[Monkeyleg]

Received this today from Chuck Muth's News and Views:

Hot Under the Collar
August 19, 2003

According to a Washington Times editorial today
(http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20030818-085538-8874r.htm), a volunteer
effort to send our troops air conditioners to make their tour of duty in
Iraq a little easier to bear has had the effort stopped cold in its
tracks...by the Post Office!

Last Friday, Mrs. Frankie Mayo - the organizer of Operation Air Conditioner
(http://mywpages.comcast.net/frankiemayo/) who had 302 new units ready for
shipment - was informed "by a bureaucrat in an air-conditioned office at
Delaware's Wilmington Distribution Center that it would no longer ship the
air conditioners because they contain Freon."

It's kind of curious that our friends at the post office would suddenly stop
participating in this relief effort. They've already shipped 425 other
units for the project since June.

Mrs. Mayo - whose son is currently serving in Iraq - needs our help. As she
wrote in an email to the Times, "We must cut through any red tape to get
(our soldiers) what they need. Period. No excuses or delays. Delays are
costing American soldiers lives. I will not accept failure as it is not an
option for me nor my family."

Please let Postmaster General John Potter know that this kind of stupidity
by the post office is completely unacceptable. His phone number is (202)
268-2020; fax (202) 268-5211; or e-mail by going to
www.usps.com/common/contact_us/ and click on consumer feedback. Time is of
the essence here, so please make your voice heard TODAY. Thanks!

Chuck Muth
President & CEO
Citizen Outreach

[Destructo6]

What are they going to do with air conditioning units? Even if it could be done, it would not be authorized to attach one to a tactical vehicle. Although some of the newer tents are set up to accept AC, are they compatible?

Seems like they would be so much junk laying around the camps.

[AZTOY]

Destructo6

From the picture i have seen, some of are guys are in staying in buildings. So the AC would help.

[Carlos]

Yes, even so, are they even compatible with the electrical system over there? Also, most tents most likely accept AC.

As much as I feel for the boys and girls over there serving our country, there has to be a line drawn somewhere.

This is, afterall, a military operation. Who's going to carry all this extra gear, or are we going to leave it for the unthankful moronic Iraqi people when we leave.

I wouldn't leave them anything.

[Monkeyleg]

Read the article again. It doesn't say anything about the US government giving GI's air conditioners. This is about private citizens donating them, and paying for shipping.

It's been 120 degrees over there, and some of these guys have been there for almost a year.

I would like to think the Postmaster General could cut them some slack.

[Jaguar]

Yes, even so, are they even compatible with the electrical system over there?

In my experience with US Army LEGS (light equipment/general repair) unit we toted around a 60KW generators, very capable of running any AC unit they wish to send. I am sure they would be welcomed very much appreciated.

[Kharn]

Destructo:
Given a GI's ability to make almost anything work with sufficient duct tape, I wouldnt worry about their tents possibly not being compatible. :D

Kharn

[CZ-75]

I seriously doubt these contain Freon, since the stuff has been off the market for 5 years or so. No manufacturer is going to use a diminishing product for new equipment.

The USPS probably doesn't know the difference between R-12 and R-22.

[nondescript]

Are the cargo holds of the planes pressurized or not? Could the units detonate in a cargo hold?

[Destructo6]

On the pressurized containers idea, I don't believe that USPS allows airmail of them.

GI's ability to duct tape solutions is only exceeded by his ability to break things (which in his capacity is usually a good thing).

[Navy joe]

Here's the deal. It started as a joke from her son over there who said "air conditioning" when she asked what he wanted. She researched to see what would meet postal regs and be compatible with the military's generators over there. Anyone asking for one from here will get it provided their commander says ok. At least one Company level CO has given praise, saying he believed that traffic accidens had dropped because his guys could get some good rest now. One heck of a lady I'd say.