Obama authorizes RESERVES to be used in Haiti

[Luissa]

I guess we should let a country that has no resources just fend for themselves.

I guess we should let a country that has no resources just fend for themselves.

Or as the famous last words go, "Fuck everyone, I've got mine."

Blah blah ...

Try taking care of our own first, THEN others.

Again, WHO came to our aid after katrina?

Your question should be who offered help, and was turned down.

 

[Gunny]

I guess we should let a country that has no resources just fend for themselves.

Or as the famous last words go, "Fuck everyone, I've got mine."

Blah blah ...

Try taking care of our own first, THEN others.

Again, WHO came to our aid after katrina?

Your question should be who offered help, and was turned down.

No, it shouldn't.

Nobody turns down our help. They don't pay for it. WE do.

 

[Luissa]

I am not saying anyone turned down our help, I am saying some countries offered helped during Katrina and were turned down.

 

[Modbert]

I am not saying anyone turned down our help, I am saying some countries offered helped during Katrina and were turned down.

Least he responded to your post.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZRCIrTgQc[/ame]

 

[Luissa]

It will be okay Catbery, oh! shit I mean Dogbert. It is all so confusing.

 

[Modbert]

It will be okay Catbery, oh! shit I mean Dogbert. It is all so confusing.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH2w6Oxx0kQ[/ame]

 

[PatekPhilippe]

I am not saying anyone turned down our help, I am saying some countries offered helped during Katrina and were turned down.

I'm going to have to see a link to some credible info on that. From what I understand ALL aid offered was accepted despite Bush's taken out of context remark "We can take care of ourselves."

 

[Luissa]

AHHHHH! I love that song!

 

[California Girl]

I understand the gesture in us helping Haiti. Even as a Ron Paul supporter I support helping another country with humanitarian aid in a time like this...but using the RESERVES??

That's not a job of the reserve component. Those men and women are supposed to be the last line of defense here on our shores, and to augment the active duty forces during a time of war or national emergency. National emergency meaning, US national emergency.

This is a misuse of the reserves if you ask me. As if it wasn't bad enough that Bush pretty much back door drafted most of them into Iraq, now Obama is bringing them into Haiti in a clear misuse of their purpose.

I'm already certain the comments on this are going to be pretty evenly divided down partisan lines, too.

I can understand why Obama is doing this. The amount of warlords and gangs down there is preventing aid to getting to the people who need it. Obviously sending some reserves are suppose to combat that.

And I'm just curious Paulie as to what year you're living in? I can understand the use of them in war despite Bush's abuse of that. But the last lines of defense on our shores? Who exactly are you expecting to show up? The British?

I get your thinking, but I just think it's a bit..outdated.

Actually, you arrogant bastard, the British are there.

It would be cool if, just once in a while, we recognized that we are not the only damned nation in the world that offers aid and assistance to those in need. Grow the fuck up and stop pretending we are the Supreme Beings.... We are one nation among many helping the Haitians. And that is as it should be.

 

[Luissa]

I am not saying anyone turned down our help, I am saying some countries offered helped during Katrina and were turned down.

I'm going to have to see a link to some credible info on that. From what I understand ALL aid offered was accepted despite Bush's taken out of context remark "We can take care of ourselves."

It is wikipedia but it lists what was offered and what was actually taken.
International response to Hurricane Katrina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[California Girl]

I understand the gesture in us helping Haiti. Even as a Ron Paul supporter I support helping another country with humanitarian aid in a time like this...but using the RESERVES??

That's not a job of the reserve component. Those men and women are supposed to be the last line of defense here on our shores, and to augment the active duty forces during a time of war or national emergency. National emergency meaning, US national emergency.

This is a misuse of the reserves if you ask me. As if it wasn't bad enough that Bush pretty much back door drafted most of them into Iraq, now Obama is bringing them into Haiti in a clear misuse of their purpose.

I'm already certain the comments on this are going to be pretty evenly divided down partisan lines, too.

Canada will not attack, and Mexico has already effected la reconquista.

But hey, hey, who really gives a shit if a bunch of Haitians die from neglect after Ma nature thumped 'em.....

