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
76 - Stephan Oehen
As a Swiss citizen I hope that my government is able to send as much help as possible. But, according to our experience, there had to be lot to be done BEFORE a hurrican. Florida so far has ordered survival kids for the people with MicroPur from Swiss Katadyn, the leader in individual water purification and other items which help to survive. This wasn't done in New Orleans. Why? It was obvious that something CAN happen...
77 - Erin
I can't believe the level of bitterness and anger I am reading on this site. I am a Canadian who most happily donated and felt proud when my country offered assistance. This is a NATURAL disaster, not a political issue. There are people who need help, regardless of where it comes from. The media (and frankly this site) is perpetuating hate and looking to forge divisions, when really we should be sticking together as human beings and not ripping each other apart. We need to focus on the present situation and not let bitterness from past events cloud our judgment. I do not necessarily agree with certain things the US government does, hell... I don't agree with things MY government does, but right now, it is irrelevent, people need help, whether they be Republican, Democrat, black, or white. There is enough horror in the world, must we spread more poison? My thoughts are with the people affected by this tragedy.
78 - Heloise
Hmm, I just wrote the "Pocket-change" piece to illustrate that point--We need no less than a billion dollars from each of our friends. Anything less from the UK to Japan is not only crumbs but an insult.
BP is NOT beyond petroleum folks, it is BRITISH PETROLEUM--and they practically own the Eastern half of the US!!
I just read--just in from Reuters--that the Japanese are reducing their oil demands and maybe even redirecting them here. That's something isn't it?
But if the UK does not cough up some of our dough then I say we do controlled explosives on them as well!
Heloise
79 - Derrick
A billion dollars, Heloise? The US has never given anything approaching that to any country in need of aid.
So many people here seem to think that ONLY the US gives aid, or that the US gives far more aid than anyone else. Neither is true. The US has been a generous country, try to remember that it is often US industry and farmers that are the first to benefit from US government aid. The world does not, in fact, owe you a living - hard as it may be to get your head around that. Now, how about your government getting its finger out and actually accepting the aid that is being offered? It's sitting on the tarmac with nowhere to go, so far.
80 - Jay
The US sends billions of american dollars to several countries every year in foreign aid. Not for disasters or humanitarian efforts but to keep the countries standing. Yes governments have a hidden agenda, I'm sure the US is looking for something in return. The US subsidizes many things it imports. Iraq was paying like 4 cents a gallon for gas because of US subsidies. The US was founded by people who were tired of taking crap from what they saw as oppressive governments, so when they see someone being oppressed they step in to stop it whatever the cost. The US is not a saint by any means, however the amount of help offered by the government and its people is returned by a few small but loud states and people by a slap in the face. This is not a perfect world, if it were, we would not need evil people or acts to acheive a good end. The people of the US accept that their government is not perfect, there have been riots and grossly inacurate movies and the like to show that. Shall we focus on what is at hand now and actually look at the people who are suffering and dying. This is a terrible thing and we are arguing about money. The thing about giving is not to expect to receive but the joy of giving.
81 - steve
After all we do for the world, Id almost expect "A little help from my friends." Thank you GB!!
82 - dana
More than 80 - yes, 80 - countries have offered a variety of aid to the US - these can be found at "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International response to Hurricane Katrina." As an American, I feel overwhelmed at the amount of aid offered to our suffering "refugees," and I know the offers are appreciated by the "common people" such as myself. It is heartwarming to see that - despite what I feel is the common perception - people reach out to others in need, regardless if it involves a so-called wealthy nation or not.
When you have some of the countries which themselves can't afford it offer such aid, I guess it just proves that humans are humans - regardless of nationality.
In regards to your article, no - I do not believe the world has been stingy. I, like so many other Americans, appreciate what all of these countries have offered - and would probably offer more if asked. If we cut out all of the politics and fighting, and just concentrate on the fact that people are people no matter where they live, a lot of the problems in this world would be solved.
Foreign aid has NOT been dismal, as you state. In fact, it has overwhelmed me and I appreciate the fact that so many have offered support. It's just too bad that it takes a disaster of this magnitude - in the U.S. or abroad - to bring people together. If only the world community could remember the Golden Rule in their everyday lives - Americans included - we would live in a lot better, more peaceful world.
83 - Tim
Sitting here in London and finding this thread purely be accident I am saddened to read the opinions expressed by a number of American contributors on the issue of money seemingly owed back to the US from others.
