Posted on 09/10/2005 12:58:54 AM PDT by velocityguy
State Dept. drops Israel from Hurricane relief credits
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Friday, September 9, 2005
The United States has avoided any mention of Israeli participation in the international aid effort for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In a briefing on Sept. 6, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack focused on Arab offers of assistance to the United States.
"We also have received several large, very large, donations from Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates," McCormack said. "We have also seen donations made to the Red Cross from Australia, China, India, Ireland, Japan, Maldives, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen."
Officials said more than 90 countries and organizations have offered nearly $1 billion in assistance to Katrina victims. They cited helicopters from Canada, Russia and Singapore as well as ready-to-eat meals from Britain, Germany, Italy and Mexico. Bahrain has offered $5 million, a decision that sparked a storm in parliament.
Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also thanked donors for the Katrina relief effort. Ms. Rice cited offers of assistance from numerous countries, including China and France. She did not mention Israel.
Officials acknowledged that Israel was one of the first countries to offer to send military and civilian teams to New Orleans. But they said the administration, which has highlighted offers of aid from Islamic governments as well as American Arab and Muslim groups, asked Israel to postpone sending aid until a later stage.
The new Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes has been tasked with the presenting an image of a benign America sensitive to the Arab and Muslim world, U.S. officials said.
"She's been an active participant in policy discussions here at the department," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Sept. 1. "The secretary has made very clear that she wants Karen to be deeply involved in policy matters in order to provide an integration with communications and public diplomacy."
In three briefings over the last four days, senior State Department officials made no mention of Israel's offer to help Katrina victims. The last briefing was on Wednesday by State Department executive secretary Harry Thomas, who reported offers from Britain, Germany and Russia.
But on late Wednesday, the State Department issued a report that cited Israeli aid to Katrina victims. The report said Israel has sent tents, first aid kits and baby formula to the United States.
"Russia, China, Spain and Israel sent planes loaded with MREs [meals-ready-to-eat], relief supplies, tents, water purification units, kitchen units and medical supplies," the report said.
The administration's response was said to have alarmed Israeli diplomats, concerned that their country was being marginalized in U.S. foreign policy. Officials said the Bush administration, preoccupied by Katrina, has delayed meetings to discuss Israel's request for $2.2 billion in military and civilian assistance in connection with the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. The administration has asked Congress for another $51.8 billion for recovery efforts.
"The Secretary [of State Condoleezza Rice] has instructed ambassadors and chiefs of mission to speak to the foreign governments at the highest level," Thomas said, "to go back in to them, thank them for their offers, tell them yes, we want your offer today or [b] we're still evaluating your offer and [c] yes, we may take your offer later as these needs become greater but we want other things."
An Israeli military delegation has postponed its departure to the United States until Thursday. A military statement said the delegation, carrying humanitarian and medical aid from Israel to New Orleans, would also include Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry.
"The delegation will transport aid equipment including 80 tons of food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional equipment which were donated from different governmental institutions, civilian institutions and the IDF," the statement said. "The contents of the shipment were chosen in accordance with the U.S. government."
Officials said the Bush administration delayed accepting Israel's immediate offer to help the hurricane victims. They said the administration was concerned that such a move would deter Arab and Islamic countries from offering assistance.
"At one point, the administration signaled that it would accept Israeli help, but preferred that it be as part of a mission organized by the American Jewish community," an official said. "There appeared to a problem with having the Israeli flag in a foreign rescue mission in the United States."
Seems as though our Military is making some headway, putting their life and limb on the line.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1481768/posts
President Bush did not ignore anybody.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481855/posts
Officials acknowledged that Israel was one of the first countries to offer to send military and civilian teams to New Orleans. But they said the administration, which has highlighted offers of aid from Islamic governments as well as American Arab and Muslim groups, asked Israel to postpone sending aid until a later stage. The new Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes has been tasked with the presenting an image of a benign America sensitive to the Arab and Muslim world, U.S. officials said.
"The Secretary [of State Condoleezza Rice] has instructed ambassadors and chiefs of mission to speak to the foreign governments at the highest level," Thomas said, "to go back in to them, thank them for their offers, tell them yes, we want your offer today or [b] we're still evaluating your offer and [c] yes, we may take your offer later as these needs become greater but we want other things."
Ugh. Just plain ugh.
why all the crying over a trivial mistake.
What trivial mistake? Obviously you missed the point!
Can't believe what I'm reading! Get's more and more unreal everyday!
But the US State Department had no trouble accepting publicly a $500 million "gift" from Kuwait despite this statement from a Kuwaiti Government Official:
........................
