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."
I think in the end democratic Israel will have to fight their fight all alone since our government is too busy not trying to offend dictatorial Islamic regimes....ahem, while we are spreading democracy by the way!!!
WHAT????????????????
I think every politician in DC has lost their ever loving minds!
Something must be sucking their brains out as they enter the airspace over DC. They aren't "normal" that's for sure.
This is a weird situation if the article is correct.
I'm wondering if I live in the same universe as I did a few short years ago. Nothing and nobody makes sense anymore. They won't allow an Israeli flag or help from our only real friends in the middle east and they make the Flight 93 memorial in the shape of a red crescent. What are they smoking in DC?
Absolutely.
This is insane. If true. I just lost every bit of respect I had for Condi and Karen Hughes.
One of the very few TRUE allies we have in this world, and they are "dissed" to suck up to countries that would just as soon kill us all if they didn't need our money, expertise and protection so much.
Can some charismatic, truely conservative, honest and wise leader come forward and start a new party that has a snowball's chance in he.. of succeeding?
This makes me as angry and sick to my stomach as anything I've seen this last 10 days.
"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."
Should be the first paragraph.
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I understand velocityguy.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Karen Hughes et.al seems to be far far away from reality. I think they neeed to watch a couple of videos on how Islamic terrorists, funded by the islamic regimes, behead infidels while shouting "Allahu Akhbar"....
I think in the last few years, some where down the road we lost our resolve and sanity tp stand for the truth.....
I am getting sick of this bending over backwards as of late kissing the tails of these camel breeders. This "reach out and touch someone" touchy feely crapola is making me ill. Bombs away, everywhere except Israel and Iraq (terrorists only) I say.
So... what's Ophelia gonna do?
Not until we have runoff elections and a legal requirement that you have to have 50+ percent of the vote to win an election.
Madness.....MADNESS!!!!
Bush mentioned Israel just today, I am so tired of the media lies.
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