Posted on 09/02/2005 1:34:49 AM PDT by ChristianDefender
Do you want to know what the definition of ungrateful is? It is being clearly spelled out for us in the world's response – or rather, its lack of response – to the carnage wrought by Hurricane Katrina earlier this week.
Though much of the U.S. Gulf Coast, including a healthy portion of our oil and gas production and refining capability – 30 percent of which resides in the Gulf of Mexico region – lies in ruins; though tens of billions of dollars in damage has been done; though hundreds of American citizens have been killed; though millions could be without power for up to a month; offers of international aid and assistance to help us get back on our feet are not exactly pouring in.
As of this writing, I've seen exactly two offers of assistance. The first comes from Venezuela, whose left-wing leader, President Hugo Chavez, is simply pulling a public-relations stunt and using our misfortune to jab a stick in the eye of the Bush administration, which opposes his anti-U.S. regime.
The second comes from Ontario, Canada. Yes, that's right – just that lone province, not the whole of the Canadian central government.
Excuse me if I don't exactly get misty-eyed from all of this generosity.
Meanwhile, as our rescue teams, military, and emergency management agencies work to save lives and restore some semblance of order and sanity to the stricken areas, the cost estimates for physical damages (the cost in human lives can never be measured) is in the scores of billions of dollars. One estimate puts the estimated price tag of Katrina in insurance claims alone at around $25 billion.
These figures are paltry to a country with a $10 trillion economy, but let's look at the bigger picture: It's the thought that counts, and right now it sure doesn't look like our "friends" and "allies" are giving our problems much thought. Truth be told, some of our buddies are probably even laughing about our misfortune, in a sneering "you-got-what-you-deserved" kind of way.
Yet, even as our own people suffer, die and otherwise watch their lives and dreams wash away before their eyes, our leaders are giving away taxpayer dollars to help other countries at present.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the United States spent a record $18.7 billion on foreign aid in 2003 – a figure which has risen substantially since President Bush took first took office in January 2001. That figure alone would take a huge chunk out of the price tag for Katrina.
We also spend billions more dollars abroad to help others deal with everything from AIDS prevention to stamping out anti-government militias. And let's not forget that little $1 billion donation to help the Asian tsunami victims earlier this year. Aren't we the thoughtful ones?
But it's always this way, isn't it? I mean, haven't the professional and collegiate sports clubs said it best when they reminded us this week, as they ramped up relief efforts and dug into their own pockets, that it is the American way to be generous to a fault when our neighbors are down and out?
That simply means, of course, when the chips are down we Americans know who to count on in a crisis: ourselves.
So to the rest of the world – you ungrateful leeches – I say this: When we decide "unilaterally" to defend ourselves the next time we're attacked; when we next opt to "unilaterally" battle a global evil like terrorism because no one else can or will; when we act "unilaterally" to insist global organizations like the United Nations clean up its act; now you know why. We're used to going it alone.
And one final note: Don't call us ... we'll call you.
Well, I for one would like to thank any country who is willing to help.
Thank you Australia!
Thank you Great Britain!
As far as finger pointing, well considering the enormity of what happened, I can't fault anying or anyone, shit is going to happen and nobody can ever predict how deep its going to be.
I think rescue efforts and mobilization of help is going extremely well and will improve as time goes on. We are only being allowed to see the absolute worst, there are pobably behind the scenes activities taking place that would boggle our minds.
The biggest roadblock in all of this are the people who have regressed to savages, I don't think anybody could have forseen that.
I had to laugh at some politician who was complaining that nothing was being done while the levees were being breached. Its kind of hard to buttress those darn things when the wind is blowing 165 miles an hour.
This time?
It is annoying isn't it.
And it is not just complaining about our allies. Some are gripping about some of our corporate donors as well. They should have done more and sooner and so forth.
Some people just like to gripe. They would complain if they were hung with new rope.
Sounds like I touched a nerve. Some people can't even consider criticism, never mind accept it. Grateful or ungrateful doesn't apply, btw, I am not an American.
Hey, is it great that they at least gave something, and like another poster said probably the Americans need search personnel, mobile hospitals, etc., more than money. It's also disgraceful that 'good friends' like the Saudis didn't offer a billion the first day. That doesn't change the fact, though, that 10 million from a government isn't very much.
I don't think it's very much different from finding a wallet on the street, returning it, and then complaining that you didn't get a reward.
ok, perhaps the grateful iriaqi people might wish to sell a few million barrels on the open market and send the cash to US?
Just realize that WND is basically the journalistic equivalent of a conspiracy blog run by a 40 year old man living in his mother's basement. It's a shame anyone takes anything they write seriously.
How did you misss the threads mentioning the foreign countries that were sending prayers and donations? There were a number of them, countries and threads, around here yesterday. And most of us were thankful for the offerings.
I wasn't sneering at the kindness of others, I was just pointing out how inadequate it was. Certainly the Aussie gift is welcomed and appreciated, but it is only 0.01% of what we need. It would be nice if the rest of the world could come up with al least $1 billion in aid, which is about what the US sent to tsunami relief alone.
If you want a meaningless feel good gesture on the other hand then they could promise to send an entire pre-fab city to be set down tomorrow.
Both are quite impossible at the moment.
European countries were on Thursday preparing to release emergency stockpiles of petrol as the US confirmed that some refineries hit by Hurricane Katrina would remain shut for several months.
Earlier US officials had estimated the closures at only one to two weeks.
Officials from member governments of the International Energy Agency, the energy watchdog of industrialised countries, said they were now waiting only for the US to agree to such a measure.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/baac872c-1b0c-11da-a117-00000e2511c8,_i_rssPage=80fdaff6-cbe5-11d7-81c6-0820abe49a01.html
I realize that irony is hard for you to grasp, but the point here is not that there is any expected generosity from iraq, only that the American people have ponied up $300 Billion (plus interest) to do some nation building in a country that sits on the second largest deposit of oil in the world.
Meanwhile Americans suffer.
Did you know that the US government has pledged over $1 Trillion in tsunami aid and private US citizens have already provided well over $1 Trillion in additional money? Did you know the US accounts for about 40% of all relief aid worldwide? I am not belittling those who have stepped up and down something, but there are many more who have not.
By the way, has the UN offered help?
That should be billions, not trillions.
What's a t or b between friends?
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