Posted on 09/03/2005 7:24:48 AM PDT by kozachka
In an accelerating drive, more than 50 countries have pledged money or other assistance to help Americans recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Cuba and Venezuela have offered to help despite differences with Washington. Oil giant Saudi Arabia and small countries like Sri Lanka and Dominica are among the nations making pledges.
"I hope that will remind Americans that we are all part of the same community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday as offers kept pouring in.
None has been turned down, Rice said at a news conference, disputing a report from Moscow that a Russian offer had been rejected. However, she said some offers were being taken up immediately and others "somewhat later," depending on the needs on the ground.
But Cuban President Fidel Castro said he hoped an offer made Tuesday to send 1,100 Cuban doctors would be accepted "immediately so as not to lose another minute." Castro said in a live broadcast in Havana Friday night that he had just sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. mission in Havana to make the offer a second time.
In her news conference, Rice singled out Sri Lanka for praise for making a contribution even as it struggles to recover from the tsunami and earthquake disaster of last December.
And she said contributions from poor countries were being accepted because "it is very valuable for people being able to give to each other and to be able to do so without a sense of means."
Australia announced a donation of $8 million to the American Red Cross.
"The United States is so often at the forefront of international aid efforts to help less fortunate nations," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said. "So it is only fitting that Australia should contribute to the daunting task of helping the thousands of American citizens whose lives have been thrown into turmoil by this unprecedented disaster."
France, "determined to show its solidarity with the United States," offered a range of aircraft and two ships, with helicopters and planes capable of airlifting tons of supplies, a disaster unit with 20 soldiers, a civil defense detachment of 35 people and an airborne emergency unit, the French Embassy said.
Canada is loading three warships and a coast guard vessel in Halifax with emergency supplies and food, and will dispatch them to Louisiana next Tuesday, Dan McTeague, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, said in an interview.
Up to 1,000 divers, engineers and reconstruction experts will be aboard, McTeague said.
Prime Minister Paul Martin has announced the release of 30,000 barrels of gasoline and oil for U.S. use.
Japan said it would contribute $200,000 to the American Red Cross for its relief operations. Upon request, Japan is prepared to provide up to $300,000 worth of tents, blankets, power generators, portable water tanks and other equipment, the Japanese Embassy said.
The United States historically has aided victims of disasters, but it is not universally recognized as providing the level of aid expected of a rich nation.
In July, President Bush resisted British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ambitious goals for assisting Africa, though Bush took steps to double U.S. aid to more than $8.6 billion by 2010.
The United States, which has the world's largest economy, lags behind other rich nations in the percentage of its giving to nations in Africa, the world's poorest continent.
By Friday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.
I hear Mexico is willing to send a million people who will work for below minimum wage, but they require us to keep them when they are done helping the flood victims.
Mexico can keep their money. If they really wanted to help, they should stop their own citizens from invading our country. Over a million Americans could use the homes and jobs that illegals are currently occupying right now. Just makes my blood boil.
"$200,000"? Why bother? I've never heard of a large nation like Japan giving such a small amount. It's almost not worth the trouble.
For having the second largest economy in the world, that amount is indeed piss-poor. Puff Daddy donated more than twice that amount and he's just one guy!
I wonder what the lefties are thinking when they hear of this aid coming in from the same world that they've claimed "hates us".
What amazed me through all this is seeing thousands of people and no one even had a napsack. You mean you can't grab diapers and baby bottles and water for your kids??
To all the damn people that refused to leave....Thanks...You caused a tremendous slowdown and your mayor and governor and police force are worthless.
HOWEVER, I hope things go better for you since the President as taken control. We wish you well.
God Bless America. Stay Strong!!
But Cuban President Fidel Castro said he hoped an offer made Tuesday to send 1,100 Cuban doctors would be accepted "immediately so as not to lose another minute."
And how many will go back when it's over????
I know they've been through alot,but good grief,they need to get a grip and act like adults.Especially the men.
PLEASE! The Jerry Lewis Telethon will raise more money then these cheap countrys are donating! They get wiped out, we donate billions. We get hit, they give a couple hundred thousand or a few million. With the billions given to them in aid yearly, this is the show from the investment! Time to kill foreign aid!
We shouldn't take a dime of this money. Are we beggars? Are we helpless? Bush should decline all such offers. What is he thinking?
... "I hope that will remind Americans that we are all part of the same community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice...
I hate hearing a CFR member use the word Community.
Because it makes the people of those countries feel good about helping someone in need. Why do we help others? Because they need help no matter how small.
ping
No Ireland?
Do you live in those affected areas. If not shut up.
Poland offered its help as well, but we didn’t got the answer from US administration yet.
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