posted on September 1, 2005 01:21:48 PM
Rusty - you make me embarassed to be part of the same political party as you. Grow up.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on September 1, 2005 01:40:17 PMPast recipients of U.S. help now offering to help America
In a dramatic turnabout, the United States is now on the receiving end of help from around the world as some two dozen countries offer post-hurricane assistance.
Venezuela, a target of frequent criticism by the Bush administration, offered humanitarian aid and fuel. Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. pledged a $1 million donation for hurricane aid.
With offers from the four corners of the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.
However, in Moscow, a Russian official said the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had rejected a Russian offer to dispatch rescue teams and other aid.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to President Bush and said Russia was prepared to help if asked.
Boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators, cash assistance and medical teams have been offered to the U.S. government in Washington or in embassies overseas.
Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States, the spokesman said.
Still, Bush told ABC-TV: "I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country's going to rise up and take care of it."
"You know," he said, "we would love help, but we're going to take care of our own business as well, and there's no doubt in my mind we'll succeed. And there's no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city."
posted on September 1, 2005 01:42:22 PM
The Saudis have also offered to increase their oil production to make up for the lost production in the gulf.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on September 1, 2005 01:48:53 PM
Classic - fortunately, no matter how much Peepa insists he is in the majority, they are not representative of the majority of democrats.
Most democrats live in the real world and know that nothing and no one is 100% evil and 100% good and that no matter what office a person holds, they do not control the axis on which the world spins or the results thereof.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on September 1, 2005 04:40:33 PM
Thank you fenix. That has got to be one of the more intelligent posts I've seen in a long time. (Except mine, of course...lol!)
If oil production is going to be bumped up, shouldn't our gas prices go back down? How about lowering the price of a barrel of crude? I think, imho, what the gas stations have done is nothing short of price gouging.
posted on September 1, 2005 05:05:09 PM
Twig ... -
Re Gas Prices: Hopefully.
The Saudis don't like it when oil gets this high and they have frequently incurred the wrath of fellow OPEC members by increasing their production when they feel the prices are too high. They would very happy to see prices back down to the $35-40 range. That's part of why they offered to build us a refinery. Part of the increased price comes from the fact that the US gas production levels do not match out consumption levels.
Think of it this way... if all that talk about about Bush being joined at the hip with the oil companies is true, prices should be dropping fast and hard around year end. High transportation costs are not good for the party in power and continued prices at this rate are going to put teetering airlines right over the brink. They were saying today that the cost of aviation fuel has increased 20% in the past 3 days.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
[ edited by fenix03 on Sep 1, 2005 05:06 PM ]
posted on September 1, 2005 05:07:23 PM
Twig - OPEC members do not dictate the price - it's part of the commodities market. Think ebay... high demand, many bidders, higher prices.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
Still, Bush told ABC-TV: “I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn’t asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country’s going to rise up and take care of it.”
“You know,” he said, “we would love help, but we’re going to take care of our own business as well, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll succeed. And there’s no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.”
And just where does he think we're going to get the money to "take care of our own business"? Has he totally lost his mind? These countries are offering to come to our aid and he sounds like he's making light of it. With our deficit as high as it is, we can use all the help we can get. Perhaps he should worry about taking care of HIS own business.
posted on September 1, 2005 06:52:20 PM
Cheryl - I agree - Isreal has offered to send troops, doctors, nurses, field hospital facilities, and more. I may not like the politics of their leader but even I will not deny that when it comes their military - the Isrealis are about as good as they come. Why are we not taking advantage of these types of offers?
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on September 1, 2005 07:24:14 PM
Last I heard, the B.C. rescue team arrived in Kenner, La and are with the National Guard but because of the anarchy they have been told that it will be impossible to even attempt a rescue operation right now.
Cheryl, I’m hoping Bush will openly accept all the help that has been offered from around the world because the people truly need it and they are the first priority.
This is also a wake-up call for those that think no other countries would ever offer help. Little do they realize, people everywhere do care and reach out to others and politics aren't always involved.
posted on September 2, 2005 05:10:52 AM
BTW, that awful evil country of Iran (the one Bush has his sites set on next) has set up a relief fund for New Orleans. Now, wasn't that terribly evil of them?
This is a chance for the world to come together. We've had many of them and we've tossed those chances to the wind. I think it's time we pay attention to what the world is telling us. Though our politics and beliefs may be different, deep down inside we are all the same.
posted on September 2, 2005 09:01:02 AM
I think we can see just how the neocons think and behave during a crisis. The topic of this thread is shameful and replay should be embarrassed to even suggest others wouldn't help. Notice that the very countries that you neomoroncons have attacked are extending offers of assistance.
