Hurricane Katrina

[louadams6]

Can someone tell me why Tony Blair has not made any offer of help (that i have heard anyway) to the Americans that are suffering tremendously in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? Arent we supposed to be united with America? Where is the English support?

[Buddy]

Dont you think Britain has given enough support to the Americans - Human cost.

The USA is one of the richest countries in the world.Mind you if its only English support you are referring to then go ahead - I doubt if the Scots Welsh or Northern Irish would support this but cant speak for them really.

As I said in a previous posting if he withdrew his troops from Iraq the not only would he save money he would be able to deploy them to aid his own people.I feel for those poor people but its up to Bush to help.

[Dom Tuk]

Most heads of state have spoken/written to the USA offering their sympathies. Isreal has offered personnel trained in rescue work. The US govt has not asked for aid or help in any other form as they are more than capable of sorting it themselves. At this time the US govt needs our moral support not support in cash or kind.

[jake-the-peg]

On the news last night there were two American congressmen in London referring to Tony Blairs offers of assistance - I think he called a couple of hours after the news broke.

I think George Bush was a bit tied up at the time though:

http://loco4lorca.typepad.com/un_poeta_loco/2005/08/nero_fiddled_bu.html

[Buddy]

I was of course referring to financial support when I made my personal comment - just to clarify.

I of course support anyone caught up in a moral way.

[Grunty]

Those who castigated me for mentioning US foreign policy at the same time as the hurricane will be interested in Molly Ivins' column in the Chicago Tribune, of which the following is merely a brief extract:

One of the main reasons New Orleans is so vulnerable to hurricanes is the gradual disappearance of the wetlands on the Gulf Coast that once stood as a natural buffer between the city and storms coming in from the water. It is a fact that the Clinton administration set some tough policies on wetlands, and it is a fact that the Bush administration repealed those policies--ordering federal agencies to stop protecting as many as 20 million acres of wetlands.
In June, Bush took his little ax and chopped $71.2 million from the budget of the New Orleans Corps of Engineers, a 44 percent reduction.

About 35 percent of Louisiana's National Guard is now serving in Iraq, where four out of every 10 soldiers are guardsmen. Recruiting for the Guard is also down significantly because people are afraid of being sent to Iraq if they join.
The Louisiana National Guard also notes that dozens of its high-water vehicles, Humvees, refuelers and generators have also been sent abroad. (I hate to be picky, but why do they need high-water vehicles in Iraq?)
This, in turn, goes back to the original policy decision to go into Iraq without enough soldiers and the subsequent failure to admit that mistake and to rectify it by instituting a draft.
The levees of New Orleans, two of which are now broken and flooding the city, were also victims of Iraq war spending. Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, said on June 8, 2004, "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq."

[louadams6]

Glad you cleared that up Buddy, I was beginning to think you were rather heartless! Joking!! That is what i meant, how about getting aid to these people, such as water, food, clothing etc. Most of these people have lost eveything and its practical support they need right now not financial!!! We flew aid into the tsunami victims and i feel the same should be done here. How long can these people survive? Why is Bush turning down offers of aid? Hes hardly quick to respond himself, these people have been without water or food for 4 days now!

[Buddy]

Grunty - Thank you I rest my case.

Louadams6 - Thank you for your words - but please dont think I am being pedantic but not everyone who lives in Britain is English.We Scots.Welsh and Irish are all British also.We have got used to the Queen of England etc (personally because I really dont give a toss about parasites).But at the end of the day we should be united and realise that we have all done as much as possible to alleviate human suffering - not just English.Off my high horse now - LOL!! Nothing personal.