What the heck is up with India? What are they hiding? When did . . .

[frankly_fedup2]

they get so independently wealthy? Isn't Calcutta in India?

Isn't that where Mother Theresa stayed her whole life to help feed the starving people, trying to help with their health care among many other things.

We know they have the "bomb" (which obviously is more important than feeding their own people), so what else is going on????

Their turning down of ALL AID from EVERYONE (U.S. Russia, Australia, Israel) seems to me that they do not want anyone in their country because there is something there that they are afraid will be found.

What are they hiding????

[Az]

1. India is a nation of extremes

There are some concentrations of wealth but most of the country is poverty stricken. Where the tsunami hit is particularly poor.

As to why they are refusing donations. I suspect that it is a matter of respect. As in they don't have it for us.

[htuttle]

2. They're hiding all our jobs

You have noticed that a LOT of jobs went to India this last 5 years, right? Their middle class has grown substantially, and is actually larger than the whole population of the US.

They still have many in crippling poverty, but as a whole are doing much better than they had been doing 10-20 years ago.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Maybe they are concerned about strings being attached to it.

Legitimate fear IMO, particularly where we're concerned.

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. India is a net exporter of food... n/t

[Maple]

5. Surely you jest

Did you expect India to remain poor forever?

Other parts of the world are moving ahead, nothing stays frozen in time.

[nascarblue]

6. They're concerned with all the military that Israel and the US is sending

They turned away Israels 1st offer because they were sending ADL and the military. They told them they needed aid and supplies so Israel switched their crew..

A 150-member aid delegation cancelled its mission to Sri Lanka after Colombo refused to accept the Israeli team, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officials told daily Ha'aretz.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Tissa Wijeratne, told PTI, "All our missions have been instructed to accept only supplies as we have been swamped with rescue teams from all over the world".

Brushing aside any other motive, Wijeratne said, "We have friendly ties with Israel and this is a measure being adopted vis-a-vis everyone as we are unable to provide the large number of rescue officials, already operating in Sri Lanka, with necessary facilities".

Israel is however sending supplies at Sri Lanka's request, including 10,000 blankets contributed by the IDF, tents, nylon sheeting and water containers. The IDF Home Front Command is organising aid preparations, official sources said.
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=51570

You got to remember, Israel recently sold India millions of dollars in bogus arms a few months back, then Rumsfeld went to India the day after that Kuwait armored Humvee debacle to sell them arms as. While he was there he struck a deal with Pakistan without India's knowledge. $15 billion over 5 years in arms and possibly F-16's. India and Pakistan are mortal enemies. India felt betrayed. Google it. "Rumsfeld sells arms to India"

[frankly_fedup2]

11. But they turned down Russia and Australia as well . . .

why would they do that if it had to do with politics (which right now should not even be a part of this situation anywhere).

[jdj]

19. Russia is our poodle now officially.

And Aussie's in our pocket now too.

[notadmblnd]

22. well they need to give our jobs back too

otherwise it just makes them hypocrites.

[frankly_fedup2]

15. Yes, it seems to me that I heard something about they had turned . . .

Israel as well as U.S. aid down due to our sending too many Marines there. Wonder why they are so concerned about such things?

Of course, our leader is known as a liar and cannot be trusted so in a way, I do not blame them. It's hard to tell what Bush would try if he got a large military stance in there.

As far as Israel, I first heard it was on FOX News that they were not accepting anything from them. Speculations were it was due to the Muslims in the mostly Buddhist Country.

Even in one of the worst disasters we have seen and, hopefully, will never see again, the politics of the world as well as the religions continue to clash, even if it may mean denying people the aid they may need to stay alive. Although, India is claiming to have been handling it all within hours, including Sri Lanka, and feel they can handle it all.

I just hope it is because they have the capabilities to do so and not for political or religious reasons. However, the latter seems to be the case in an interview I saw with RONEN SEN, INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.

<http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/29/wbr.01.html>

His testiness (for lack of a better word) does not come across in the transcript as much as it did while I was watching the show. The woman filling in for Blitzer even seemed a little taken aback with some of his statements. Not really what he was saying but his almost yelling way he was saying them.

I hope India can take care of India and its neighbors.

[Robbien]

7. India will only accept aid from Nonaligned Movement countries

India tries to stay away from any political entanglements with the rich nations. Accepting aid comes with strings attached.

[malaise]

8. Bravo India

keep away from those attached strings.

[zann725]

24. Especially when they're attached to Shrubco, & his military.

I still don't feel comfortable with the explanation of the Tsunami.

And to see all the troops flying over there! Colonization masked as 'disaster aid,' indeed.

There are plenty of ways to provide 'disaster relief' WITHOUT military intervention.

[frankly_fedup2]

16. I'm sure they would come with unbelievable strings attached . . .

with the Bush Administration.

[Bridget Burke]

9. India will accept aid from the UN & NGO's

But not from other governments who may expect something in exchange.

There are massive problems in India--but they are doing well in some areas. Other countries affected were worse off before the disaster & were damaged even more.

We're far richer than India. Has our government put the needs of our people ahead of insane military expenditures?

[phantomvotes]

10. Need to read John Perkins book

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man: How the U.S. Uses Globalization to Cheat Poor Countries Out of Trillions

John Perkins is on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman this weekend (FSTV and Link channel).
http://www.democracynow.org/index.pl

We spend the hour with John Perkins, a former respected member of the international banking community. In his book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man he describes how as a highly paid professional, he helped the U.S. cheat poor countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars by lending them more money than they could possibly repay and then take over their economies.

