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."
"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."
This article says DELAYED, NOT WITHDRAWN, there is a difference. Seems maybe stirring up a bash Bush fervor, you know, might advance the cause.
I saw on Fox News that a Jewish RABBI in Israel was ALSO saying that the hurricane was punishment from GOD to the Americans...for whatever reason...
Shocked me...I thought it was just Mullahs, that were that dumb....oh, wait a minute, didn't Falwell and Robertson suggest that 9/11 was because of something BAD we did????
I am NOT taking up for anything Islam or Muslim or however they call themselves...I am just saying that I have been MORE shocked at the "leaders" of other religions outrageous statements, than the Mullahs...
The difference is that the Kuwaiti statement came from a Government Minister, not a Mullah. Also in Kuwait Free Speech does not exist. If someone had said that about the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait they would be in jail or dead.
In the US and Israel, Free Speech means that individuals, even moronic ones (think Cindy Sheehan) can say what they want.
As I recall Rev Falwell recanted and apologized.
I am sorry---didn't realize the Kuwaiti was a govt. representative...
I sure thought that Kuwait was supposed to be moving in a more democratic way...I must admit though, that I haven't been paying as much attention to them as I should.
Thanks for letting be know...
RE: Falwell....I give him more credit and slack than Robertson...Robertson has made some really dumb statements in the last few years...
No problem.
Someone on another thread suggested the Minister was fired but provided no documentation. I looked for a news follow up and found none so I assume he is still a Minister.
The comments were made in Arabic. Often they get under the Western radar that way.
what dealing with China? They were vetoed from allowing to go ahead with a deal with China-imagine Israel telling US -I'm sorry you can't deal with Iran(which we do ) or Saudi Arabia(which we do)????????????
America has created a chutzpah like not to be believed.
Sharon just cancelled a committment from building in Jerusalem area because US doesn't like it-huh!
I didn't know that, but sadly I have no trouble at all believing it. I would like to think that Reagan was not personally aware of it but wouldn't be all that shocked to learn otherwise. Politicians are capable of anything.
I also think the west has learned nothing, and have posted many times that they probably won't until 100,000s it not 1,000,000s die in a terror attack. It's going to take that for a wakeup call on the War on Islamofascists.
I wonder if they got calls from Qatar, Kuwait, and other big dollar Arab donors saying the deal's off if Israel is in there too.
This was a Ronald Reagan administration. Could it be that the US administration of the time feared for the troops' safety from terrorist attack if kept in an Israeli hospital -- not to mention the collateral damage that Israelis in that hospital would suffer in the event of such an attack on the hospital.
So a Ronald Reagan administration (as you mention that again I assume it is important to your suggestion somehow) thought that terrorists would never think of hitting an Israeli hospital under ordinary circumstances, but the presence of Americans receiving short term care there would make it a target? Not only a target, but one likely to be sucessfully hit. In essence a softer target than one in Germany. Better to let 7 die in transport to Germany.
I'm sorry, and don't want to make this personal but I find that completely absurd.
You're right, they could ask again.
And bashing Bush to get aid for Israel, that's just what freepers do.
,/i. Thank The LORD Israel isn't and won't be alone. The LORD is with Israel and the LORD is all that she will need.
Thank The LORD Israel isn't and won't be alone. The LORD is with Israel and the LORD is all that she will need.
Sorry, I do not believe in any GOD ....
Sorry, I do no believe in any GOD. However, I worked with some Israeli colleagues for over two years on some complex projects. I found them honest, dependable and are scintillatingly smart.
It just amazed me...their friendship and their willingness to go an extra mile to help our whole team on some most critical issues...and yet they were humble!!! I think there is definitely something special about these people.
This makes me want to puke. Now I really think George Bush and Condolezza Rice are the worst appeasers that have ever topped our government. Absolutely disgraceful!
While we are being threatened in our homes by those same Muslim and Arabs--Bush and Rice appease! They are worse than Neville Chamberlain who was fooled by an apparently civilized, Western thug. Our President and his PhD chief diplomate don't want to offend declared barbarians!? A PhD! What did she learn in her high-classed education??? Certainly not principles.
Quite different from the official Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Israeli+aid+to+Hurricane+Katrina+victims+5-Sep-2005.htm
Israeli Corporate Community Donates as well.
http://www.port2port.com/Index.asp?CategoryID=46&ArticleID=580
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