"Kuwaiti Official: Katrina is a Wind of Torment and Evil from Allah Sent to This American Empire"
'snip'
"When the satellite channels reported on the scope of the terrifying destruction in America [caused by] this wind, I was reminded of the words of [Prophet Muhammad]: 'The wind sends torment to one group of people, and sends mercy to others.' I do not think – and only Allah [really] knows – that this wind, which completely wiped out American cities in these days, is a wind of mercy and blessing. It is almost certain that this is a wind of torment and evil that Allah has sent to this American empire. Out of my absolute belief in the truth of the words of the Prophet Muhammad, this wind is the fruit of the planning [of Allah], as is stated in the text of the Hadith of the Prophet.
"But I began to ask myself: Doesn't this country [the U.S.] claim to aspire to establish justice, freedom, and equality amongst the people? Isn't this country claiming that everything it did in Afghanistan and Iraq was for truth and justice? How can it be that these American claims are untrue, when we see how good prevails in the streets of Afghanistan, and how it became an oasis of security with America's entrance there? How can these American claims in the matter of Iraq be untrue, when we see that Iraq has become the most tranquil and secure country in the world?
"But how strange it is that after all the tremendous American achievements for the sake of humanity, these mighty winds come and evilly rip [America's] cities to shreds? Have the storms have joined the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization?"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1475236/posts
Beware of Arabs bearing gifts.
ZAKA is also at the scene performing search and recovery, the same as they were at the Trade Center (and the Shuttle crash), but for "politically correct" purposes they are part of the American HATZOLAH organization.
FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Israel is being given short shrift by foggy bottom because of its dealings with China mainly, but i'm sure it's also owing to the administration's attempt to work with the Arab oil producers in increasing output.
We noticed that omission immediately. How disgusting that our government would snub a friend in favor of those who would like to see us dead?
It's called appeasement. We all know how well that works. /sarcasm
How many people still think Condi Rice is Hal Lindsay with breasts and a tan?
Well I won't argue about the spineless and unprincipled actions of state department functionaries, but if you read up on the Israeli-Chinese-US dealings you will see that this has been a running feud for about a year now. Israel's sale of drones and committment to supply parts for 10 years has earned it the ire of many in State because of the threat of escalating the issue of Taiwan.
With Israel withdrawing from Gaza and a future that looks likely to withdraw from about 90% of the West Bank, you'd think the USA would be a little more supportive as this can only help the Administration in cooling tensions on the Arab street. The administration can claim credit not only for being the first to call for a Palestinian state, but to actually push and prod Israel into unprecedented concessions (even though, ironically, the idea of withdrawal came from Sharon and took months to convince the Bush administration to go along with it).
Over a decade ago there was a big brew-ha-ha over Israel's attempt to sell reconnaissance equipment to China. The US scuttled the deal and broke Israel-Chinese relations. It took a long time for Israel to rebuild relations and for the Chinese to realize the US's importance to Israel. This time, I don't know that Israel will easily cave and as a result State has been giving IDF cold shoulder. They no longer share intel like they used to, and military co-operation has come to a near standstill. For Israel, I gather it's important for them to reach beyond the United States and foster good relations elsewhere, especially with China and India and the EU - all potentially big trading partners. China, realizing the importance of US relations to Israel, has the opportunity to supplant some of Israel's reliance on the US. Israel can and should wean itself off American aid and knows it... and this is why State is having conniptions. The US will lose a lot of its influence over Israel after the creation of a Palestinian state and stronger ties with India, China and the EU. It doesn't like losing influence at all, and certainly not to Israel, and certainly not if that risks its plans for Taiwan, relations with China and in the middle east. It's bound to retaliate diplomatically though I'd suggest the Administration is bungling its opportunity to exploit progress on the Palestinian issue. Perhaps its pre-occupied with Iraq and Iran, but it should be claiming a lot of credit, but isn't (yet).
Typical State depatment attitude. Rice has changed nothing there.
A senseless approach ultimately doomed to fail, perhaps in an explosive way.
The general populace is never diplomatic and the overwhelming attitude toward muslim states is the world is better off without them.
"Taking arms against a sea of troubles", with or without the federal government involved, is only a matter of time...
And always; always, the enemy of our enemy is our friend.
The mullahs told those infidels who cooperate with them "We'll kill you last". Tomorrow is the fouth anniversary of the Arab terrorist attack on America. Are we living in "The Twilight Zone"?
The ultimate rage-inducing irony is that if the Flight 93 memorial had been in the form of a cross, to symbolize our Christian roots, every pervert in the country would be out demonstrating and destroying property...
What a tragedy. Tomorrow is Sep 11 where 3000 of our fellow men and women died in the murders committed by Jihad and we are concerned about offending these Jihadists.....and their Jihadi countries.
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