I'm a Brit who's spent many years overseas and I find it increasing difficult to reconcile my great liking for the USA with how your country's image is being projected across the world. Like many Brits I try to ignore Bush and focus on the great Americans I know in person.
Real aid is repaid many times over, maybe not in cents but in goodwill. Any before anyone posts an abusive reply, please take a break, buy a plane ticket and travel the world to see what most of humanity really thinks.
84 - Stolly
- AFGHANISTAN: $100,000.
- ARGENTINA: Six disaster relief and rescue coordinators.
- AUSTRALIA: $8 million to American Red Cross.
- AUSTRIA: Water pumps, plastic sheets, cots; An Austrian Red Cross team is in Houston to set up a communication network.
- BAHAMAS: $50,000 for U.S. victims and additional aid to Bahamian citizens in stricken areas.
- BANGLADESH: $1 million.
- BELGIUM: Medical, logistics, civil engineering and diving teams, pumps, generators.
- BRAZIL: Willing to contribute but awaiting specific request from United States.
- BRITAIN: 500,000 ready-to-eat meals; medical experts, search-and-rescue gear, marine engineers, high-volume pumps.
- CANADA: three navy ships, a coast guard vessel, several Sea King helicopters and about 1,000 personnel, including navy divers to help clear waterways and inspect damaged levees.
- CHILE: Plans to contact U.S. authorities to see what is needed.
- CHINA: $5 million to aid survivors. Says it will help with medical treatment and epidemic prevention if necessary.
- COLOMBIA: Offers rescue and paramedic teams.
- CUBA: Offers 1,100 doctors.
- CZECH REPUBLIC: Rescue teams, field hospital and pumps and water processing equipment, as well as transport planes.
- DENMARK: Water purification units.
- DOMINICA: Police to help patrol disaster zone.
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Offers rescue workers, doctors and nurses.
- EL SALVADOR: 100 army troops, including medical personnel and engineers.
- FINLAND: A search-and-rescue team.
- FRANCE: Flying in 300 tents, 980 cots; 60 generators, three water purification units; 30 water pumps. Offering aircraft and two ships with helicopters, disaster unit with 20 soldiers, civil defense detachment of 35 people.
- GERMANY: 40,000 meals; 30,000 more coming. Offering medical supplies, vaccination teams, water purification equipment, medical evacuation aircraft and crisis management experts.
- GREECE: Two cruise ships to help house homeless, as well as relief supplies and rescue crews.
- GUATEMALA: 80 specialists from army, health and interior departments.
- HONDURAS: 134-member medical and rescue brigade. Mayor of capital, Tegucigalpa, offers a similar group.
- INDIA: $5 million to American Red Cross. Offering medical teams with experience in waterborne diseases and to set up community water purification plants.
- INDONESIA: Medical team of 45 doctors and 155 other staff and 10,000 blankets.
- IRAN: Offers to dispatch unspecified aid through its Red Crescent agency if needed.
- ISRAEL: Sending medical team. Offering hundreds of doctors, trauma experts and other medical staff as well as field hospital.
- ITALY: 300 cots, 300 blankets, 600 sheets, a water pump, six life rafts, 11,200 chlorine tablets, first-aid kits; baby food.
- JAPAN: $1 million in aid and offers to send tents, blankets, power generators and portable water tanks.
- KOSOVO: $500,000.
- KUWAIT: $500 million worth of oil and other aid.
- LATVIA: A disaster relief team, financial aid, blankets, bottled water.
- LITHUANIA: Rescue teams, meals, building materials.
- LUXEMBOURG: two jeeps, 1,000 cots, 2,000 blankets.
- MEXICO: Navy ship carrying food, amphibious vehicles, helicopters and medical team to arrive Wednesday. Fifteen army vehicles carrying food, health brigades, water-treatment plants and mobile kitchens with capacity to feed 7,000 people a day heading to U.S. border. Government sets up bank accounts to collect donations and donates $1 million. Offer comes from search-and-rescue group called "topos" - "moles" - organized by youths digging through collapsed buildings after Mexico City's 1985 earthquake.
- THE NETHERLANDS: A frigate with water, medicine, helicopters and beds to arrive Wednesday. Three giant water pumps have been offered, as well as expertise in dike and water engineering, and forensic ID help.
- NEW ZEALAND: $1.4 million. Government has also offered to send an urban search and rescue team, a disaster victim identification team or recovery personnel.
- NICARAGUA: Flooding and sanitation experts.
