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  1. #1
    Senior Member Mamie's Avatar
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    Shameful: Only 25 Nations Offer Help to the U.S.

    Shameful: Only 25 Nations Offer Help to the U.S.
    Stewart Stogel, NewsMax.com
    Friday, Sept. 2, 2005


    When the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated many nations across Asia in December, the United States rushed to the aid of victims by pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance – just as it has offered aid whenever a natural disaster strikes in another country.


    Now the U.S. is facing a catastrophe of its own from Hurricane Katrina.


    Though the U.N.'s own top official for disaster relief has called Katrina one of "the largest, most destructive natural disasters ever," shamefully only a handful of nations – at last count just 25 nations of the 191 countries in the United Nations – have come forward to offer assistance.

    And almost none have offered what America has so often provided: money.

    And the aid so far offered by foreign nations amounts to a drop in the bucket considering the anticipated multi-billion-dollar cost of dealing with the immediate crisis and the reconstruction to follow.

    President Bush has urged Americans to send cash donations to private relief organizations rather than in-kind contributions such as clothing and food.

    The same could be applied to foreign nations, most of which have been on the receiving end of massive financial assistance from then U.S. over the years.

    President Bush told ABC-TV Thursday morning: "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.

    "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."

    Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided that "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

    The American ‘Tsunami'

    The offers of assistance so far pale in comparison to the aid pledged by the U.S. for tsunami relief, including $346 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Defense Department for their relief efforts, $339 million for reconstruction and $168 million to help victims with food, shelter, housing and education.

    In addition, a private fund-raising campaign led by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton brought in more than $1 billion for tsunami victims.

    In fact, at least one-third of American households have donated money to an aid group in tsunami-hit nations.

    Now the U.S. is trying to deal with the "American tsunami."

    U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan acknowledged the extent of the disaster, saying through a spokesman: "The damage is far worse than any of us imagined at first. The American people – who have always been the most generous in responding to disasters in other parts of the world – have now themselves suffered a grievous blow."

    But he went on to add: "Of course the United States is also the country in the world best prepared to cope with such a disaster."

    While Annan has not spoken directly with President Bush, he did meet with America's U.N. ambassador John Bolton to convey the U.N.'s readiness to help.

    While it is true that America indeed is a wealthy nation, a sentiment of help and support would be appropriate and courteous. Apparently, most nations do not believe in courtesy.

    Of the nations that have offered assistance to the U.S., few have offered money. China, for example, presented $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

    Russia has offered boats and aircraft. On Wednesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin offered to send a group of military special forces specializing in search and rescue to the region. That offer was rejected by the State Department.

    Japan has promised tents, blankets and generators. Even France offered a fire brigade.

    Germany is willing to provide communications equipment. Israel, which receives $2.2 billion in U.S. aid each year, has offered to send doctors, nurses, technicians and other experts in dealing with natural disasters, as well as field hospitals and medical kits.

    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the U.S., made a mocking offer to send cheap fuel and relief workers to the stricken area.

    At about the same time he used the disaster as an opportunity to attack President Bush, calling him a "cowboy" who failed to manage the disaster.

    Other nations that have offered some form of aid include Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Honduras, the UK, Greece, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

    "They're the most powerful, wealthiest country in the world, but when something like this strikes, the poor and the vulnerable are the same all around the world," said Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

    Ingratitude

    One nation not on the list is oil-rich Kuwait, which owes its very existence to America's liberation effort following Iraq's invasion.

    In fact, a high-ranking Kuwaiti official has said Hurricane Katrina was sent by Allah, adding that "disaster will keep striking the unbelievers."

    No matter how much foreign aid does arrive in the U.S., it's clear that America will have to shoulder almost all the financial burden in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

    The size of that burden became clear when President Bush asked Congress for an initial appropriation of $10 billion. Officials say the total cost of dealing with the reconstruction will be as high as $50 billion.

    Meanwhile, the U.S. could find itself with a new security nightmare.

    As the Pentagon prepares to send as many as 50,000 troops to the disaster region, the White House must also find the manpower for the U.N.'s special summit, due to convene in New York on September 12.

    More than 150 heads of state are expected to attend.

    One topic slated for discussion is progress in relief for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

    Said one U.N. official: "Now we have something new to add to the agenda."

    In addition to Katrina, one topic the U.N. might include on their agenda: ingratitude.

    Nations That Have Offered Katrina Hurricane Aid:

    Russia
    Japan
    Canada
    France
    Honduras
    Germany
    Venezuela
    Jamaica
    Australia
    UK/Northern Ireland
    Netherlands
    Switzerland
    Greece
    Hungary
    Colombia
    Dominican Republic
    El Salvador
    Mexico
    China
    South Korea
    Israel
    United Arab Emirates
    Taiwan
    Sri Lanka
    Singapore

    . . .

    I knew Chavez would offer fuel

    http://www.newsmax.com/archives/arti...038.shtml?et=y
    "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it" George Santayana "Deo Vindice"

  2. #2
    Senior Member Brian503a's Avatar
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    Was Mexico pledging financial aid, or were they planning on sending another million illegals across the border for work?
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  3. #3
    Senior Member Scubayons's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian503a
    Was Mexico pledging financial aid, or were they planning on sending another million illegals across the border for work?
    Brain, you said it before i could. That was what i was thinking, myself. Or maybe they are going to give back all the millions of Dollars Our government has giving them in the past year. I doubt that, they wouldn't give the money back.
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    You can not be loyal to two nations, without being unfaithful to one. Scubayons 02/07/06

  4. #4
    Senior Member Brian503a's Avatar
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    Mexico giving anything is a joke. The only concern they have is losing all the money they get out of the United States one way or another. If they do send any aid it will probably go toward helping the illegals that are in the United States. However, they will probably demand our government take care of them.
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    Mexico can stuff it. I hate the fact that if it was them that was suffering, we'd be demonized for not doing enough no matter what we did. Russia will jump at the chance to send the Speznatz (look it up) in, especially since their hot off that exercise with China that was devised to fight "U.S. imperialism". Then there's this:

    [/quote]Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the U.S., made a mocking offer to send cheap fuel and relief workers to the stricken area.

    Tell him that Pat Robertson is going to be waiting in New Orleans for him and watch him run like a roach when the lights go on.

    But it's this that really burns me up:
    One nation not on the list is oil-rich Kuwait, which owes its very existence to America's liberation effort following Iraq's invasion.

    In fact, a high-ranking Kuwaiti official has said Hurricane Katrina was sent by Allah, adding that "disaster will keep striking the unbelievers."


    I put my life on the line for these Kuwaitis, most of whom have never had to work a day in their lives thanks to their oil rich families. It's a good thing that G.W.B. 41 didn't think that in 1990, Hadji! You ingrateful %$&*

    I SAY TO HELL WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD! WE DON'T NEED THE HELP OF THESE THIRD WORLD IDIOTS! WE'VE BEEN HELPING THEM OUT FOR YEARS AND THEY STILL DON'T GET IT! SEAL THE BORDERS, WITHDRAW FROM THE U.N. AND MOVE IT TO PARIS, AND THE HELL WITH THEM ALL! LET CHINA HAVE THEM! THEY'RE USELESS ANYWAY!

  6. #6

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    Oh, but I forgot about the venerable Jamaican Air Force. We need them!

  7. #7
    Senior Member Brian503a's Avatar
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    I also noticed Kuwait not being on the list. After we got their country back for them you would think they would show some gratitude.
    Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at http://eepurl.com/cktGTn

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