As for your snotty remark about partisans, well HELL YES, I am part of the party that will help a little, not kick them while they lay in the street bleeding, and I'm proud to be.

You are impressively stupid, Contessa. You think that only members of the DNC are donating money? How absolutely pathetic.

 

[Modbert]

Actually, you arrogant bastard, the British are there.

It would be cool if, just once in a while, we recognized that we are not the only damned nation in the world that offers aid and assistance to those in need. Grow the fuck up and stop pretending we are the Supreme Beings.... We are one nation among many helping the Haitians. And that is as it should be.

I think you need some sleep there CG. I was remarking about whether the British were going to show up on our shore. Like you know, during the American Revolution.

Now I'd like a apology if you don't mind.

 

[California Girl]

Actually, you arrogant bastard, the British are there.

It would be cool if, just once in a while, we recognized that we are not the only damned nation in the world that offers aid and assistance to those in need. Grow the fuck up and stop pretending we are the Supreme Beings.... We are one nation among many helping the Haitians. And that is as it should be.

I think you need some sleep there CG. I was remarking about whether the British were going to show up on our shore. Like you know, during the American Revolution.

Now I'd like a apology if you don't mind.

Hold your breath while you wait for that, Dog. The Brits, should we ever need them, would show up. The Brits are, without doubt, the best friends we have on this planet and would defend us as we would them.... as we have and as they have ever since they learned not to mess with us.

 

[Modbert]

Hold your breath while you wait for that, Dog. The Brits, should we ever need them, would show up. The Brits are, without doubt, the best friends we have on this planet and would defend us as we would them.... as we have and as they have ever since they learned not to mess with us.

Would you not be a dumb bint? I'm not calling you one, I'm saying don't be one. Look at the context.

Paulie says that the Reserves are our last line of defense of our shores. So I sarcastically asked who is Paulie expecting to show up at our shores, the British? It's also the same reason why I called his reasoning a bit outdated. Especially with modern technology.

My goodness, now I think you have no excuse to not give me a apology since I had fully explain the context of the post to you.

 

[California Girl]

Hold your breath while you wait for that, Dog. The Brits, should we ever need them, would show up. The Brits are, without doubt, the best friends we have on this planet and would defend us as we would them.... as we have and as they have ever since they learned not to mess with us.

Would you not be a dumb bint? I'm not calling you one, I'm saying don't be one. Look at the context.

Paulie says that the Reserves are our last line of defense of our shores. So I sarcastically asked who is Paulie expecting to show up at our shores, the British? It's also the same reason why I called his reasoning a bit outdated. Especially with modern technology.

My goodness, now I think you have no excuse to not give me a apology since I had fully explain the context of the post to you.

How sad that you feel the need to not only ask for an apology but to PM me as well.

I said, and I will continue to say, that yea, the Brits would show up and defend our shores should we ever need them. Just like we would do for them.

 

[Emma]

Again, WHO came to our aid after katrina?

Pledges and donations from countries

Below is a list of countries who offered aid. Some of these efforts were not formally accepted by the U.S. government (see "Actual Funds Used" below).

Afghanistan: Donated $100,000 to the hurricane victims.[3]

Albania: Donated $300,000.[4]

Argentina: Made offers of help and assistance. Argentina also dispatched an elite team of bilingual mental health professionals.[5]

Armenia: Pledged $200,000 and made offers of help and assistance.[6]

Australia: AUD 10 million (approximately USD 8-9 Million), and a team of 20 emergency response officers immediately. Donated AUD 10 million to American Red Cross.[7]

Austria: 140 specialists of the AFDRU were put on stand-by. Their focus was to have been on providing clean water with portable water-treatment plants. Within the EU Emergency Assistance for Katrina, Austria set up a communication network using IT and communication equipment for assistance/support, provided 10 sets petrol driven dirty water pumps, 500 pieces tarps/plastic sheeting and 300 camp beds.[8]

Azerbaijan: Donated $500,000.[9]

The Bahamas: Pledged $50,000.

Bahrain: Donated $5 million.[10]

Bangladesh: Donated humanitarian aid worth $1 million and said it would send 160 disaster management experts, including doctors, nurses, engineers and others.