- NORWAY: Navy divers, 10,000 blankets and unspecified financial aid.
- ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES: $25,000 to American Red Cross.
- PAKISTAN: Doctors and paramedics.
- PANAMA: 120,000 pounds of bananas for hurricane victims.
- PERU: 80 to 100 doctors with expertise in tropical diseases and disasters. But President Alejandro Toledo said Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld requested Peru instead send medical supplies and canned foods. Peru will try to comply.
- THE PHILIPPINES: Philippines Red Cross donating $25,000. Government offers 25-man relief team.
- PORTUGAL: Lending 2 percent of its strategic oil reserve, equivalent to 500,000 barrels of oil.
- QATAR: $100 million in humanitarian assistance.
- ROMANIA: Two teams of medical experts.
- RUSSIA: Three transport planes with generators, food, tents, blankets, drinking water and medical supplies.
- SAUDI ARABIA: Offers to increase oil production to replace shortfalls caused by Katrina.
- SINGAPORE: Three CH-47 transport helicopters and 38 soldiers in training unit at Grand Prairie, Texas, to Fort Polk, La., to work with Texas Army National Guard in disaster relief operations, including resupply and airlift missions.
- SLOVAKIA: Water purification gear, cots, water.
- SLOVENIA: Cots, bedding, first-aid kits.
- SOUTH KOREA: $30 million in government and civilian assistance and sending search team and relief supplies.
- SPAIN: Firefighters and equipment, medical staff, search-and-rescue expertise, tents, cots, blankets, water treatment units, heating equipment, meals, water, generators.
- SRI LANKA: $25,000 to American Red Cross.
- SWEDEN: First-aid kits, blankets, meals, generators, plastic sheeting, 2 water purification units and instructors; aircraft ready for immediate deployment.
- SWITZERLAND: Blankets, 50 tons of aid supplies, two logistic experts from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, two doctors and two water specialists.
- TAIWAN: $2 million.
- THAILAND: At least 60 doctors and nurses along with supplies of rice.
- TRINIDAD: Local Red Cross sending 10-15 relief workers.
- URUGUAY: Two mobile water purification units and two tons of powdered milk.
- VENEZUELA: Offers 1 million barrels of gasoline, $5 million in cash, water purification plants, rescue volunteers and more than 50 tons of canned food and water. Government's Citgo Petroleum Corp. pledges $1 million.
- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Tents, clothing, food and other aid.
85 - dana
Please don't forget that the United States is a "melting pot." Sure, we are all "Americans" and very proud of it - however, we are you. We have citizens from throughout the world who call this land home. I hope those of you from outside the U.S. realize that your ancestors - and possibly even some of your family or friends - call this land home. So is aid from foreign countries helping "those rich Americans?" No!!! They are helping those persons that you call brothers and sisters. The melting pot is just that - many nations coming together into one.
Friend and "foe" have offered assistance - that is heartwarming.
Again, I want to say that all of the foreign aid - whether utilized or not - is appreciated and needed. We are you - regardless of what country or ancestry you claim. And right now we need your help, and most of us appreciate your generosity more than you will ever know.
86 - Silas Kain
SAUDI ARABIA: Offers to increase oil production to replace shortfalls caused by Katrina.
That offer is an insult. The House of Saud should be dumping a half billion dollars into the Gulf. Let this be a lesson to us. It is time to develop technologies that eradicate our dependence on Middle East oil as well as the strange relationship between the House of Saud and the House of Bush.
87 - Matthew T. Sussman
Belgium should be giving us waffles.
88 - Silas Kain
Somehow waffles would be appropriate. Have them send the breakfast treats straight to the White House. When in comes to waffling, nobody does it better than King George III's Administration.
89 - gmh
***Hmm, I just wrote the "Pocket-change" piece to illustrate that point--We need no less than a billion dollars from each of our friends. Anything less from the UK to Japan is not only crumbs but an insult.****
Will you be deducting cash paid to the United States through Illegal tariffs or broken trade agreements?. The steel tariff cost the EU and Japan billions of dollars. The lumber tariffs have cost Canadians well over 6 billion US dollars and 13,000 lost jobs.
If you sign an agreement , break it, make other guy pay more just because you can (outright theft in moral countries)..........I think that should count as aid to the U.S.
90 - Adriana
OMG yes the international community has offered help. Unfortunately they offered it to the US Federal Government, who as we have seen was dismally slow to respond.