It is the Bush Administration that has failed America. The global community could offer all the help possible, but if the Bush Administration continues to mismanage it, then it simply goes to waste. All of the assistance we are now just seeing entering the picture should have been there days ago. A strategy should have been planned last weekend, Equipment mobilized and ready for action, food and water ready for survivors, etc. Instead, Bush was too busy playing a frickin' guitar while others were suffering and dying. If this is what National Security looks like, then America has been raped and duped into believing this Administration has made improvements since 9/11. We are less prepared for a disaster than before. The system that was in place for disaster was dismantled and sent to Iraq. We are now in a very dangerous position because we not only don't have enough resources to handle the problem, but we are now going to be stretched so thin terrorists must be frothing at the mouth at how easy it would be to cause further mayhem.
So Replay, before you go out and chastise other countries for doing exactly what you said they wouldn't do, you should look at your own government and leadership and ask whether they are doing what they should be doing. Start with asking why the President and Secretary of State were still on vacation days after this horrific tragedy when they should have been in DC making preparations before the storm hit.
posted on September 2, 2005 10:51:56 AM
Good grief, this boob just can't seem to help himself from making wild, uninformed statements. Lets take a closer look:
I think we can see just how the neocons think and behave during a crisis
Whose "we?" You seem to be speaking for more than just yourself which actually is no surprise since a couple of people posting on a message board is apparently enough to constitute all neocons. Using the same dim-witted logic one might conclude that your post is representative of all liberals. But since I know some liberals who live in the real world, I'll refrain from such a judgment.
All of the assistance we are now just seeing entering the picture should have been there days ago.
All of it, eh? You have some experience in massive mobilizations in response to unprecedented disasters? Actually, while we're on the subject, what exactly do you know about any mobilization for disaster relief? You seem to be an expert on the subject given your positive assertions as to time frames. Of course, you are also delivering a punch in the face to those thousands of people who have been responding from day 1, minute 1, but whatever helps further an emotional rant against republicans, right?
A strategy should have been planned last weekend
Right, but of course it should have. I don't know about you but when I'm planning the massive evacuation of entire cities I like to do it over the weekend. Forty-eight hours tops is all I need. In fact, I just put together a plan to evacuate the entire east coast.
Your ridiculous assertion that nothing was in motion until after the storm only serves to underscore your total lack of understanding as it relates to disaster relief.
Bush was too busy playing a frickin' guitar while others were suffering and dying
Score another point for the intellectually challenged. Think about the brain cells it takes to have a single photo of one man playing a guitar be the image you take away from this disaster.
We are less prepared for a disaster than before
We are? Thanks for letting me know. Which disasters are we less ready for? And "less" than when? Of course its probably lost on such a deep thinker like yourself that this country historically waits for worst case scenarios to occur before dealing with certain issues. Its likely further lost on you that the good people in New Orleans (who, it turns out, have actually been living within the levees) haven't seen fit to prepare themselves for this kind of scenario.
The system that was in place for disaster was dismantled and sent to Iraq.
Yeah, you've been making this accusation for a few days now but (like most of your accusations) seem unable or unwilling to support it with anything other then, well, hot air. But the air conditioning in this office is cold today so I can't say your posts serve no purpose.
we are now going to be stretched so thin terrorists must be frothing at the mouth at how easy it would be to cause further mayhem
You've gotten inside the head of terrorists now, eh? Where exactly are they "frothing at the mouth" to get to? Maybe all the security in your home town is now gone or something. Either that or you are under some kind of delusion that terrorists couldn't hit us last weekend, but they sure can now. I'm going with the latter.
Start with asking why the President and Secretary of State were still on vacation days
Should I also be asking the members of congress why they hadn't made their way back to D.C. last weekend? Better yet, should I try to actually believe that someone could be so intellectually void that they actually believe the business of the government cannot be maintained while its members are off-site? Nah, nobody could be that stupid.
[ edited by RedStateRising on Sep 2, 2005 10:58 AM ]
posted on September 2, 2005 11:38:17 AM
Kiara that was an excellent and informative post. I just heard that news on AIR AMERICA but isn't it sad that the neocons on here JUST CAN'T READ anything that goes against their dried up, trite, lemming-like ideas????
Countries like France and Germany who took the insults of the neocons ARE sending oil!
posted on September 2, 2005 01:24:44 PM
Day 5... and nobody is the clear leader of this disaster. the president remained on vacation even after the hurricane hit. Condi spent Wednesday night at the theater watching a performance of a Monte Python play, she went shoe shopping while people were suffering, Dick Cheney... still in Wyoming on vacation.
