[Travis McGee]

The Caymans are one flying hour from Miami, that's why we should intervene.

If a US cruise ship was sinking one hour from England, I would expect the English to send the first responders, and not dither and debate jurisdictions.

[SAJ]

Trav -- Sir -- I don't have ANY quarrel at all with your view; I intended only to cite the Crown obligations to the Caymans. Can't say I'm terribly surprised that the Crown has once again failed a member of the Commonwealth. Being half-Scots by heritage, as you likely know, you may and should rightly expect a huge amount of scepticism from me about HM gov't living up to ANY expectation and/or obligation, these days.

Broadly speaking, I was wondering just WHAT sort of cock-up HM gov't would pull or has pulled on THIS occasion.

Were I in charge of the gov't of the Caymans, I guarantee you on my life that I should apply to the US for, at minimum, ''protectorate'' status, probably a request likely to be granted given these islands' principal industry, true? (w!)

[dixie sass]

We don't have the man-power to expend. We have the messes in Florida, Alabama and other states and another hurricane named Jeanne heading for east coast with Karl following close behind. We can't even think of helping anyone but the people here in this country.