The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
December 20, 2005

Vice President's Remarks During a Tour of the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
212th M.A.S.H.
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

2:34 P.M. (Local)

Q Your thoughts --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, it has been an amazing experience to see the extent of the devastation. This really was -- when you think about the number of dead and injuries, an area that had some -- leveled -- we all saw from the helicopter. But it's -- one of the remarkable things is how resilient the people are. I'm also, obviously, tremendously impressed with that we've been able to do with our MASH units and with U.S. forces able to move quickly into the area. We were here within 48 hours, and we've been here ever since. It's a measure of the enormous capability that the U.S. military is able to mount a humanitarian operation like this on a moment's notice.

Vice President Cheney and Mrs. Lynne Cheney visit the 212th M.A.S.H.(Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) Unit run by the U.S. military in a mountainous area near the earthquake's epicenter, 65 miles northwest of Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday Dec. 20, 2005. During the visit the Vice President said he was "impressed with what we've been able to do with our M.A.S.H. units. U.S. forces were able to move quickly into the area. We were here within 48 hours and we've been here ever since."  White House photo by David Bohrer Q America is doing enough?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: We're doing a great deal here, and it has been, I think, a remarkable success.

END 2:36 P.M. (Local)
Vice President Dick Cheney and Mrs. Lynne Cheney greet Pakistani patients awaiting care at the 212th M.A.S.H. Unit near the earthquake's epicenter Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005.  White House photo by David Bohrer


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