The U.S and the wrold

**Papewaio** · 09-01-2005, 04:45

PRIME Minister John Howard has sent a personal message of sympathy to US President George W. Bush in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

I'm sure there are many more countries offering their sympathy.

**Productivity** · 09-01-2005, 06:32

Originally Posted by Papewaio

I'm sure there are many more countries offering their sympathy.

Was about to post that myself - Really Proletariat, you should know that if you are going to make such an inflamatory statement such as "everyone else, thanks for nothing" to put a caveat on it that if you miss anyone you don't mean to offend them. Unqualified blanket statemetns are an easy way to lose friends.

**Aurelian** · 09-01-2005, 14:07

This thread was at least a day too early. Just before going to bed last night, the local news here was running down offers of aid from a number of other countries. This morning, we have the following stories:

Canada Ready to Help
Germany says ready to help U.S. with Katrina
France May Mobilize Relief from Caribbean

I'm sure that quite a few other countries will be offering relief. Those were just the ones I thought of and Google-searched.

It's too early to be criticizing other countries for not providing aid when we also have this story:

Washington Prepares Aid Package for Katrina

Since our own country is just getting relief efforts together, you can't really blast others for not having done anything yet.

**Proletariat** · 09-01-2005, 14:25

Since that was undoubtedly aimed at me, I'd like to point out that I prematurely ripped the Fed, too.

**Aurelian** · 09-01-2005, 14:35

No, that wasn't aimed at you. I was just pointing out that the thread is a little early. Most of the stories about aid from other countries are just starting to pop up, and they all mention that they're waiting on, or working with, the Feds to see what is needed.

**Aenlic** · 09-01-2005, 15:08

Timing has a lot to do with things as well. While not entirely accurate, the old law of threes is still a decent guildeline. A human can survive (on average) 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without warmth, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. We're hitting the 3 days limit right now. People are going to begin dying now as a result of lack of fresh water; or else they'll succumb to temptation and drink contaminated water and end up the victim of poisoning or disease.

In light of the above, there isn't much that foreign aid can do in this situation. Even the ships leaving Norfolk (the Iwo Jima and a couple of amphibious dock ships) and Baltimore (the hospital ship Comfort) won't reach the area in time to mitigate the fresh water crisis. Foreign aid might help later in the process, when more access to affected areas is available; but by then the U.S. has the resources necessary to do the same job quicker on its own. I think it will merely be a situation of the U.S. not asking for additional aid; because it doesn't need the aid. They'll most certainly still offer the aid, however.

Those who are making claims of "we helped them, but they won't help us" are just engaging in typical American arrogance, chest-thumping and melodrama. It isn't in the least bit true.

**Slyspy** · 09-01-2005, 19:47

I rather suspect that most countries and agencies will wait to be asked in this case. Firstly the wealth and resources of the USA should be able to deal with all but the most technical aspects. Secondly there was much criticism after the tsunami that aid was disorganised, poorly selected and badly distributed. This was mainly due to the lack of aformentioned cash, resources and infrastructure in the stricken countries but also due to their lack of a suitably organised central authority to coordinate the relief efforts.

**Don Corleone** · 09-01-2005, 19:56

Originally Posted by Aenlic

Those who are making claims of "we helped them, but they won't help us" are just engaging in typical American arrogance, chest-thumping and melodrama. It isn't in the least bit true.

That's a bit harsh. I think what SftS was trying to say was there was a tone of sympathy for victims of other disasters that seems to be lacking here. I disagree with his views, as it would seem from the backroom alone, those without sympathy are a distinct minority. But when something is that offensive, it carries a lot more volume than the simple of number of voices would indicate.

That being said, yes, I totally agree. There's really nothing anybody can do that isn't already being done. Well, one exception. I would give those additional national guard units 'shoot to kill' orders for whoever these snipers are that are shooting at evacuation/rescue parties. Am I the only one that's beginning to suspect these snipers aren't locals?