Belarus: Made offers of help and assistance.

Belgium: Offered 3 Medical teams of 31 personnel, logistic team of 10 personnel, coordination team of 4 personnel, civil engineering team of 10 personnel, diving team, and also balloon-lamps, low and high capacity pumps and small generators.[8]

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Made offers of help and assistance.

Brunei: Donated $1 million.[10]

Cambodia: The king donated $20,000 to match the $20,000 Cambodian government donation.

Canada: September 5, 35 military divers were poised to depart by air Sunday from Halifax and Esquimalt, B.C., for the New Orleans area.September 4, On the request from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Canada sent thousands of beds, blankets, surgical gloves and dressings and other medical supplies. On September 2 the Government of Canada announced it was sending three warships along with a Coast Guard vessel, and three Sea King helicopters to the area. Over 1,000 personnel are involved in the operation, including engineers and navy divers. The Canadian Heavy Urban Search and Rescue out of Vancouver was in Louisiana from September 1, due to security they started their mission on Sept 3. Ontario Hydro, Hydro-Québec, and Manitoba Hydro, along with other electrical utilities, had crews set to go to the affected areas. On September 2 Air Canada participated along with U.S. member airlines of the Air Transport Association, in a voluntary airline industry initiative to support rescue and relief operations. Money donations although where very high, the province of Alberta alone threw in 5 million dollars alone. Although it is hard to put an exact number on Canadian cash donations because of some Canadians donating directly to the American agencies, but it is thought to be one of the highest international donors nation.

Chile: Made offers of help and assistance.

People's Republic of China: On September 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it will offer $5 million along with emergency supplies, including 1,000 tents, 600 generators, bed sheets, immediately for disaster relief. China also offered to send medical care and rescue workers if they were needed.[11] This aid package consisting of 104 tons of supplies later arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas.[12] A chartered plane carrying the supplies arrived on September 7.[13]

Colombia: Made offers of help and assistance.

Cuba: One of the first countries to offer aid, Cuba offered to send 1,586 doctors and 26 tons of medicine. This aid was rejected by the State Department.[14]

Cyprus: Offered $50,000.

Czech Republic: Offered rescue teams, field hospital and pumps and water processing equipment.

Denmark: Offered Water purification units.[8]

Djibouti: Offered $50,000.[2]

Dominica: Offered police to monitor hard-hit areas.

Dominican Republic: Offered rescue workers, doctors and nurses.

Ecuador: Made offers of help and assistance.

Egypt: Sent 2 C-130 planes loaded with blankets, medical equipment, and canned food.

El Salvador: Offered to send troops to help keep order in New Orleans.

Equatorial Guinea: Pledged $500,000.

Finland: Sent Finn Rescue Force—the group consists of 30 firemen and three Red Cross logistics experts.. Additionally Finland offered 300 tents, a water purification unit, sterile gloves, bed sheets, pillow covers, tarps and first aid kits.

France: Concrete help was refused by the US government initially, however on September 2, Condoleezza Rice said that the US authorities would assess the situation and contact French authorities accordingly. On September 4, US authorities formally requested French assistance. France offered disaster relief stocks prepositioned in Martinique (600 tents, around 1000 beds, 60 electrogenic groups, 3 pumps, 3 water purification stations, 1000 folding jerricanes and other material). A 35-person team of the Sécurité civile (Civil defence) from Guadeloupe and Martinique were made ready, and a 60-man "catastrophe intervention" aeromobile detachment were prepared to be ferried from mainland in a short time. The Ministry of Defence offered 2 planes already in the zone and 6 more from mainland France, and two ships of the French Navy (probably the BATRAL Francis Garnier or Champlain, and the frigate Ventôse) and a 20-person team of emergency medical specialists. The non-governmental organisation Télécoms sans frontières and the company Véolia environnement offered aid in communications and water management, respectively. On September 7, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that an Airbus Beluga from Toulouse with 12,7 tonnes of supplies flew to Mobile, Alabama, after a brief stop in the UK to load more food.[15] Two Casa airplanes from Martinique landed in Little Rock, Arkansas, ferrying tents, covers and 1000 rations of food for 24 hours.[8][16][17]

Gabon: Pledged $500,000.[2]

Georgia: Made offers of help and assistance.

