Where Is the Aid From the International "Community?"

September 1, 2005 | Self

[sweetliberty]

Admittedly I haven't been sitting glued to the TV news all day every day throughout this catastrophe, and perhaps this has already been addressed. It is also possible that there are things going on that I've missed, but I have this nagging question on my mind.

Where are all the countries we've helped when there has been a need? Who has rushed to give us aid in the form of money and supplies and manpower. Where are all these leaders who are the first to put their hands out when their countries are in trouble? Where are all the "spiritual" leaders offering prayers for our losses? I know we do not give in order to receive, but is it unreasonable to believe that there would at least be some who would remember the generosity our nation has showed toward them?

[vikk]

A friend of mine who's spent a lot of time in France explained it to me to the extent of "Sure, the French hate Americans, but you should see how much the French hate the French." Or something like that. They're a querelous lot.

[sweetliberty]

[Borax Queen]

LOL! Show us the money!

[knittnmom]

Just read the daily update from Taranto, who reports that Germany has offered - repeatedly - technical assistance and has spoken to Secretary Rice affirming their willingness to help.

Australia has also offered help.

Saudi Arabia has offered to increase their oil production, though, I think I would too at over $70 per barrel! :-)

[msf92497]

Chavez' offer is self-serving.

[Darksheare]

I know.
And, unfortunate.

[Budge]

Simple, SW. They're waiting for the U.S. to give them the money so they can loan a penny on the dollar back.

[stefan10]

We europeans have no problem with the french why should we.

I spent most of my live near the french border and have a lot of french friends. It is a very beautiful country with beautiful and friendly people and a lot of very different regions. The language is a little hard to learn but not so difficult as the german language.

In the relationship between France and germany after the WWII was most of the time very good but also has it´s difficulties. The relationship between the people is getting better with every generation in my view but that might be a personal impression from someone having close ties to france compared to people growing up in other parts of germany.
my father is american and has no problems with the french (perhaps he knows too many of them).


In terms of international help. Germany offers help quite at the start but received no concrete answer until yet. The US ambassador Mr. Timkin said two days ago that the US will accept aid from germany but they do not know what they need until now.

BERLIN - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday that Germany had "an historic duty" to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina on the southern U.S. Gulf Coast.

Schroeder told a hastily arranged news conference he has offered to send medical evacuation jets to the U.S. and to airlift field hospitals, water purification systems, vaccines and portable shelters to the disaster area.

"It is our historic duty not just because of help we got from the U.S. after the war ...," said the Chancellor.

Schroeder also announced he would allow part of Germany's strategic oil reserves to be released to the market to make up for lost production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Now they sent a team from the THW to the US to figure out what the US might need.
By the way your new ambassador made not a very good figure. There could be a lot of german help even today if someone would ask and give a clear comment.
Looking at these pictures is unbelievable and everybody feels with these people that have to suffer and lost everything. Even the french will do that because it is human to feel with these people and to help.