UN cheapskates on aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The United States has a long history of helping lesser countries when they are down on their luck. Whenever there is a disaster in the world, there we are giving a helping hand. We are the go to guy whenever a country needs serious help.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Natalie Bennett
Not, of course that the US has to fund its military so that it can go around invading other states; but it choses to. Instead of spending it abroad, and at home, on education, health care, emergency services, levee maintenance, environmental standards etc etc ... all the things that might have meant the poor of New Orleans were in a better state than they are today.
27 - Dave Nalle
Natalie, after the Missouri floods several years ago massive work was done on the levees, but there's only so much that can be done given their nature and function. They aren't dams. They're designed to control water, not completely block unlimited amounts of it.
You clearly have NO idea of the level of devastation in New Orleans. The amount of preparation which would have been needed for this disaster would have been almost inconceivable. We're talking something on the order of elevating the entire city 50ft to really solve the problem.
And yes, when no one else funds their military except for terrorist nations then the US had better damned well fund theirs.
Dave
28 - barbar
Dave:
Well put. I suggest Natalie read this for an idea of the logistics and scale -
29 - Natalie Bennett
I'm editing a newspaper all about it now, and I've seen big floods in the Australian Outback, so I've got a reasonable idea.
And it is not just the levees - there's all the destruction of wetlands that would have absorbed some of the water, the general environmental damage ...
By the way, I still haven't heard a response to my suggestion of a 1 per cent wealth tax on the super-rich of the US - say people worth more than $5m - that should raise plenty of aid.
30 - barbar
By the way, I still haven't heard a response to my suggestion of a 1 per cent wealth tax on the super-rich of the US - say people worth more than $5m - that should raise plenty of aid.
>>
Sorry, I didn't see your suggestion in the above posts.
Again, why inject vitriol over a humanitarian crisis? Shall I take time to decontruct the inadequacies of your government? I'd rather not contribute.
31 - barbar
Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States, the spokesman said.
>>>
Maybe now we can put this thread to rest.
barbar out.
32 - Jason
Come on, you guys love to hate our country. You seem to be more concerned about partison American politics than most alleged citizens and non citizens. This was supposed to be about foreign funding. Europe contributed more money to illegal Pre-war Iraqi defense systems than they have ever pledged to any American disaster. As far as taxing the rich to pay the poor. Nobody works to pay other peoples bills. Except for the American citizens. Remember Hitler. Oh Yeh, that's right, without our money and citizens (military and non - military) current day Europe doesn't exist. Almost forgot, this method of communication (the internet), we invented it.
33 - RogerMDillion
Let me get this straight, we tell the world the piss off every chance we get and then we wonder why other countries aren't quick to offer help? You people are delusional.
I would hope the world's slow reaction might make the populace think a little bit about how the country acts, but from seeing some of the comments here, I doubt it.
34 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
"Since you (apparently from your words) belong to the world's rogue super-power Mark, I'd be happy if you stayed as far away as possible."
The truth hurts about your stinking little country, doesn't it, natalie?
Ol' Winnie would be very disgusted with you and your America hating attitude.
35 - Jason
Get real. Nobody said piss anybody off. Thats your agenda. To make a statement about reality become offensive. Please don't explain my words for me. All I was saying is that nobody ever had to ask the U.S. for help. You could give a s#@! about us any way. The only thing you would like to see is all of us dead. Ironic though when it was your turn we made sure it didn't happen. You seem to get upset when I bring up WWII. It's sad that your offended buy the fact that thousands of soldiers from the United States of America died so you could live. We don't think we owe you a damn thing. You seem to think we owe you everything. Would you at least acknowledge the we've done. Americans don't hate Europeans or the rest of the world either.You do not understand that we are willing to die to defend anyone from unjust and inhumane circumstances. I know it's hard to comprehend but American people are willing to lose their lives to protect each other too. That should be humbling not enraging. You cannot even get along with yourselves. Look what happened to the vote on the European Union. The Dutch had a valid argument.
Our president was elected in whether or not some people like to beleive that. We want all countries to be friends with each other but we understand that some societies live by the " What have you done for me lately? " motto. We have all of them trumped.
36 - jf
After reading many of the comments,
Thanks God the United States has the Marine Corps.! and other brave men and women serving OUR country.