Germany: Two German Army Airbus planes landed in Florida with about 25 tonnes of food rations to be transported to the disaster area. Further planes were prepared. Germany offered airlifting, vaccination, water purification, medical supplies including German air force hospital planes, emergency electrical power and pumping services. The aid was ready to go on German air force and chartered planes. A team of specialists from THW (German federal agency for technical relief) were planning technical measures and logistics in close contact with local authorities. A team of 89 flood fighting specialists and 5 medical personnel were dispatched from Ramstein Air Base to Louisiana by the United States Air Force. They brought 15 high performance pumps (10 pumps with a capacity of 15,000 litres per minute and 5 pumps with a capacity of 5,000 litres per minute) and 28 vehicles.[18] On Saturday, September 10 at 4:30 p.m., the THW started the first 15,000 litre pump at pumping-station No. 19. Three other 15,000 litres pumps followed. The drainage of New Orleans would have taken much more time if these pumps and the THW specialists had not been provided.[19] The Minister-President of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate addressed a letter to the commanders of the American forces stationed in his state offering financial support to those affected by the flooding.
Another German Air Force cargo plane carrying several thousand military rations (MRE) was denied entry into US airspace since, according to US authorities, they were not certified BSE-free. This was disputed by German authorities, pointing out that they were BSE-free according to NATO rules, that US soldiers would eat them regularly during joint operations (e.g. Afghanistan) and that these meals fully complied to UN rules.[20]

Greece: Offered $85,000[21], two cruise ships to house those left homeless, a rescue team, and supplies.

Guatemala: Made offers of help and assistance.

Guyana: Made offers of help and assistance and is organizing a telethon to raise money for victims.

Honduras: Offered 135 flooding and sanitation experts.

Hungary: Pledged $5,000 and offered to send a Special Search and Rescue Team, and also five doctors.

Iceland: Offered $500,000.

India: India offered to contribute $5 million to the United States Red Cross for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. They also offered to donate medicines and large water purification systems for use in households and small communities in the stricken areas, where potable water was a key concern.[22] India sent tarps, blankets and hygiene kits. An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies for the Hurricane Katrina victims at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas on September 13, 2005.[23]

Indonesia: Offered to send 45 doctors and 155 other medical staffers and 10,000 blankets to help survivors.

Iran: Offered to send humanitarian aid and 20 million barrels (3,200,000 m3) of crude oil.[17][24]

Iraq: Pledged $1 million to the Red Cross via the Red Crescent.

Republic of Ireland: Offered to send 30 members of the Irish Defence Forces. The Irish army would have supplied thousands of ready meals, tents, blankets, water purification services and medical aid, including first aid kits, crutches and wheelchairs. The group would have included about ten experts in stress debriefing. Six of the troops would have operated two water purification plants. The Irish Government also announced it is to provide initial funding of EUR 1.2 million for the victims.

Israel: Offered field hospitals and hundreds of doctors, nurses, technicians and other experts in trauma, natural disasters and public health.[25] An Israeli airlift arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas with an eighty-ton shipment of humanitarian aid, including baby food, diapers, water, ready-to-eat meals, clothes, tents, blankets, mattresses, stretchers, first aid kits, wheelchairs, and other medical supplies. The Magen David Adom began "United Brotherhood Operation," which sent a plane-load of supplies and financial assistance. IsraAid sent a delegation of medical personnel, psychologists, and experienced search-and-rescue divers. The 18-member team — which included physicians, mental health professionals, trauma specialists, logistics experts and a special unit of Israeli police divers — arrived in St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines Parish on Sept. 10 and spent a week and a half assisting fire department search-and-rescue squads and sitting in on daily planning meetings that included local leadership and a complement of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), police, military and fire representativesmedical team.[26] Five universities in Israel welcomed displaced American students from the affected areas and invited both undergraduate and graduate students to continue their studies in Israel.[27] In particular, medical students unable to attend the Tulane University in New Orleans can attend Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine.[28]

Italy: Italy offered to send two Hercules C130 cargo aircraft fitted with emergency aids, including 300 Adult camp beds, 300 blankets, 600 sheets, 1 suction pump, 6 lifecrafts, 11.200 chlorine tablets, 5 units of large first aid kits, baby food formula pumps, tents and power generators. Italy also offered to send some experts of the Protezione Civile to help coordinating relief efforts in the damaged area.[8]

Jamaica: Made offers of help and assistance.

