Posted on 09/12/2005 2:37:35 PM PDT by lizol
German Plane With Katrina Aid Turned Back
By CLAUDIA KEMMER, Associated Press Writer Sat Sep 10,11:18 AM ET
BERLIN - A German military plane carrying 15 tons of military rations for survivors of Hurricane Katrina was sent back by U.S. authorities, officials said Saturday.
The plane was turned away Thursday because it did not have the required authorization, a German government spokesman said.
The spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, declined to comment on a report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel that U.S. authorities refused the delivery on the grounds that the NATO military rations could carry mad cow disease.
The spokesman said U.S. authorities had since given approval for future aid flights, but it was unclear whether the German military would try again to deliver the rations.
Since Hurricane Katrina struck the United States, many international donors have complained of frustration that bureaucratic entanglements have hindered shipments to the United States.
A U.S. Embassy official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name, blamed the German flight's rejection on temporary technical and logistical problems that have accompanied recovery operations in the devastated region.
German military planes have flown several loads of rations to the Gulf Coast. Berlin is also sending teams equipped with high-capacity pumps to help clear floodwaters.
I wonder how old the rules were that were applied to the aid flight.
socialist clowns.
Many countries do not allow certain food products to be imported.
Why can't *we* send somebody over there to get them.
Gov. Blanco again?
Surely, someone could have at least verified it's mission then let it land but keep everything and everyone aboard until the paperwork is cleared. This is not going to help relations.
The answer is more government and more bureaucracy. What was the question?
The source - AP via Yahoo - is suspect. I would not believe this report without confirmation from a "reliable" source.
Huh ?
Weren't the Germans and bureaucracy synonyms? Strange that, of all things, the German plane did not have the paperwork.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the aid flight fell afoul of a commercial trade regulation and a rule-oriented bureaucrat whose palate of options was severely limited by his/her inability to think outside of the box.
It is understandable that beef products entering the United States be of a certain pedigree (history). I'd hate to hear how people in New Orleans would feel if they were fed German rations that contained the disease causing agent for Mad Cows, however unlikely that may be. That said, the administrators responsible for turning back the flight may have had other options outside the normal scope of operations, such as grounding the flight and requesting Homeland Security to take responsibility for the cargo.
the Wiener Schnitzels were really dogmeat.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Waiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit a minute what in a world is going on here. Something doesn’t’ compute here; every flight is control and monitor who has decide to make this decision of which is stupidest thing I ever heard. Something isn’t right here."
There was supposed to be another German Aid flight today. I believe that both the FDA and Customs will be there to ok it. As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with those german MREs. I aint got Mad Person Disease yet and ive snacked on a couple.
Paging Gov. Blanco... Paging Gov. Blanco...
Is there a "Gov. Blanco" in the house? You have a delivery!
Sounds like a problem with coordination and sadly this seems to be prevalent lately.
Agreed. This country is going down a beauracratic vortex. Can anyone rewind 60 years?
There was something called World War II.
Does anyone think that Churchill and Ike had 90 day waiting periods for supplies?
*rolling eyes*
The US government is a FUBAR entity in this country.
Okay, sign 27 forms, have them duplicated in triplicate, sent to nineteen agencies and wait for 54 approvals. Then we'll allow the plane to land. That's the ticket!
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.