Russia can put out firesIn regard to your numerous reports on wildfires, please allow me to provide a much more important story behind the headlines. As chief of Global Emergency Response (www.waterbomber.com), I serve as international liaison to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (similar to our Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Guard combined).
Since 1995, Russia has offered the United States, free of charge except for fuel, the largest and most effective firefighting air tankers in the world. Each of these remarkable planes can stop a raging wildfire over an area equal to 12 football fields, in less than 15 seconds!
Members of Congress, the Federal Aviation Administration, State Department and Department of Defense have all encouraged the participation of these unmatchable assets. The U.S. Forest Service, however, refuses to allow any foreign competition to its small, antique, private air tanker fleet. The IL-76 Waterbombers are four times larger than our largest C-130s and several times more efficient.
U.S. taxpayers lose billions each year because of the Forest Service�s refusal to think outside of its corrupt and incompetent practices.
Tom Robinson, Richmond, Va.
URL: http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/08/04/letters/doc44d27a27231e6392352778.txt
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