SemperFi
37 - Dave Nalle
>>I'm editing a newspaper all about it now, and I've seen big floods in the Australian Outback, so I've got a reasonable idea.<<
The entire population of the Australian Outback is less than half of the population of New Orleans. Trying to compare a flood in a wilderness with a flood in a huge city is ludicrous.
>>And it is not just the levees - there's all the destruction of wetlands that would have absorbed some of the water, the general environmental damage ...<<
Do tell me about the destruction of the wetlands. Because it's America you assume the wetlands have been destroyed? Not from anything I've seen or read. The wetlands of Louisiana are huge and mostly intact.
>>By the way, I still haven't heard a response to my suggestion of a 1 per cent wealth tax on the super-rich of the US - say people worth more than $5m - that should raise plenty of aid.<<
So you're suggesting more tax on the people who already pay 98% of the taxes in the US? Why not. Let's use the disaster as an excuse for wealth redistribution and punishing people who are successful and productive. Sounds like a great plan.
Dave
38 - RogerMDillion
Jason, are you really that ignorant of world affairs?
We're the big kids on the block and we do what we want. The world asks us to join Kyoto or the World Court and we say no. The world says don't go into Iraq and we say we're going. It's always our way or the highway and we insult everyone along the way. From the U.N. to France to Venezuela. Do you need more examples?
I'm not saying our decisions are wrong, but to be surprised at other country's reactions to us is very naive.
39 - Andy
My country (Canada) already has staff on the ground in the affected area assisting in hydro, law enforcement, aid, medical etc... We have about 5,000 staff set to assist so far. This is in addition to $$$ and material assistance. Staff from Vancouver BC to Ontario are there or on their way.
This is in no way an attempt to bruise any "do it ourselves" egos, but rather to correct an innacuracy.
We help the US when we can (do a search on Canadian relief efforts in Florida in 1992, hint: big canadian military ship, lots of stuff, florida, choas and people to help. No mention in the US news (kinda familiar)).
We appreciate the USA, we remember how much the USA has done for so many, and as always we are here to help the USA.
If folks like this blogger insist on pretending that "google search foreign aid new orleans" doesn't work, we understand it is one persons agenda, ego or malfunction. It is not representative of the folks on the gulf coast who have French ships heading to them with aid. Yes, the evil French are helping. And if you are cursing them saying "we don't want your help" then you are obviously not affected.
They are in harms way and appreciate the foreign aid. They appreciate any aid they get. This disaster is beyond a countries ability to cope. There is no place on this planet where this wouldn't cause total chaos.
As for us Canadians? We don't care that you don't notice we help. We're just glad we can. Like 92 or the 60's (#1 military contributor to the Viet Nam effort, enough of ours died there for us to have a wall too) we don't expect any thanks, same as you are accustomed to.
Take care and correct your blob before you look like a complete and total idiot.
40 - David
look at the URL,
we *ARE* getting help!
41 - Kevin Surbaugh
I have been railing about thi for the last few days at KevinsView.com, but you do not have your facts. The U. S. has been offered help from a dozen or so countries and the U. S. appears to be to proud to accept the aid. Heck, even Pres. Hugo chavez has offered aid. In several of my articles (I think there a 3 specific to this topic) I say stop being so freaking proud and accept the aid. We must accept it now, and help these people in get out of that disaster area called New Orleans!
42 - Kevin Surbaugh
here are the articles I wrote: this or this
finally this is the main article I wrote a couple of days ago after CNN reported 12 nations had offered help (for those that say the U. S. media isn't reporting it, I want to say they did, but then I also have CNN, MSNBC, and Fox on almost non-stop so I can stay on top of this issue and then run to the net and search the new info that I heard) anyway here is that main link
thanks
Kevin
KevinsView.com
43 - Liberal
"Almost forgot, this method of communication (the internet), we invented it."
You must be Swiss.
44 - alienboy
On the subject of aid donation, I don't understand why some people don't think it reasonable to look at aid given as a percentage. That way, we can see that country W is donating X% of it's wealth, compared to country Y donating Z%.
To suggest that as the gross total is what is important is as delusional as suggesting that the USA should be compared with countries like Russia or China because they also have large populations.