It was **extremely** frustrating to see our news coverage go from images of people in flooded areas and evacuees begging for help to the next story: "Help is waiting to be accepted" accompanied by images of planes and teams of people here that were ready and willing to go.
I have read that between 70 and 90 countries pledged aid almost immediately.
The Washington Post wrote about it this morning:
The Washington Post
By Elizabeth Williamson
WASHINGTON â€" Offers of foreign aid worth tens of millions of dollars â€" including a Swedish water-purification system, a German cellular-telephone network and two Canadian rescue ships â€" have been delayed for days awaiting review by backlogged federal agencies, according to European diplomats and information collected by the State Department.
Since Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast, more than 90 countries and international organizations have offered to assist in recovery efforts for the flood-stricken region, but nearly all endeavors remained mired yesterday in bureaucratic entanglements â€" in most cases, at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In Germany, a massive telecommunication system and two technicians await the green light to fly to Louisiana, after its donors spent four days searching for someone willing to accept the gift.
"FEMA? That was a lost cause," said Mirit Hemy, an executive with the Netherlands-based New Skies Satellite, who made the phone calls. "We got zero help, and we lost one week trying to get hold of them."
In Sweden, a transport plane loaded with a water-purification system and a cellular network has been ready to take off for four days, while Swedish officials wait for flight clearance. Nearly a week after they were offered, four Canadian rescue vessels and two helicopters have been accepted but probably won't arrive from Halifax, Nova Scotia, until Saturday. The Canadians' offer of search-and-rescue divers has gone begging.
Matching offers of aid â€" from Panamanian bananas to British engineers â€" with needs in the devastated Gulf region is difficult in a disaster whose scope is unheard-of in recent U.S. history, especially for a country that is more accustomed to giving than receiving aid.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday that to his knowledge, all offers of foreign aid have been accepted but must be vetted by emergency-relief specialists.
"I think the experts will take a look at exactly what is needed now," he said.
FEMA spokeswoman Natalie Rule said the foreign complaints echo those from governors and officials across the nation.
"There has been that common thought that because [offers of aid] are not tapped immediately, they're not prudently used," Rule said. "We are pulling everything into a centralized database. We are trying not to suck everything in all at once, whether we need it or not."
Soon after the flooding, the government of Sweden offered a C-130 Hercules transport plane, loaded with water-purification equipment, and a cellular network donated by Ericsson.
"As far as I know, it's still on the ground," said Claes Thorson, press counselor at the Swedish Embassy in Washington. He said that along with 20 other European Union nations that have pledged money and goods, "We are ready to send our things. We know they are needed, but what seems to be a problem is getting all these offers into the country."
So far, Thorson said, the State Department has denied Sweden's request for flight clearance.
German telecommunications company KB Impuls contacted another company, Unisat, based in Rhode Island, with the idea of contributing an integrated satellite and cellular-telephone system.
The $3 million system could handle 5,000 calls at once, routing them, if necessary, through Germany.
The donor, KB Impuls, would contribute the equipment and two engineers, supplied with their own food, water and generator fuel, to set it up. Unisat contacted another firm, New Skies Satellite, based in the Netherlands with offices in Washington, which agreed to contribute satellite capacity.
New Skies arranged transport, securing a C-130 cargo plane from the Israeli Air Force, to pick up the equipment and technicians from Germany and bring them to Louisiana.
"With one call, I got an airplane," Hemy said. For four days, she and the owner of Unisat, Uri Bar-Zemer, called contacts at FEMA, the American Red Cross, the State Department and members of Congress, trying to find someone to accept the gift.
Finally, the State Department told them that to receive flight clearance, the gift must have a specific recipient.
"I was ringing, ringing, ringing â€" and nothing," Hemy said. Finally, yesterday, she got a call from the U.S. Air Force Joint Task Force Katrina Communication Operations division, thanking the companies for the gift and inquiring about the system's technical specifications.
As of late yesterday the companies were waiting for a written order from the Northern Command to begin the mission.
Staff writers Robin Wright and Nelson Hernandez contributed to this report.
91 - YP
I'm chinese so I'm just gonna comment on the China part. We just donated $ 5 million with additional supplies/rescue teams. I understand you american expect a return when you did others favor. You know how much China got from the US a few years ago when one fouth of the country was flooded? $200,000. America is the richest country in the world and saying other countries are stingy is like comparing Bill Gates's donation to a common middle class family's donation in a disaster like this. It doesn't make sense! It has nothing to do with population either as India and China, two countries with the most population, are among the poorest countries. I think it's better for a few people here to learn a little more about other countries in the world. United States is a great country, but not the only country.
