can do it about...cuz it ain't got no army!!
Better hope Obama keeps gas in those US Army helicopters in Honduras, huh???
You Americans living in Costa Rica on social security..you are SAFE living there BECAUSE of American military forces in Panama and Honduras and the U.S. Coast Guard off the coasts of Costa Rica.
admit it, you love the US military when it is deployed around Costa Rica. Otherwise you would be having conversations with Nicaraguan and Cuban commandos....
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