To see further that the people making these ludicrous suggestions are people who bring their own agendas into these dialogues rather than focussing on the issue is no surprise...
And that they maintain THEY are the ones making sense as they stick rigidly to their horrid dogmas is nothing short of depressing.
45 - jason powers
i have been reading over all these comments (apparently all over the world ) i personally thank all the countries that have offered help to this country in time of need, i have served in this country's military and have traveled the world in some not so nice places and these attatitudes are the main reason the world needs to stop pointing fingers and help one another in its time of need, grant it the us has declined releif effort for now, but will probally take the offer after security has been put in place, to insure saftey of foreign nations.
46 - Stella
As an English person, I can assure any Americans reading this that most ordinary people in the U.K very much appreciate what the American nation has done for us over the years and want to show their gratitude. I am not alone. Many people I know have already made donations to the American Red Cross, and as the terrible events in the south of your county become more tragic by the day, intend to give more. We are arranging fundraising events at the place of my work. America is the best nation on earth, we look up to you. Please don’t feel alone in this time of awful tragedy. You will come through this, as you always do. We are with you America.
47 - Catez
Initially the State Dept said 10-12 countries. The 20, and now today 36. I have a list HERE. Or click on my name on this comment.
48 - LW
Well, it's happening again. A blog from another American with his head in a dark space. the French have offered the following: 600 tents, 1,000 folding beds, 3 portable water purification plants, 2 naval long range arcraft, 2 warships for evacuation and a HOSPITAL ship, The naval assets are in the Caribbean now. The Bushies won't take the aid though as the fascist moron in the White House is having a bit of insecurity right now.
49 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Andy, I am well aware of how generous the Canadian people are. It is appreciated! As are the individual donations made to the Red Cross. This is NOT an American problem. Anywhere in the world where people suffer, it is a problem for the entire human family. It is such a blessing to see brothers and sisters around the globe reach out to assist.
Personally, Ms. Bennett, I respect percentages rather than dollar figures. A country giving a higher percentage of its GDP is taking a harder hit; its contribution means more and, IMO, deserves more respect.
50 - John J. Kalicki
We are the world's ricvhest country. We need to go begging?
51 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
"We are the world's ricvhest country. We need to go begging?"
We're not begging, but if I do a favor for someone, I expect a favor in return.
52 - Lynda
This argument is so silly, not to mention wrong. We are an incredibly wealthy nation. Do we really need the kind of assistance Indonesia did? really?
53 - Eric
US sends mixed signals on accepting aid from abroad
By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | September 2, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The offers of foreign aid keep pouring in: helicopters
from Canada, cash from Japan, tents and military aircraft from France
-- even oil from Venezuela, a political foe. At least 25 countries
have offered humanitarian assistance to the United States to recover
from Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in US
history.
But despite the increasingly desperate situation on the ground, the
Bush administration has sent mixed signals about whether it will take
these global well-wishers up on their offers.
President Bush indicated yesterday morning that the United States had
not requested foreign help and didn't need it.
''I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven't
asked for it," Bush told ABC's ''Good Morning America." ''I do
suspect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars.
But this country is going to rise up and take care of it. You know,
we love help, but we're going to take care of our own business, as
well."
54 - Silas Kain
I am very disturbed, Eric, by the fact that we politely declined Castro's offer of 1,100 doctors. They could have gotten to the Gulf very quickly. As it stands the people of the Gulf are still waiting for that hospital ship. Anyone familiar with the Cuban medical training standards knows that these physicians are among the finest medical practitioners in the world.
There will be time to rehash all of this and figure out what went wrong. I just hope that Americans won't continue down the path of short memory and photo ops. We're an impatient people who easily forget the misery. We should have learned our lesson after 9/11. Perhaps now we did learn our lesson. You can be rest assured of one thing, though. If Americans are reminded of these dark days during the fall of 2006, the Congress will be greatly impacted. A new Congress could cause a Cheney Presidency.
55 - Eric
Open letter from Michael Moore to George Bush:
56 - Ryan N
"Three Canadian warships, a coast guard vessel and three Sea King helicopters will be sent to Louisiana on Tuesday with relief supplies for the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander will sail along with the Canadian Navy vessels, HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville De Quebec and HMCS Toronto.