92 - Derrick
I can sort of understand the problem. The US isn't used to accepting foreign aid - 9/11 was the first time, to my knowledge, that offers of aid were accepted. So the first instinct is "we can handle it". But they couldn't handle it quickly enough. The US could find enough doctors, beds, purification plants, experienced volunteers and so forth...given time. However those things were needed immediately. The point of foreign aid is that it gets you the stuff you need immediately.For example, people were without beds for a week, the French and Dutch were in a position to immediately deliver these from their own hurricane stores in the Caribbean. French, Dutch and Canadian naval vessels - with their helicopters and divers - could have been assisting the Coast Guard. Having decided to accept foreign aid, the US authorities insist on deciding when and where it comes (understandable) and take control of deploying it (understandable if you can manage - that ability has been lacking).
The pity is that experienced disaster relief teams, accustomed to going into strange countries and liaising with local authorities under such conditions, were available.
At worst, a handful of foreign rescue teams would have been on the ground, liaising with local authorities without Washington's oversight for a few days until the chain of command was sorted out. Would that have been so bad?
93 - dana
Don't Blame Bush for Katrina
Christopher Ruddy
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005
George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other local officials.
Yet leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact.
This fact â€" which needs to be repeated and remembered â€" is that in our country, state and local governments have primary responsibility in dealing with local disasters.
The founding fathers devised a federal system of government â€" one that has served us remarkably well through great disasters that have befallen America over more than two centuries.
But if we believe the major TV networks, George Bush, FEMA and the Republicans in Congress are all to blame for the current nightmare.
Let's remember that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was created only in 1979. It was formed to coordinate and focus federal response to major disasters â€" to "assist" local and state governments.
Common sense suggests that local and state governments are best able to prepare and plan for local disasters.
Is a Washington bureaucrat better suited to prepare for an earthquake in San Francisco, a hurricane in Florida, or a terrorist act in New York?
After the Sept. 11 attacks against the World Trade Center, no one suggested that the Bush administration should have been responsible for New York's disaster response or that federal agents should have been involved in the rescue of those trapped in the buildings.
Last year, four major hurricanes slammed into Florida. Governor Jeb Bush led the disaster response and did a remarkable job, with nothing happening like what we have seen in New Orleans.
The primary response in disasters has always come from local communities and state governments.
First responders and the manpower to deal with emergencies come from local communities: police, fire and medical. Under our federal system, these local departments answer to local authorities, not those in Washington. These first responders are not even under federal control, nor do they have to follow federal orders.
In addition to local responders, every state in the Union has a National Guard.
State National Guards answer first to the governor of each state, not to the president. The National Guard exists not to defend one state from an invasion by another state, but primarily for emergencies like the one we have witnessed in New Orleans and in other areas impacted by Katrina. (See: http://www.arng.army.mil/about_us/organization/command_structure.asp)
Tim Russert and the Blame Game
The media would have you believe that this disaster was worsened by a slow response from President Bush and his administration, though the primary responsibility for disaster response has always been with local and state governments.
It is true that federal response was not as fast as it could have been. The president himself has acknowledged that fact.
But the press has focused on the first 48 hours of federal response, not uttering a word about the fact that New Orleans had 48 hours of warning that a major Category 4 or 5 would make landfall near the city, yet local officials apparently did little to prepare.
Obviously, Gov. Blanco did not effectively deploy her state's National Guard.
And New Orleans' city leaders did almost nothing to evacuate the portion of the population with no transportation. In failing to follow their own evacuation plan, these officials did little to pre-position food, water and personnel to deal with the aftermath.
I was surprised Sunday to watch Tim Russert, on his show "Meet the Press," tear into Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. During his encounter with Chertoff, Russert did not suggest once that local government had any role in dealing with the disaster. Russert also asked for Chertoff's resignation.
It wasn't until after the first 29 minutes of his show â€" 29 minutes â€" that Russert raised the question of local responsibility. And when he did so with Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, he did so in a passing way. Broussard brushed off his question with a non-answer.
Broussard began his interview claiming that the nation had "abandoned" New Orleans.
That is nonsense and a lie.
Broussard, who was never identified by "Meet the Press" as a Democrat, spent much of his time attacking the Bush administration, as has Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Broussard then ended his performance as he collapsed in tears with a demand: "For God's sake, just shut up and send us somebody!"
