Posted on 09/02/2005 4:48:33 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
PARIS, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- French Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that France is to send aid and troops to US Gulf coast area hit by Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating storms in the country's history.
"Our operational humanitarian aid group is going to meet to study the civilian and military means that France could make available from French regions and the French West Indies," said French Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Denis Simmoneau.
"From our crisis unit, which is going to Baton Rouge from Lafayette, we are following the situation of the French people we know about," said the spokesman.
French President Jacques Chirac sent a letter on Wednesday to his American counterpart George W. Bush, to express his "heart felt emotion" at the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, which is believed tohave killed at least hundreds of people and destroyed billions of dollars worth of property in the southwest United States.
"Laissez les bon temps rouler encore!"
LOL!
Well, when they owned it is WAS the southwest!
I could make a frog joke here, especially since the city is under water...
Yes, those foreign countries are excellent at having plans in place to instantly relocate entire cities into replacement campgrounds with sanitation, medical facilities, and free hot meals. The list of those countries that have done that is probably so long that you can't mention them all.
Yep, Its good to see the French step up... I hope they arent coming over here with intentions of helping to curb the looter problem?! Might have to raise the white flag as soon as a gun fight breaks out! haha
Good to see other countries offering some support..
As much as I dislike France I must admit that my feelings dont matter on this subject because Im well fed and sheltered. Thank you France and all other countries lending a hand.
Just say (gulp!)...Thank you.
""From our crisis unit, which is going to Baton Rouge from Lafayette, we are following the situation of the French people we know about," said the spokesman."
Does this mean they are only going there to help the 'French people we know about'??
Perhaps this thread on France's aid will answer your question on another thread.
Indeed!
This will be a good place to measure how Americans feel about the French.
France is obviously particularly attuned to Lousiana, because the Acadiens are part of "La Francophonie" (a leur facon...) (Je vais back a la maison; ouais! ca va knock-yer-dick-in-the dirt!... it is curious French, but it is French. I suppose.), but the catastrophe here has been so enormous that I am sure France would offer aid even were elsewhere, even, say, Texas.
The French love America. You don't realise it, but they do. Spouses love each other, but often quarrel; and parents love children with whom they sometimes angrily disagree.
The security forces in the West Indies are accustomed to, and equipped for, hurricane relief, and they are acclimated. They will hopefully be of good service. It seems that there is a real breakdown of civil authority in New Orleans in particular, and that is something that simply the presence of more visible forces should help. Unfortunately, forces require a logistics line, which is strained already by relief efforts. Having French security forces coming in with their own supplies such that they will not burden the American grid, already loaded to capacity, should be a net plus, and should help more than money would under the circumstances.
"I could make a frog joke here..."
Ribbit?
Agreed.
I believe that this is the first time that the US has accepted foreign military aid on its own soil...since the last time France sent an army and a fleet which were, if I recall, of some service at the Battle of Virginia.
How about sending figgine help to Iraq. We can take care of our own here. ...on second thought, it's the French. Nevermind.
But yes by all means thank them for coming about like you would thank an aged aunt with bad breath for giving you a fruitcake at Christmas.
despite all the tensions between us and France, it is nice of them to offer help. If it happened to them, despite the rocky relationship, I would like our govt to do the same.
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