Naval crews were busy loading gear on to the ships in Halifax Friday as 1,000 personnel prepared to head to waters off New Orleans."
Canada has so far taken the largest initiative and is sending the largest aid contribution to the USA, with CBC saying that Canada is willing to help pay for reconstruction costs.
PS: 1,000 Navy Personnel is a pretty large force for a humanitarian operation. They will join over 900 Canadian Medical Staff, Canadian Hydro Trucks which will be rebuilding the power system, and the Canadian Armed Forces DART Team that is being sent to purify water for the thousands of citizens in New Orleans.
link
57 - matty
Let's see, where to begin. Well, this whole "op/ed" piece is horribly inaccurate. Either you are making a poor attempt at propoganda, or you are too lazy to look up wth you are talking abt. Since you have a website, you can't be TOO lazy, so maybe you're just a lying tool of the NON-Republican, radical reactionary corporatist goverenment that is waging war not just on other countries, but on your own.
One: "data mining" doesn't mean "digging for stories". It's a statistical method and doesn't stretch into that phrase the way a good analogy might. Your intellectual sloppiness here weakens your position, which needs help anyway.
Two: America is far from the most generous foreign aid donor among rich nations,
(LA Times website)
You compare us to Japan, but your use of statistics is dishonest. You don't mention the fact that "Japan ranked last among the 21 donors, mainly because of high trade barriers, low per capita foreign aid spending, and a poor environmental record in developing countries, the survey found." That would be the " "Ranking the Rich" survey released today by the Center for Global Development and Foreign Policy magazine." That means that it's not that Japan is stingier than the US as a matter of wilfullnes. But you can always look at more statistics, more sources: " * USA�s aid, in terms of percentage of their GNP has almost always been lower than any other industrialized nation in the world, though paradoxically in the last four years, their dollar amount has been the highest. (Only in 2004 did they move up from last place by one.)
* Since 1992, Japan had been the largest donor of aid, in terms of raw dollars. That was until 2001 when the United States reclaimed that position, a year that also saw Japan�s amount of aid drop by nearly 4 billion dollars (as tables and charts below will also show)." (globalissues.org--if this board doesn't allow link posting, all this stuff can be googled in 5 seconds--and yet you state that you want other people to do the "data mining" for you? Gimme a break). But look, in statistics it's almost an axiom that you can't prove anything with statistics (not the usual "you can prove anything with statistics"--it just isn't true--when you have something that can't be proven in closed form, you need statistics to model it). So if that "data mining" is too confusing, just compare per capita spending. Japan spends abt $62 per person on routine aid; the US spends $23 (nationmaster.com). Last year, that meant that Japan gave 7.9 billion, but the US, with over twice the population, gave 6.9 billion.
Three: Bush's inaugural ball cost 10 times more than the aid he offered to the tsunami-stricken countries last year. That's old news. But you know, $15 million, which was his (tardy and reluctant-seeming) offer, can pay for only one small modern university building.
Four: "WASHINGTON � U.S. authorities ignored warnings that New Orleans was vulnerable to a hurricane nightmare and slashed funding that could have saved the city as spending on the war in Iraq soared, experts said Friday.
Four years ago the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warned a major hurricane or flooding in the Big Easy was among the three catastrophes most likely to hit the United States, along with a terrorist attack on New York... ut instead of boosting funding to the centuries-old city of 1.4 million people that lies below sea level, authorities cut funding for hundreds of millions of dollars of critical work to bolster and repair the levees that keep the waters of the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain at bay... The administration of President George W Bush cut the $27.1 million budget requested by the Corps of Engineers for improving the levees in 2005 by more than 80% to $3.9 million, although Congress finally raised the grant to $5.7 million, compared to $10 million in 2001. The $100 million 2005 budget requested by the Southeast Louisiana Flood control project was slashed to $16.5 million by Bush and Congress finally awarded $34 million to the scheme, compared to $69 million in 2001." (Japan Today website)
Five: America is the only nation ever condemned as a terrorist state by the World Court.
Six: American values are daily subverted by this administration, and we can no longer take the moral high ground because we violate international laws and the very treaties that we signed in order to protect our own (Geneva). We can no longer take pride in our elevated behavior and our past record of mercy, temperance, and following the rule of law and order.