His tears didn't wash with me. My sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of people who have suffered or died because local officials like Broussard, Mayor Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, failed monumentally at their jobs.
As former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told Russert, the disaster in New Orleans was "foreseeable."
In fact, New Orleans has long known that such a disaster could take place if a major hurricane hit the city.
The municipality even prepared its own "City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan."
The plan makes it evident that New Orleans knew that evacuation of the civilian population was the primary responsibility of the city â€" not the federal government.
The city plan acknowledges its responsibility in the document:
As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
The city document also makes clear that decisions involving a proper and orderly evacuation lie with the governor, mayor and local authorities. Nowhere is the president or federal government even mentioned:
The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.
It is clear the city also recognized that it would need to move large portions of its population, and it would need to prepare for such an eventuality:
The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed. ...
Evacuation procedures for small scale and localized evacuations are conducted per the SOPs of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department. However, due to the sheer size and number of persons to be evacuated, should a major tropical weather system or other catastrophic event threaten or impact the area, specifically directed long range planning and coordination of resources and responsibilities efforts must be undertaken. [You can read New Orleans' Emergency Plan for hurricanes at its Web site: http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]
The city's plan also specifically called for the use of city-owned buses and school buses to evacuate the population. These were apparently never deployed, though the Parish of Plaquemines just south of the city evacuated its population using school buses.
The plan, written well before Katrina was even a teardrop in God's eye, was obviously never heeded or implemented by local leaders.
But why should the New Orleans mayor and Governor Blanco take responsibility when they can blame George Bush and the Republicans in Washington?
With congressional elections fast approaching, Democrats who are out of power in every branch of the federal government know they need to change the tide quickly.
They have apparently seized on the Katrina disaster to harm the president politically.
Criticism of the federal government's response is fair and warranted. But putting full responsibility for this disaster on the Bush administration is way over the top.
Primary responsibility for this disaster remains with local officials like Nagin and Blanco, not President Bush.
94 - steve
I think that may have been THE best blog I have yet to read on blogcritics. I couldnt agree with you more...I hope more people make sense of it. Every point is valid and legitimate.
95 - Cassio
Just wanted to share the foreign help you won't see in any news on TV. Unfortunately. Please see link.
96 - Steve
I just finished reading this blog with interest. I am an American living in Houston, TX. As some of you may be aware we have welcomed many of the people that were devasted by the storm. I would just like to say that any and all aid is appreciated. We, Houstonians have given our own time, money and just about anything that has been needed.
The political BS on this site is inappropriate. I am a moderate and I voted for President Bush. He is certainly not perfect and I disagree with him on many issues. I think that he is genuinely doing what he can. He did not summon up this Hurricane.
Just an aside - Some of you may not be aware of how the United States of America functions. The U.S. is obviously made up of individual states. Our founding fathers intent was that States had rights as well as duties and obligations. The Federal Government cannot impose itself into state affairs until requested. Thus, it takes time for the Federal government to get involved (including assessing needs and responding to offers of assistance).
Lastly, America is a great country. We may make mistakes at times but we strive for a world where people enjoy the freedoms on which our country was founded. We believe in equal opportunity (not equal outcome). We believe in human rights. We have about 300 million people here and some are a$$holes just like every other place on the planet.
Lastly, thanks to each country and person that has or will open their hearts and their pocketbooks in our time of need. As always, you can count on us in the future.
Peace Out!
97 - Steve
OOPS, please edit out the word "Lastly" from the penultimate paragrapgh of my prior post.
98 - Charles Watson
Personally I am "Shocked N Awed" at the nature of this article. It just goes to show you the ingratitude of some of the American People! Lets look at the facts:
America is the most wealthy nation on this planet! Sure we suffered a great disaster but its NOTHING that we ourselves can't afford! The fact that ANY nation is willing to donate anything is merely their way of saying "Hey! we're sorry for your loss!" I hardly expected it and I am going to write each and every country thanking them for whatever they sent, even if its a mere dollar!
99 - Veraciraptor
I would like to say "thank you" to the 90 or so foreign governments that offered aid to the US. That's over half of the world! The American people appreciate it in our hour of need.
100 - DrPat
To Charles, Steve, others who continue to comment as if this post were settled fact: don't believe everything you read.
You might want to also take a look at Comment 72, which contains two links to the SecState's thanks to other nations for their swift offers of help.
