October 2011 Archives
The Royal Air Force, proud owners of 7 Long Beach-built Boeing C-17s, used one of their jets during a recent mission into Libya, where they handed over more than $1.8 billion Libyan dinars to that ravaged nation's new government (see video below).
The huge aircraft has played important roles in the months-long struggle to liberate Libya from the iron-fisted rule of Moamar Gaddafi. The United Arab Emirates, Australia, Qatar, Canada and the U.S. have used the cargo jet to deliver humanitarian aid, food, water and other supplies to revolutionaries fighting to free the nation from Gaddafi's rule - rule which appears to be rapidly dissolving.
Injured fighters have also been airlifted from the North African nation aboard C-17s, which can be converted into flying emergency rooms equipped with the most modern life-saving equipment. The C-17 can take off and land on unpaved runways as short as 3,000 feet, making it ideal for operations in hot spots like Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.
As the Royal Air Force reported: A Royal Air Force C-17 from RAF Brize Norton delivers a very large consignment of Libyan bank notes to the authorities in Benghazi. The newly-minted banknotes, printed in the UK, were part of a stock of 1.86bn Libyan dinars frozen under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 at the start of the crisis in Libya to prevent them falling into the hands of the Gaddafi regime.
About the Bloggers
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Telegram, he previously has covered
local and state government and politics in San Diego County, Mexico
and his home state of Kansas.
E-mail Paul at paul.eakins@presstelegram.com.
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
E-mail Kris at kristopher.hanson@
presstelegram.com.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Telegram
in April 2002 as a beat reporter, covering the cities of
Lakewood, Bellflower and Paramount. She now covers business,
specifically redevelopment, tourism and small businesses.
She also writes Eye on Redevelopment, a monthly column that
appears in the Business Monday section.
E-mail Karen at karen.robes@presstelegram.com.