Seven, from jimloy.com: * We support the scum of the earth; brutal, totalitarian dictators who victimize their subjects. Saddam Hussein is a recent example. Noriega in Panama and the Shah of Iran are other examples. Batista in Cuba, a while back.
* We support the military overthrow of popularly elected leaders who are against us. Allende in Chile and Mossadegh in Iran are examples.
* We have participated in assassinations. Allende in Chile and Diem in South Vietnam are examples.
* We supply weapons, which are often used against civilians, including chemical weapons and land mines which are banned worldwide by Geneva Conventions. We even supplied anthrax and bubonic plague (for non-military purposes) to Saddam Hussein, when we liked him.
* We profit from third world countries who have massive poverty. OPEC was started to protect against us.
* We are the bully who gets what he wants, at the expense of the little guy.
* We think we are the good guys. [Well we are, sort of. We are mostly free, and we support freedom worldwide, to some extent. We give money, help, and medicine. We try to right wrongs]
* We are rich, many of us.
* Many countries owe us money.
* We support Israel (who does both good and evil).
* We are liars. Our government lies to us and to the world. The following scenario has happened over and over and over again, since WWII: We do something sleazy, like flying spy planes over the USSR; we are accused; we deny it; we are proved liars. We continue to do this today. Lies are so rampant, that we don't even believe what our government says anymore.
Eight: Your "trillions of dollars in defense..." giveaways point is rubbish. We look out for ourselves first, and even the Marshall Plan was a financing scheme. Outta room, you've been refuted.
58 - Lori
Canada is preparing 4 ships of emergancy supplies and disaster specialists to aid. We are pumping an extra 91,000 barrels of crude oil per day. We sent an Air force transport plane with red cross workers to Houston. Three navel vessels and a coast guard ship set sail Tuesday, Vessels will be supplied with divers, small boats, helicopters, electrical transformers and other equipment. Air Canada sent an Airbus filled with water and other supplies and will remain to ferry refugees. Vancouver's Urban rescue tean has been in place in New Orleans since Weds. Over 7000 aid workers have gone since the beginning of the week. On an individual and corporate basis we are donating cash. WE CARE
59 - Silas Kain
Many thanks to the people of Canada, Lori. What Americans fail to realize is that Canada is the #1 exporter of crude oil to the United States. We're under this mistaken notion that some far off country in the desert supplies the majority of our energy needs. When the United States needs electricity it looks toward our friends in the North. Though the current government has not been as hospitable as previous ones, don't think for a moment that the rank and file American does not appreciate the significance of Canadian contributions.
Finally, one cannot discount Canada's influence on the development of Louisiana, especially New Orleans. Cajuns share a proud heritage with the Acadians of the Canadian Maritimes. Without that influence, New Orleans would not have been the legendary city that she was. Americans across this land who have the slightest drop of Acadian blood in them are related to 95% of the Cajuns in Louisiana and don't even know it. So, here's to Canada, may she reign strong and free forever:
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North, strong and free!
60 - Erik
I would like to comment on a few mistakes in this article/piece of text, as well as mistakes made by people commenting:
1. The US is not the most generous country in the world, that would be my country - Norway
2. Japan has given more than the US (in total amounts) for several years, but now the US has caught up with them.
3. Look at the globalissues.com link concerning what US aid goes to. A lot of it goes to US businesses, or US military abroad, while a lot of aid money (more than 70%) is "tied" to certain conditions, like buying US goods and letting US companies exploit the recieving country's resources.
4. The US has spent trillions on its own defence, and to keep the European markets, and the US was certaily not the only one to fight under WW2. Still, I'm glad for US help. I appreciate the effort of WW2 US soldiers for example. It's just that the US isn't the only country that has contributed to something in this world.
5. The US has benefited from bright minds from all over the world. Most inventors - even in the US - were born outside the US or had non-US parents, like Sikorsky (helicopter) and Bell. Besides, the Romans, Greeks, English, Germans, French, Spanish, Dutch etc. have contributed with far more - each based on nationality - than what the people of the US have accomplished.
6. The telephone was invented by an Italian (but the Scot Bell capitalised on the idea), the letter was probably not invented in the US either.