101 - Silken
Well first off there were some pretty harsh criticisms here and many were based on wrong facts. I think by now we've established that at least 90 countries have offered aid to the U.S. and I hope that some of the people who were so harsh will have reconsidered their statements in light of the facts.
I myself am Canadian. My country's population is only one tenth of that of the U.S. but we are doing our best to help, just as we did when we helped get the hostages out of Iran back in the 80s and just as we did during 911 and other times when tragedy struck in the U.S.
Today I read that Alberta alone(which is only one province in Canada)has contributed $5 million to help reconstruct the Gulf area. This is in addition to contributions from other Canadian provinces and from our federal govt. as well as from corporations and individuals in Canada. Even one of our successful industrialists here chartered a plane to fly in supplies to Louisiana and is now planning on building a mobile home community in a luxury area of Florida to house about 1,000 of the displaced residents from Louisiana, with plans to possibly build even more. This is all at his own expense!
I also just read the other day an article done in Louisiana about how the Vancouver Search and Rescue Team was in their saving American lives 5 days before the U.S. army even arrived. This team chartered a plane to fly down there to help and stayed for five days until the U.S. teams arrived and took over. One of the local fire chiefs was so grateful for their assistance in being the first search and rescue time on-site (and I mean FIRST, not just the first foreign team) that he insisted they raise the Canadian flag on his fire hall (which was mostly submerged but still had the flagpole above water!) ;)
The Province of Quebec has sent down 20,000 cots out of its emergency stores. Countless numbers of municipal, provincial and the federal govt. in Canada have either sent or offered medical supplies, search and rescue teams, medical personnel, etc. etc. in addition to their financial contributions. Canada has already sent drug supplies to treat the sick and injured as well as many other kinds of supplies out of our own national stockpile for emergencies.
I can't even begin to count all the aid that Canada has either already sent or offered to send. I'm sure you all have read about the navy ships, divers and 1,000 navy personnel already on their way to Louisiana, loaded down with supplies, water filtration equipment, etc. etc. and set to arrive on Sunday (would've been sooner if the U.S. govt. had responded sooner...) or the Coast Guard personnel who are helping out in the Boston area so that they can free up their staff to go and help in Lousiana.
On top of all of this, I know personally Canadians whose companies are sending them down to the Gulf to donate their services to rebuild/restore the electrical systems, water systems, etc. etc. I know because my brother-in-law's company is already sending a team down there and will have them working around the clock in that area for approx. 3 months or more. These men are leaving their families and volunteering for these assignments because they want to help our American friends in their time of need.
I've always told my friends from other countries that Canada and the U.S. are like siblings... they piss us off sometimes but we still love them like a brother. We may not always agree on the political front and I know that causes some hard feelings at times but I know for sure that we feel a bond to them forged from sharing the same continent and the same early historical roots and for many of us, the same language. There really isn't any other country in the world that is so close to my own country that I can spend time there and feel pretty much at home even though we are not identical. Quite plainly, I think the world would be a much lonelier place for Canadians without our American friends and neighbours who although they sometimes make us mad, often do make us glad and I wouldn't trade them for the world. ;)
silken
102 - CDNNavyWife
Egads! Now we’re into penny pinching. Lack of aid in the wake of Katrina’s Aftermath. If I'm not mistaken, but wasn’t it your President who said it was “unnecessary” (for the lack of better words) for the World Community to send aid?
“I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country's going to rise up and take care of it. You know, we would love help, but we're going to take care of our own business as well, and there's no doubt in my mind we'll succeed. And there's no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city. ”
Here’s a little news flash for you. Even though it took some time Prime Minister Paul Martin announced that Canada would be sending to the victims/survivors of the Gulf States. And even though the Canadians’ role would be unclear be in Operation UNISON until the convoy arrives to help by any means possible.
Now I’m a little puzzled and a little insulted by your remarks (“America has given the world so much in last two hundred years, yet has asked for so little in return”). But to throw around price tags of how much money the American Gov’t have spent to help the world and your insinuation that there’s little or no help in return. The whole point of sending humanitarian aid is to help, which doesn’t necessarily mean sending “cash dollars.” Aid also into account sending supplies â€" the basic necessities that are most badly needed in times of crisis.
Since it was announced that the ships would be sailing for the Gulf region, here is what my husband along with the rest of his crewmates that stored on board HMCS Athabaskan, as well as HMCS Toronto, HMCS/NCSM Ville De Quebec in less 48 hours:
1,500 cots and sleeping bags
2,000 blankets
3,000 coveralls
300 tents that can house
1,800 people
6,000 diapers
Palettes of lumber for reconstruction
36 generators, water pumps, medical supplies
300 donated hand-knit teddy bears
About 1,000 body bags.
