Clinton delivers 25 satellite phones to Chile and pledges more aid

Posted By P.J. Aroon Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 4:10 PM Share

Secretary Clinton arrived in quake-struck Chile yesterday for a brief visit and delivered 25 satellite phones, including one she gave directly to President Michelle Bachelet, whom she greeted with a hug.

Clinton said additional U.S. aid was "ready to go": a field hospital with surgical capabilities, eight water-purification units, temporary bridges, and medical supplies.

She also said, "We'll be here to help when others leave because we are committed to this partnership and this friendship with Chile."

Clinton spent most of her visit at an undamaged section of Santiago's airport and did not venture close to any heavily damaged areas. That's actually a good thing, as explained in the recent FP article, "Celebrities, Stay Home," because coordinating the logisitics of a visit by a high-profile person uses up tons of staff time and resources that are better directed toward disaster relief. Clinton was smart to keep her visit short and simple.

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