7. Jan Egeland never called the US "stingy", he called RICH COUNTRIES stingy. Geez!
8. 54 countries have offered to help the US. Has the US offered to help Switzerland, Austria and Romania after the floods there?
9. Norway is giving more than USD$1,610,000, 5 elite divers, 7 Red Cross personell and 30 other well-trained personell (the latter was declined by the US). Norway has a bit more than 4.6 million people, and we give more than 3 times as much as Japan, with 127.5 mill. people.
10. Do the billions of dollars given by countries much smaller than the US NOT matter??? Really???
61 - Tucéki
> The United States has spent trillions
> on the defense of Western Europe,
> Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan,
> Australia, and the Middle East,
> without ever asking for anything in
> payment other than friendship.
LOL LOL LOL
Stupid man !
62 - Tucéki
> The United States has a long history
> of helping lesser countries when they
> are down on their luck. Whenever
> there is a disaster in the world,
> there we are giving a helping hand.
Like in Irak (and so on), where your fucking troups killed 100,000 innocent people.
Bastard !
63 - Ian
In terms of how much money aid represents in terms of annual GDP, the U.S. does not give a large percentage of its wealth, as was evidenced in the wake tsunami crises. It's similar to how the poor and middle class of this country give more in proportion to what they have than do the richest bracket, on average. The U.S. is not nearly as magnanimous as you would believe, nor are foreign nations as unjustly whiny and stingy as you've made them out here.
64 - Aaron
Whoever said that the "wetlands were fine" is clearly not playing any attention to the media coverage,. let alone doing any research. Wetland the size of Manhattan are being lost every year in the Mississippi Delta in LA, due to oil drilling canals cut through existing wetlands, and river control measures that prevent sedimentary recharge of the wetlands during Spring floods.
65 - flick this
Hey Natalie,
I just love it when people start talking about a nations gdp to argue so zeliouse.
Ok fact U.S workers get an average of 2 weeks less off a year from work than other nations.
Fact the gdp is backed by individual promisary notes,which means when an American is born the U.S Treasury department once they receive a birth certificate,issues what is known as a bond,this bond can be as little as $50,000.00 or as high as $1,000,000,000.00.
this in return allows the treasury to print money based upon expectation that that individual throughout their lifetime will contribute to taxes.
In the event that the government treasury becomes insolvant the American individual is responsible for paying any and all foreign debts owed by the federal government,this means any persons car,house,boat,bank accounts,and land may be seized by the federal government in order to satisfy the debts.
Now lets see how many of the other people of the remaining countries put up their own personal wealth to back their government spending beyond taxation and when they shell out their additional dollars?$0
As far as the GDP goes lets take into consideration the population of the U.S 297,069,062 of course the GDP is going to be high.
The UK has a population of 60,451,494.
Germany has 82,388,063.
France has 60,687,595.
Russia has 143,295,491.
China has 1,307,674,896.
66 - Dave Nalle
Yes, but the fair comparison is per capita GDP, which the US still leads on.
Dave
67 - byteme
Here is an excellent list of hurricane relief offers and doners on Sunday, 9/4/05
link
68 - Andy
The issue is the media, not Americans, not foreigners, not relief. The relief is there from 60+ countries, in the billions of dollars. The world has come to the aid of the USA as the USA has always come to the worlds aid. This should make Americans feel good, to answer that question "would they ever help...", the answer is an overwhelming yes 10 fold. Yes, the world remembers, yes the world is more than glad to help it's best friend.
The problem is the media. What sells more copy? A scene of destruction or a good story? The media can make a soup can look lethal, and would do so in a heartbeat. Shock and flashy intros, sound bites and teasers. It is not news, it is perverse entertainment. On TV you get to drive by an accident slowly, without the traffic.
Why waste that good ad revenue generating shock for the truth?
In defense of the administration (whom I don't support) and the whole support structure. The scale and scope of this disaster is beyond comprehension, no country could prepare for this unless it didn't need roads, FDA or other infrastructure. This was simply too much for anyone.
One side effect of building such a robust infrastructure is that you have to maintain it. A mile of Fed highway costs 1 million dollars. After that you have to fill potholes, replace reflectors, police it etc... As that whole arterial system expands, the maintainance becomes an issue regardless of assets and resources. The is no way one can keep everything at top notch 100% perfect order.