Beyond the fact that this Administration and Congress left this area ill-prepared and cut funding for the levees, beyond the fact that they sent National Guardsmen to Iraq to fight the wrong war, beyond the fact that after 4 years, the emergency system has absolutely no direction or procedures to follow because George Bush hired Directors with no Emergency background to manage Homeland Security and FEMA, and the fact that the Bush Administration is only interested in painting another rosy picture of a desperate situation rather than providing adequate leadership, it is a shame that so many people have had to suffer and/or die because these officials are completely clueless. These are supposed to be the leaders of this country, and should have been planning ahead for this, but instead they were too busy for America. This Administration is a disgrace, and those who continue to support and defend them are truly showing their anti-American colors.
posted on September 2, 2005 08:59:55 PMWorld pledges hurricane aid to US
PARIS (AFP) - The world is holding out its hands to a superpower in crisis, offering hurricane disaster aid to the United States from a French offer of ships and aircraft to a 25,000-dollar donation by tsunami-pounded Sri Lanka.
"Whatever they ask for, it will be given, from reserves of oil... to any other thing that they may need," European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said in Newport, Wales, during a meeting of the 25-nation bloc.
The world's industrialized countries agreed Friday to tap their strategic oil reserves and pour 60 million barrels into the market in a month to cope with disruptions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The International Energy Agency said that all its 26 member states had agreed to take "collective action in response to the interrupted oil supplies in the Gulf of Mexico caused by Hurricane Katrina," the Paris-based agency reported in a statement.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO also stood ready to contribute.
"Whenever and wherever our NATO partner and important friend -- the United States of America -- asks (for) assistance, NATO stands ready to answer those calls," Scheffer told a press conference during a visit to Sofia.
Among the major allies:
-- The French foreign ministry offered eight aircraft and two ships, with 600 tents and 1,000 camp beds also available at the United States' request.
The central French city of Orleans said it would be sending receipts from sports matches to its younger American sister, as well as offering 50 university places.
-- Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had spoken to President George W. Bush, and Britain was ready to help "in any way that we can."
"The whole of this country feels for the people of the Gulf Coast of America who have been afflicted by what is a terrible, terrible natural tragedy," he said in a speech in Watford, southeast England.
"We want to express our sympathy and our solidarity and give our prayers and thoughts to the people who were affected by what has happened out there on the Gulf Coast," he said.
-- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer met US ambassador to Germany, William Robert Timken, and said he had made firm offers of "medicine, water treatment and technology to help find survivors" on behalf of the German government.
-- Japan offered 200,000 dollars for the
American Red Cross and up to 300,000 dollars worth of tents, blankets, power generators and water tanks. Toyota offered five million dollars, Nissan 500,000 dollars.
-- Australia promised 10 million Australian dollars (7.5 million US) through the American Red Cross.
"Given the extraordinary generosity of the United States when other countries are in need, and given the very close relationship between Australia and the United States, and given also the scale of the disaster, we believe it is a very valuable gesture and a mark of our concern for the scale of the human misery that has come from this disaster," said Prime Minister John Howard.
-- Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham said his country was preparing a package, including an offer of military assets. Canada will also boost oil exports to the United States.
-- Venezuela has formally offered to the US embassy in Caracas money and fuel to help the United States recover from Hurricane Katrina, officials said Friday.
In addition, Venezuela said it could send two rapid deployment medical units that can each treat 150 people, 10 water purifiers, eight power generators, 20 tonnes of water, 50 tonnes of canned food and 5,000 blankets.
-- Among others, the Netherlands, a low-lying country that depends on its system of levees, or dams, has offered to send a team of experts to help plan the reconstruction of New Orleans. Italy said it was ready to help but had not been contacted. Sweden offered medical and technical aid. Lithuania's Red Cross started taking donations and Denmark said it had ordered emergency management officials "to look into the possibilities of sending aid".
Switzerland offered help in reconstruction or the prevention of further catastrophes as well as high-power pumps and other equipment. The Spanish arm of the Red Cross said it was sending a team of logistical personnel.
"The US Red Cross has asked for aid from 50 to 70 logistical personnel from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies," the Spanish organisation said.
"In response to this call the Spanish Red Cross has mobilized around 200 logisticians trained in emergency situations and between four and 10 could leave for the southeastern United States within hours."
More poignant were offers from the needy.
Sri Lanka -- still recovering from the December 26 tsunami which devastated the island's coastlines and killed 31,000 people -- said it had donated 25,000 dollars and asked doctors to help the relief effort.
Somalis offered sympathy.
"New Orleans looks like Mogadishu when the war started," said bus driver Aden Mohamud in Somalia's war-shattered capital.
He said he was troubled by television images that showed most of the some 300,000 desperate people still trapped in New Orleans were black.
"Maybe some whites are also starving but the African Americans are who I have seen," Mohamud said. "I am sorry they are poor like us."
posted on September 2, 2005 11:48:25 PM
'Castro has offered to send 1,100 doctors and more than 25 tonnes of medicine and equipment to the devastated area in the next 48 hours, saying many countries are offering money, we are offering to save lives.'
posted on September 3, 2005 05:38:56 AM
SO Happy to see these countries that the neocons like LindaKKK and BeaR hate so much coming to the aid of the United States !
