this is truly newsworthy: A Mexican army convoy rolled into the United States on Thursday with food and medicine for Hurricane Katrina victims, its first military operation on U.S. soil since the mid-19th century.

A 44-vehicle convoy of 200 unarmed troops flew Mexico’s red, white and green national flag from every cab as it moved into San Antonio, where Mexican forces killed 189 rebels in the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836 during the Texas revolution against Mexican rule.

It was the first time a regular Mexican army brigade was on U.S. soil since 1846 when, during a full-blown war, the United States took what are now its southwestern states from Mexico.

…and here are some photos