But for the USA, that burning question which has sat there for decades, "would the world help us if we needed it?", the answer is here, and it is "yes, beyond your expectations". Yes they remember, yes the other countries are publicly stating "marshall plan", "tsunami", "ww2", "ice storms", "african aid" etc... and they ALL tag the USA to those efforts and would never dream of leaving the worlds best friend empty handed at a time like this.
I have spoken to many who have no clue what the world is doing (Quatar donated 100 million dollars to the American Red Cross today, they were one of dozens of announcements from today) and as such have mixed thoughts whether others are helping. Spread the word, let the USA know. Do what the media is not doing, telling it like it is. Leave them to pander themselves for ad revenue at the expense of the truth. Make sure people know, because the media will not.
Bottom line, the USA has helped so many for so long. The USA needs a hand with a tragedy. The world is not sitting idle, but is rushing an unprecedented effort for it's best friend.
69 - byteme
To Natalie Bennett. I read your posts and I'm wondering ...... are you one of Cindy Sheehan's, Martin Sheen's, Michael Moore's, or George Soros' anti-american cry baby freaks? To think, I got shot in Vietnam doing my duty, only to come home to a hostile country and people like you who've done more to hurt America than any hurricane or natural disaster has ever done. I knew what the oath said before I took it, I knew what it meant, I volunteered, and I don't regret putting my life on the line for my country and spilling blood for it. Can you say the same, you socialist whiner? You witnessed a flood in the Australian outback, huh? How many people's lives did it ruin? You can't compare apples and oranges and be seen as credible. Cindy Sheehan said Hurricane Katrina was caused by George W. Bush and his failed environmental policies. I've read that a man in Germany echos that opinion. Truth is, we are in a cycle of increased hurricanes following several decades of decreased hurricanes. "Out of control weather" is another leftie catch phrase. When was weather ever UNDER control? It seems to me something has to be under control before it can be alleged it's gotten OUT of control. LUDICROUS! As for politicians, I say vote all of the rascals out! Don't vote for Democrats OR Republicans! Vote for any one of the plethora of "other" political party candidates! THAT will get their attention in Washington D.C.. As for you, believe as you wish, but remember that you wouldn't have the right to complain and dissent if the military hadn't fought in your behalf, wherever you're from.
70 - Joe
WOW
7.5 million from Australia
5 million from Saudi Arabia
5 million from China
when USA gave 500 million to tsunami aid.
71 - Nat Nabob
What happened to John Bill? Did he fall off his high horse?
72 - Kris
John, John, John . . .
Do you know how to read newspapers? Use Google news search? Do you ever watch the news? First, on 2 September, Condoleezza Rice made an announcement and answered questions, which was broadcast on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News at about 5 p.m. that day, thanking all the countries who had offered support and added that no offers had been turned down. At that point, she said, a special task force was trying to match up the offers with needs.
Many countries have offered aid, even some of the poorest, including Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is sending us $150,000 -- that was on CNN.
Here are a couple of links, in case you're still clueless about who's helping us.
link
link
Wake up, John. Check your facts before you make false accusations.
73 - gary
We Americans have such a hugh chip on our shoulders that not even Katrina could knock it off.
When all is said and done , help and offers of help will long be forgotten.
And the next time a country is in need (canada for example) , John , and many others like him ,will say "why should we help them. They never did anything for us"
74 - John Bill
Attention: At the time when I wrote this article op/ed, there wasn't much being said about other countries helping. As offers of help come in from all over the world, a follow up article will be issued. I will be posting this story shortly on BlogCritics and my personal blog Jmaximus.blogspot.com. So to all those readers from other countries, thank you.
In the face of the generosity of America's many friends from all over the world, please know that there is still a pressing need for more aid. You can donate here: The Red Cross
75 - Bly
The United States has spent trillions on the defense of Western Europe, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and the Middle East, without ever asking for anything in payment other than friendship.
Heh... the United States never has to ask for anything in return because we forge war to end up with a return. WWII got us out of an economic depression and propelled us into a world economic leader; if there wasn't a WWII, America would most definitley be a different place.
It's all about the US Government subsidizing the US economy, which is Socialist.