This don’t encludes what CCGS Sir William Alexander is presently carrying, not to mention what DART will be providing as someone already mentioned (http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/DART/back_e.asp)
And on the home front, my children have donated money via their school as well through local establishments. They (my children) know what has happened and that there are many hundred of thousands of people displaced from their homes and many more have lots their lives because of this tragedy. Not to mention that they take pride knowing that their father is contributing to the clean-up and aid of the people in need. A personal note, I’ve had friends on and offline that wrote giving me thanks because the individuals like my husband have gone to the Gulf States to lean what support they can.
Quite frankly Sir, I really don’t care for your attitude and tone, but that is just my opinion. If you don’t like how slow things are moving with the humanitarian aid and clean-up here’s my suggestion to you. Get off you lazy rear whether it be from your cushy 9 to 5 job or Modern Liberal Arts University/College classes and take a trip down to Biloxi or New Orleans and help rebuild instead of flapping your gums.
103 - Eric
I'm not surprised to read such 'article' but I'm still surprised to see people thinking that way : we are the best, we have done more than anything else, we are number one, the others are shit and have done/achieved/given nothing or so little.
Some may find it amusing. I find that quite sad. Living and thinking that way must be quite depressing after a while.
Some info the author of the post may read with profit :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina
I'm from France/Europe.
104 - me
This report is highly inaccurate. Not only have many foreign countries offered aid, but the U.S. could give a crap about foreign aid. It contributes far less money to foreign aid than the majority of the developed world, spending only .1% of its enourmous budget on foreign aid. We spend most of our money on defense, more than anyone else in the world. The next sixteen countries under us combined spend as much as we do on defense.
105 - blahagablog
Of course the world always likes to state that the United states spends more money on military arms than many countries yearly GDP.
But lets also find out the truth to these numbers,what is known that in the year 2001 the United states was the main supplier of 45.8% of the worlds purchases of weapons arms.
That is $26.4 billion in foreign sales to secure Sovereign nations from invasion.
$24 billion additionally was spent for foreign aid.
The vast majority of the arms sales are on loans,and are often nearly forgotten,or forgiven.
As an example in many world crises whereas the U.S may need help by a foreign nation negotiations take place durring such negotiations the party that the U.S is attempting to get help from brings to the table what else are we getting?
This many times mean never having to pay there billions of dollars of debt to the United States,and payment of additional monies to that government.
So those billions are lost forever,foreign governments benefit twice,and the poor American tax payer thats working more hour's in which has less paid vacation time than any other country in the world.
Yup thats a fact,as many American's dont even take their full yearly vacation times,usually cashing them out for pay and having to pay tax for not vacationing.
Many Americans today being aware of border security problems with Mexico,are taking their vacation while doing U.S border patrol.
Americans are innovative,forgiving,helping,and overall are the most generouse people on the face of this earth,and why?
Because we are Europeans,French,Canadian,Jewish,Arab,and all other nationalities.
A recent poll taken in Mexico revealed that 74% of Mexicans beleive that the U.S stole New Mexico,this comes from the majority of Mexicans whom are Spanish descendants,whom with Ponce de Leon slaughtered the natives of Mexico,and wiped out the Indians,the Spaniards werent happy with the gold they were given by the Indians,so they just stole it all smelted it down coined the gold into doubloons,and spanish marked gold bars to present a fictituose slew of ethics the loot theyd stole when shipped back to Spain.
Sure they later won their independance from Spain cinco de mayo but they are still nevertheless Spanish descendants.
106 - Markus Stra
First of all,
The U.S. is NOT the biggest aid donater of the world. There are a load of a lot smaller countries in Western Europe who give even more aid as the U.S. does. And if you compare the total aid donated by ALL the European Union countries, it totally crushes what the U.S. gives.
Secondly, almost all the important technological inventions are done by Europeans. Computers, television, cars, telephones, refrigerators, aircrafts, trains, camera's and more... I know that most Americans think that America is the almighty inventor of the world but look up the facts and show a little more respect to other countries.
And third, the reason why America turned down foreign aid is because of the 2 above reasons combined; it has an arrogance problem. America wants to keep maintaining the big "we are the best and greatest country in the world" lie...