U.S., Iran Hold Direct Talks on Quake Relief

Reuters ^ | December 27, 2003 | Mark Felsenthal

[Pan_Yans Wife]

U.S. and Iranian officials put aside diplomatic differences to directly discuss humanitarian aid after the earthquake in Iran that claimed tens of thousands of lives, a State Department official said on Saturday.

The United States will send government and civilian emergency workers and 75,000 tons of medical supplies to Iran, the White House said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement that the United States was working with Iranian authorities, the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to quickly send aid to Iran after the devastating earthquake in the city of Bam, where officials estimate the death toll at 20,000.

The U.S. announcement followed rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials, State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said.

"Given the urgency of the situation we deemed direct contact to be the most appropriate channel," Fintor said.

Washington broke relations with the Islamic republic after students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

President Bush, in his 2002 State of the Union speech, branded Iran as part of an "axis of evil." But the president offered condolences to the families of the dead and injured on Friday and promised the United States would provide humanitarian aid.

U.S. officials usually communicate with Tehran through intermediaries, often channeling messages through Swiss diplomats.

But Fintor denied there was diplomatic significance to the direct contacts with Iran.

"There is no political angle. There is a humanitarian catastrophe in Iran and our only mission is to alleviate the human suffering associated with yesterday's earthquake," he said.

Iran's quick acceptance of help contrasts with its rejection in 1990 of outside doctors, workers, blood supplies, sniffer dogs and used clothes after an earthquake claimed 36,000 lives and injured 100,000 people.

The United Sates will send medical response teams from Boston, Los Angeles and Virginia and disaster experts from government agencies, McClellan said. The U.S. military will deliver medical supplies from bases in Kuwait, said the spokesman, who was with Bush at his Texas ranch.

Separately, World Vision, a major U.S.-based humanitarian relief organization, announced it plans to airlift supplies to Iran next week.

World Vision said it would send an airlift of $250,000 worth of supplies including plastic sheeting and water purification tablets and equipment early next week.

[gg188]

We are the great Satan, we---according to liberals---have done more to harm the world than any nation in history and are greedy imperialists using up the world's resources, yadayada...

Then, who do nations turn to when they need help, and who PROVIDES that help whenever it is needed, anywhere in the world, who is always there when natural disasters strike? The USA.

[oceanview]

there was also a humanitarian catastophe in NYC on 9/11, and Iran is likely offering sanctuary to many AQ, maybe even ben laden.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thousands of people in Tehran held a candlelight vigil for the victims of September 11th. The people of Iran are not the same as the regime of Iran. It would be the regime that is offering sanctuary to bin Laden.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Bush said his resolve hadn't changed, when confronting the government of Iran.

But, America always gives to those less fortunate, and the people of Bam will be grateful for any assistance they receive.

[Brainhose]

You are absolutely correct.
There is a real undercurrent of pro-American sentiment especially amongst the youth. I certainly hope that any aid packages are clearly labeled with an American flag and "USA" so that the average "Joe Sixpack" in Iran knows where the aid is coming from.

[Old Sarge]

Arabs and Persians have been traders and merchants since time immemorial. How about we honor their culture and customs?

We send the aid - THEY GIVE US AL QAEDA!

[baltodog]

I'm not about to hold any bad blood against someone who got wiped out by a natural disaster.
These people need help and they need it now.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I like the way you think. :)

[6323cd]

I would prefer:

They give us Al-Qaeda - We send the aid!

[Old Sarge]

Your amendment stands. SO noted.

[gridlock]

Sorry Sarge, but I disagree.

We should be absolutely busting our butts to send as much aid as we possibly can, without preconditions of any kind. This is how one demonstrates goodwill in that part of the world.

The US can be seen as the generous uncle in times of need, and the ferocious enemy when provoked. That is the recipe for respect in the Middle East.

We should be air dropping aid onto Bam, whether the Iranian government wants us to or not! And each and every bag and parcel should be carry the legend, "A Generous Gift From the People of the United States of America".

[rageaholic]

What are the Saudis doing to help? And what about all those "muslim charitable organizations" like Hamas and Islamic Jihad?

[middie]

In friendlier days, late 1961 I recall, there was a tremendous earthquake in Northern Iran. We sent a veritable convoy of cargo aircraft from USAFE resources with every conceivable type of relief aid. Food, medical care, tents, household necessities, field hospitals, rebuilding supplies,electrical transmission equipment and personnel, road building stuff, ad infinitum, were part of the gear we hurried down to Iran with.

Of course the Shah was our buddy and all was right between that country and the U.S.A. I recall there were a few Iranian Air Force officers in my flight school classes in both primary and basic, they graduated and were "winged" with us before returning home.

It is good and inexpensive foreign policy--on a people-to-people level, to exploit latent anti-government sentiment among the local populace by sending immediate aid. Those folks who become the recipients of American aid have relatives all over Iran and the word gets around quickly that the Americans are quick to come to the aid of people; even those with a government with which there is no normal international relations, been branded as a terrorist state, and that has been boycotted by a West led by the U.S.A.

I hope the knee-jerk reactionaries whose first impulse to anything touching upon foreign policy is to demonstrate how harsh and belligerent we can be do not have the Presidental ear in this instance.

[Old Sarge]

Sorry, Grid, but I disagree.

The only thing we should be air-dropping into Iran is the 82nd and the 101st.

I haven't forgotten 52 Americans held for 444 days.

I haven't forgotten

THIS!

The rest of you can throw food, and feel good about yourselves. We've got Jihadis to hunt. And Iran knows where they are.

[August West]

What happened in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia was not a "catastrophe". Don't try to use words, the meaning of which you don't understand.

[Arpege92]

It does me proud to see the United States respond to those who need our help!!!!

[August West]

You're mixing two completely different issues. One is the harboring of terrorists by a terrorist regime. The other is aid to victims of a natural diaster, people who are also victims of the terrorist regime. Helping the victims does not aid, condone, or assist terrorism (other than the mere coincidental). By showing our humanitarian streak, we help advance our agenda. Methinks you're just mean-spirited and would rather see people die than admit that Iranians are humans.

[Syncro]

I posted this on another thread

I believe there is going to be a regime change soon in Iran. Form these pictures it shows how the people feel.

Also Iranians I have talked to here see it coming too.

• Which Muslim Middle East country held spontaneous candlelight vigils after Sept. 11?
  Kuwait? - No.
  Saudi Arabia? - No.
  Iran? - Yes.
  Thousands attend candlelight vigil in Tehran.
  
  Young Iranians show support for victims.
  
  From This Site

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping to 14