Japan: The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that it would provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. Japan also identified needs in affected regions via the U.S. government and provided up to $300,000 in emergency supplies such as tents, blankets and power generators if they receive requests from the U.S. for such assistance. One Japanese individual, Takashi Endo, donated USD 1 million from his personal funds to Katrina relief efforts.[13]

Jordan: Made offers of help and assistance.

Kenya: Offered $100,000.[2] There were also early reports of $400 million in petroleum products being donated from Kenya, though these later proved to be erroneous.[29]

Korea, South: Offered $ 30 million and dispatched a rescue team.[13]

Kuwait: Parliament approved $500 million for aid in oil and other humanitarian aid.

Latvia: Offered a disaster relief team.

Lithuania: Made offers of help and assistance.

Luxembourg: Team of five persons, 1000 camp beds and 2000 blankets.[8]

Malaysia: Pledged $1 million to American Red Cross.

Maldives: Sent $25,000 to American Red Cross.

Mauritania: Promised $200,000 to American Red Cross.

Malta: Made offers of help and assistance.[8]

Mexico: Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas received almost 196 Mexican troops, 14 truckloads of water, a mobile surgical unit, 45 military vehicles, 3 tons of purified water, and more than 250 tons of food, bottled water, canned food, disposable diapers and medical supplies. The Mexican Government sent $1 million through the Mexican Red Cross which collected an additional million, as well as 200 tons of food delivered in five airplanes from the Mexican Air Force by another Mexican Government body. The Mexican Navy sent two ships, 385 troopers, eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious vehicles, two tankers, two helicopters, radio communication equipment, medical personnel and 296 tons of food as well. The state of Jalisco also sent four experts in disaster, while the Federal government offered to send expert teams in epidemiology and to cover the costs of returning any Mexican national back to Mexico.

Mongolia: Pledged $50,000.

Nepal: Pledged $25,000.[30]

The Netherlands: Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate Hr. Ms. Van Amstel arrived from the Netherlands Antilles. The frigate was filled with supplies and had helicopters on board that can be used in rescue actions. Further, The Netherlands sent experts on the subject of water containment and dikes, identification teams and pumps to deliver clean drinking water, F-16s with sophisticated infra red or thermography camera pods (to look for weaknesses in the levees, corpses and hidden survivors) and divers from the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps. On September 7 The U.S. government announced that it would take up the Dutch government's offer to send water pumps, and also five water management experts.

New Zealand: Pledged $2 million though the Red Cross. This contribution was in addition to the offers the government has already made to send an Urban Search and Rescue Team, a Disaster Victim Identification team or post disaster recovery personnel.[31]

Nicaragua: Made offers of help and assistance.

Nigeria: Pledged $1 million to hurricane disaster relief.

Norway: Made offers of help and assistance. An amount of NOK 10 million was given through the Norwegian Red Cross and the UN. In addition, Norway offered divers and medicines.

Oman: Pledged $15 million.

Pakistan: On September 4 Pakistan offered to send a team of doctors and paramedics to support the relief agencies. Pakistan also pledged $1 million through the Red Cross.

Palau: Pledged $50,000.

Papua New Guinea: Promised $10,000 to American Red Cross.

Paraguay: Made offers of help and assistance.

Peru: Offered to send 80-100 doctors to help survivors.

the Philippines: Offered to send a 25-member team of aid workers. The Philippines Red Cross donated $25,000.

Poland: Made offers of help and assistance.

Portugal: Offered tents, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits. Portugal lent 2% of its strategic oil reserve, equivalent to 500,000 barrels (79,000 m3) of oil.

