Posted on 08/31/2005 9:31:37 PM PDT by naturalman1975
PRIME Minister John Howard has sent a personal message of sympathy to US President George W. Bush in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
My Howard said today Australia was "looking at ways of providing assistance" after Katrina slammed into US Gulf states this week killing possibly thousands of people and wreaking widespread damage.
Mr Howard said in Longford in northern Tasmania that the damage from Katrina had been "horrific".
"I have sent a personal message of sympathy to President Bush, but I want publicly to express on behalf of all Australians our sense of concern and our feelings for the people who have lost so much and have been affected by this terrible natural disaster," he said.
God Bless our true friend PM John Howard
Prime Minister John Howard is a class act. I understand that Germany has also offered help, but do you know of others?
OK, that's great, but where is the UN? Isn't this their specialty??
A couple of days ago it was reported that Koizumi of Japan had offered to release oil from their strategic reserves to help lower prices on the world market and ease fears of a shortage.
Don't know if that was just a rumor or what...never heard any more.
I know Canada has, and New Zealand is interested in helping with any Australian assistance (it's a lot easier for New Zealand to piggyback on to what we are doing than work entirely on their own).
"Canada has offered help".
...and we mean it sincerely. The top news here is the same news in the US, and it is just as hard to watch the devastation without emotion. Just like after 9/11, the Canadian government and people want to help in some way. I hope there is something we can do, in terms of rescue teams or increasing oil/gas exports, or something else.
If Japan offered that, that is something. They import 95% of their oil.
The bond between the US and Japan has really become quite close in the last 20 years.
Thank you Australia and John Howard...True friends!
Not many offering to help, but Bush was chastized for not coming across with a huge $$$$ figure right after the tsunami! Go figure~~~!!
Thank you John Howard.
I hear my motherland of Italia will be sending some cannolis and some cookies. :-)
I'm delighted that we do have friends who have offered to help. I'm especially pleased that the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue group from British Columbia is coming. My Canadian friends were hurt when their offer to help at the World Trade Center was turned down by FEMA. The electricians from Manitoba should really be of value, too.
Post #4 has a link to a great article about how Canada is mobilizing its disaster-relief resources and offering assistance, including "Heavy Urban Search & Rescue." A dreadful job, that, but one which I fear will be very necessary. Also, its Red Cross and faith-based communities are organizing to send help, as well. Thank you, Canada.
John Howard is a good friend of America.
A good and useful gesture on the part of Mr. Howard. A good friend.
The truth is, there is likely precious little that can be done by foreign governments that isn't already underway there. But: if it turns out that there is some good allied forces nearby that could render some assistance... I think we should accept the gesture.
fyi
very nice of him
and the people of Oz
A BIG thank you to Forces Canada for that. There is a big ugly job to do... and everything helps.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.