Also this is interesting: http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=10211&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported

[frankly_fedup2]

12. I hate it with a passion. I hate Globalization with manufactured . . .

trade.

It is so wrong for the people of all countries.

Unless a product is "manufactured" (including dead animals that are born in a stall, stay there their whole lives, and fed to grow as fast as possible. Chickens are slaughtered by being torn apart by machines before they even are dead.) it cannot be exported or imported. Third world country farmers cannot compete with manufacturers of whatever they grow or use to grow.

I hope the so-called "Christians" are right, I hope the end of this World is coming soon.

I cannot stand what this World has become. I cannot change it, I cannot save it, I can only pray that God destroys it . . .and all the evil will be gone.

[jdj]

21. look at it this way, if the rapture comes

we'll be rid of all of them at once.

they will fuck up heaven in a matter of days, so God will cancel armageddon, the tribulations and all the rest of it and send them to hell. he will the retire, and the earth can then live in peace til the asteroid comes.

[frankly_fedup2]

25. Personally, I don't think they will be the ones going in the . . .

Rapture. They claim they are "Christians" too much. Kind of like someone who protests too much appears more guilty than if they would have just kept their mouths' shut.

What a way to start a New Year, huh?

Your scenario is much, much more entertaining though. Thanks for the chuckle.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. I can't believe there's "India Bashing" because they won't take our aid

The fact is, India is providing aid to **other** countries. Ironically, they're giving it to Sri Lanka, with whom they do NOT get along.

I have not a clue what their motives are, pro or con, so I can only judge them *in this issue* by their actions. And what they're acting like is a good neighbor with the wherewithal to help others.

Can we discuss things without dragging every other issue under the sun into the discussion? There is a horribly unprecedented human tragedy unfolding. Sure India has nukes. Sure they've accepted the jobs **our** companies chose to give them. Sure they've engaged in aggression in their region, Sure there may be human rights violations (or at least human marginalization) in their country, by their government.

But maybe we ought to put our tin foil hats and our smug self righteousness away for just a moment and judge people and nations **in this tragedy** by their actions.

And maybe give credit where it is due.

[frankly_fedup2]

14. I did not mean to come across as bashing those poor people . . .

and what they are going through. I would never do such a cruel thing. Of course, the most important thing is helping as much as we can along with the rest of the World; however, I was just asking a question, wondering if others had seen the Indian Ambassador to the U.S. when he spoke about they did not need anyone's aid and was rather angry in his response.

I just find it odd not to accept any aid whatsoever. Has anyone ever heard of a disaster anywhere in the World where the country told the rest of the World they did not need nor did they ask for any help.

RONEN SEN, INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S was on CNN Wolf Blitzer and really came across angry (his shortness with the interviewer doesn't come across in the transcripts, but when I watched it, he appeared rather upset).

(snip)You talked about India's own relief efforts. But of course this great international outpouring of aid has begun. What's your assessment of it? Has it been quick enough? Is there enough coming to your country?

SEN: Well, I'll tell you, as far as we're concerned, honestly, and I can tell you in a straightforward manner, we have not asked for any international aid. And I don't think we require any international aid. Our past experience shows we've had terrible earthquakes, cyclones, that all, apart from a minuscule amount of the actual work relief and rehabilitation, has been done with Indian expertise and Indian resources. (snip)

<http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/29/wbr.01.html>

Even we accepted aid right after 9/11 . . . what little there was, of course, but we accepted it.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Actually, my post was in no way directed at you

Your original question seemed honest and sincerely posed. I'm sorry if you thought I was referring to you. I wasn't.

[frankly_fedup2]

23. I appreciate your responding so soon because that was really . . .

bothering me because that was not my intent at all.

I think we are all stressed to our limits with everything we have had to deal with here in our own Country.

Plus, on this board, we are all on the same side but what we mean to say doesn't always come out the way we want to say it.

Oh well, guess we will all continue to be human, have our own opinions, keep putting our foots in our mouths; however, we have a place where we feel we can be ourselves, express our opinions (sometimes harsh, sometimes not), and we can share it all with others who basically have the same beliefs as we do.

The Freepers site is nothing but name calling, making fun of others who question the government, and their constant immature approaches toward any debate. You see, debate is not allowed. They immediately delete you if you have your own opinion.

Happy New Year (I just don't feel so happy about it anymore).

[Deja Q]

18. They recently disses * and America, but it didn't stop them from keeping

the IT jobs either.

[Deja Q]

17. The moment the US outsourced jobs to their country. Re: Mother T,

The wage US corporations pay 'em is actually quite high for that country.

Mother Teresa also encouraged and supported poverty so that people wouldn't get accustomed to things like what we have in the West. Well, a tv is one thing, but I rather like the idea of an ozone-friendly refrigerator, sorry.

Here's a not-so-heartwarming site regarding Mother T: http://members.lycos.co.uk/bajuu/

But, in the end, it's all perception.

[frankly_fedup2]

26. I wonder if I called Dell 24-hour-service rep and he/she would be . . .

American?

All the companies that use them are being made into some kind of great humanitarians. Puhlease!!!

Every dime they donate is tax deductable. Plus, they need to get their work force up and running and giving them 800% profit.

Being billlionares is still not enough for them.