Qatar: Pledged $100 million to the victims.[32]

Romania: Offered 2 Teams of medical experts.[8]

Russia: Was one of the first countries to offer assistance. Up to four jets were placed on standby at the Ramenskoe airport near Moscow as early as August 30, including heavy Ilyushin Il-76-TDs with special evacuation equipment, medical equipment, a water-cleansing system, a rescue helicopter BK-117 and two special cars; and a passenger IL-62, which brought 10 coordinators and 50 rescuers, as well as 6 tons of drinking water. On September 6, the Bush administration gave its approval.[33]

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, donated $5 million to the American Red Cross, as well as $250,000 from AGFUND.

Singapore: Three Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters and thirty-eight RSAF personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas assisted in relief operations from 1 September. They had so far ferried about 700 evacuees and hauled tons of supplies in 39 sorties on 4 September. One more CH-47 Chinook helicopter was sent to aid in relief efforts.[34]

Slovakia: Promised blankets, beds, first aid kits.

Slovenia: $120,000 worth of cots, mattresses, blankets, temporary shelters and first-aid kits.[35]

Spain: Spain sent 2.1 million barrels (330,000 m3) of crude oil from its strategic reserves (the 1.75% of the Spanish reserves) for a 30 day period.[36] On September 7 two Hercules cargo aircraft took off with 15 tonnes of food rations, electrical generators and batteries, medical equipment and other humanitarian assistance collected by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECI). A second envoy was sent a few days later.[37]

Sri Lanka: Pleged $25,000 for relief efforts.[38]

Sweden: Sweden offered to send medical and technical aid, and a Hercules cargo aircraft filled with three complete GSM systems, first aid kits, blankets, Ready-to-eat meals, generators, 2 heavy water purification plants, as well as water sanitation experts. On September 4 the U.S. State Department declined the aid, saying it was currently unable to accept foreign aid packages. On September 12 the Hercules plane left the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, carrying a cargo of three Ericsson GSM network systems. A team of technical consultants to help with the aid package was also provided.[39]

Switzerland: Switzerland offered specialised personnel and material to the USA and the World Health Organisation (WHO). In accordance with US requirements, 50 tonnes of rescue equipment were ready to be sent, along with two logisticians of the Direction du développement et de la coopération (DDC, "Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation") to help coordinate distributions. Four physicians and two water specialists were also put to the disposal of the WHO.

Republic of China (Taiwan): Pledged more than $3 million to the relief effort, plus supplies.[17]

Thailand: Sent at least 60 doctors and nurses along with rice.

Tunisia: Sent two C-130s with relief supplies.

Turkey: Promised $2.5 million in cash and aid.

Uganda: Offered $200,000.[2]

United Arab Emirates: Pledged $100 million.

United Kingdom: The United Kingdom dispatched 500,000 ration packs worth EUR 3 million, to the region. However, many of the ration packs did not reach victims due to laws regarding mad cow disease[40]. It also offered medical experts, Urban Search and Rescue equipment, Marine engineers and high-volume pumps, skilled personnel including engineers who could support recovery efforts for installations and systems, technicians, staff trained in disaster management and emergency response activities. It also pledged to release an extra 2.2 million barrels (350,000 m3) of oil.[8][41]

Venezuela: President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela offered one million barrels of oil and 5 million dollars in aid to the United States. This aid was rejected by the State Department.[42] State-owned Petróleos de Venezuela, the parent company of Citgo Petroleum Corporation, has also pledged a $2 million donation for hurricane aid.[43]

Vietnam: Pledged $100,000.

Yemen: Pledged $100,000 through the Red Cross.

You were saying?

 

[Modbert]

How sad that you feel the need to not only ask for an apology but to PM me as well.

I said, and I will continue to say, that yea, the Brits would show up and defend our shores should we ever need them. Just like we would do for them.

I'm asking for an apology because I'm not being rude. If you like for me to be rude like some others here, whatever. And I'm PMing you so that way you would have no excuse to say you never saw my posts.

I'm just going to say this, it was a joke, and you didn't get it. I wasn't even referring to Haiti when I said it.

Seriously, this is my reaction to your response:



Just Oy.

 

[Modbert]

You were saying?

Would you look at that, turning away all those doctors from Cuba. Hell, even Iran offered help.

 

[Emma]

I am not saying anyone turned down our help, I am saying some countries offered helped during Katrina and were turned down.