HA HA HA HA HA
GERMANY!
FRANCE!
CUBA!
Especially while our ""leaders"" vacationed, went to the theater, shopped for shoes and could not offer even WORDS to the victims!
posted on September 3, 2005 06:25:57 AM
The response from other countries renews my faith in mankind. This is a time we should put aside our political differences and help in any way we can. Headlines around the world scream about the shame of our government taking so long to respond. It is shameful. But, that is something that should be taken care of after these people are rescued, fed and housed. Like I said before, take away the political differences and we're really all the same. I am overwhelmed that countries like Cuba, Venezuela and Iran have offered their assistance. If this government had any sense, they'd take these countries up on their offers. To deny the offers would be just another insult to these countries. It's time to think of the people in New Orleans, not about politics. They most certainly don't care where the help comes from.
If oil production is going to be bumped up, shouldn't our gas prices go back down? How about lowering the price of a barrel of crude?
One thing I heard on the news during this refinery crisis...is that while we're being charged anywhere from $65.00 - $70.00 a barrel for crude oil....it only costs the OPEC countries approximately $4.00 a barrel.... the rest is pure profit to them.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on September 3, 2005 12:18:09 PM
Well "the leader" clearly wasn't the president nor the vice president who hasn't been seen or heard from, nor Condasleeza who had to buy new shoes.....so I guess there just wasn't a clear leader anywhere.
LindaKKK, you're going to have to give this one up. The world could see the lack of leadership in this country and your blaming it on the victims ain't gonna work
[ edited by mingotree on Sep 3, 2005 12:19 PM ]
New Orleans orders evacuation -Hurricane Katrina's winds nearly 175 mph
Sunday, August 28, 2005; Posted: 11:47 a.m. EDT (15:47 GMT)
New Orleans in direct path of storm (1:35)
Not all New Orleans residents are evacuating (2:30)
Offshore oil rigs get ready to evacuate (3:01)
HURRICANE KATRINA
10 a.m. ET Sunday
Position of center: 225 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River
Latitude: 26.0 north
Longitude: 88.1 west
Top sustained winds: 175 mph (281 kph)
Source: National Hurricane Center SPECIAL REPORT
What Is This? NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency on Sunday and ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city as Hurricane Katrina churned toward the city with maximum sustained winds of nearly 175 mph.
All of Orleans Parish falls under the order except for necessary personnel in government, emergency and some other public service categories.
People who are unable to evacuate were told to immediately report to a designated shelt.
"I wish I had better news for you, but we are facing a storm that most of us have feared," Nagin said. "I do not want to create panic, but I do want the citizens to understand that this is very serious and it's of the highest nature."
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said that President Bush had called and urged the state to order the evacuation.
About 485,000 people live in the city, and many began evacuating before sunrise.
Blanco said that westbound traffic was heavy and that the state police was urging people to travel to the north or east.
Shelters have been set up at 10 sites, including the Superdome, for people who cannot leave the city for medical or other reasons, but Nagin said they should be used only as a "last resort." (See video from New Orleans, where not all are ready to leave)
He said people who must stay in the shelter should bring enough food, water and supplies to last several da.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast could expect storm surges of up to 25 feet as the Category 5 storm makes landfall early Monday.
Officials fear New Orleans is vulnerable because it sits an average of 6 feet below sea level. (Watch video of how New Orleans reacted to warning)
Nagin said the storm surge would likely topple the levy system that protects the city.
"It has the potential for a large loss of life," said Max Mayfield, director of the NHC. (Watch CNN meteorologist explain storm outlook)
Katrina is blamed for at least seven deaths in Florida, where it made landfall Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane. As much as 18 inches of rain fell in some areas, flooding streets and homes. (See video of the damage floodwaters left in one family's new house)
At 10 a.m. ET, Katrina was centered about 225 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was moving to the west-northwest at about 12 mph.
NHC forecaster Ed Rappaport said Katrina's strength could fluctuate before it reaches shore but noted the difference between a high Category 4 and a low Category 5 was practically inconsequential.
"There will be extensive to potentially catastrophic damage to many structures ... and inland," he said. "We'll have a lot of trees that are going to come down, perhaps millions of trees. But the first threat is going to be the storm surge. You must get away from the coast now."
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So, as we can well see, as early as Aug. 28th these people were warned and ordered to evacuate. They also were told where to go...and what to bring along. So this is, according to our socialists here who want the government to be our nanny in every respect, the President's fault they couldn't/didn't follow emergency advisements. I don't agree. It's their responsibility to do what they can for themselves....contrary to what some here believe.
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[ edited by Linda_K on Sep 3, 2005 12:37 PM ]
[ edited by Linda_K on Sep 3, 2005 12:39 PM ]
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I don't agree. It's their responsibility to do what they can for themselves....contrary to what some here believe.