I'm going to have to see a link to some credible info on that. From what I understand ALL aid offered was accepted despite Bush's taken out of context remark "We can take care of ourselves."

See my above post, and this, too:


As the winds and water of Hurricane Katrina were receding, presidential confidante Karen Hughes sent a cable from her State Department office to U.S. ambassadors worldwide.

Titled "Echo-Chamber Message" -- a public relations term for talking points designed to be repeated again and again -- the Sept. 7, 2005, directive was unmistakable: Assure the scores of countries that had pledged or donated aid at the height of the disaster that their largesse had provided Americans "practical help and moral support" and "highlight the concrete benefits hurricane victims are receiving."

Many of the U.S. diplomats who received the message, however, were beginning to witness a more embarrassing reality. They knew the U.S. government was turning down many allies' offers of manpower, supplies and expertise worth untold millions of dollars. Eventually the United States also would fail to collect most of the unprecedented outpouring of international cash assistance for Katrina's victims.

Allies offered $854 million in cash and in oil that was to be sold for cash. But only $40 million has been used so far for disaster victims or reconstruction, according to U.S. officials and contractors. Most of the aid went uncollected, including $400 million worth of oil. Some offers were withdrawn or redirected to private groups such as the Red Cross. The rest has been delayed by red tape and bureaucratic limits on how it can be spent.

---------

Administration officials acknowledged in February 2006 that they were ill prepared to coordinate and distribute foreign aid and that only about half the $126 million received had been put to use. Now, 20 months after Katrina, newly released documents and interviews make clear the magnitude of the troubles.

More than 10,000 pages of cables, telegraphs and e-mails from U.S. diplomats around the globe -- released piecemeal since last fall under the Freedom of Information Act -- provide a fuller account of problems that, at times, mystified generous allies and left U.S. representatives at a loss for an explanation. The documents were obtained by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a public interest group, which provided them to The Washington Post.

In one exchange, State Department officials anguished over whether to tell Italy that its shipments of medicine, gauze and other medical supplies spoiled in the elements for weeks after Katrina's landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, and were destroyed. "Tell them we blew it," one disgusted official wrote. But she hedged: "The flip side is just to dispose of it and not come clean. I could be persuaded."

In another instance, the Department of Homeland Security accepted an offer from Greece on Sept. 3, 2005, to dispatch two cruise ships that could be used free as hotels or hospitals for displaced residents. The deal was rescinded Sept. 15 after it became clear a ship would not arrive before Oct. 10. The U.S. eventually paid $249 million to use Carnival Cruise Lines vessels.

And while television sets worldwide showed images of New Orleans residents begging to be rescued from rooftops as floodwaters rose, U.S. officials turned down countless offers of allied troops and search-and-rescue teams. The most common responses: "sent letter of thanks" and "will keep offer on hand," the new documents show.

Overall, the United States declined 54 of 77 recorded aid offers from three of its staunchest allies: Canada, Britain and Israel, according to a 40-page State Department table of the offers that had been received as of January 2006.

----------

The biggest gifts were from the United Arab Emirates, $100 million; China and Bahrain, $5 million each; South Korea, $3.8 million; and Taiwan, $2 million.

-------

Kuwait, which made the largest offer, pledged $100 million in cash and $400 million in oil. But the Kuwaitis eventually gave their money to two private groups: $25 million to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, a project of the former presidents, and another $25 million to the American Red Cross in February 2006. They still plan to contribute another $50 million, said the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States, Salem Abdullah al-Jaber al-Sabah.

"It was based on my government's assessment of the fastest way to get money to the people that needed it," he said. "The Red Cross was on the ground and action-oriented."

In the White House's February 2006 Katrina report, U.S. officials said Kuwait's $400 million oil donation was to be sold for cash. Sabah said it was an in-kind pledge made when it appeared that U.S. refining capacity was devastated and that the American public would need fuel.

Most Katrina Aid From Overseas Went Unclaimed - washingtonpost.com

 

[Emma]

You were saying?

Would you look at that, turning away all those doctors from Cuba. Hell, even Iran offered help.

Banglafuckingdesh, for God's sake...