Why Europe Hasn't Jumped to Help Katrina's Victims

[Waya]

Article from the German Magazine ' Der Spiegel'.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,372348,00.html

[chalky]

1. "Unlike underdeveloped Third World nations, America has a well-honed

and highly organized system of emergency aid distribution. So, when disaster hits, the nation -- and even individual states -- can readily help themselves."

Oh, really? And when is this supposed to kick in, exactly?

[JHB]

7. Um, it's been "kicking in"...

...It can't do everything at once, and the present management isn't being particularly pro-active about it, but it's there.

[chalky]

10. My point--it should have started "kicking in" the moment Katrina

began crawling up the gulf.

[JHB]

11. Oh, certainly. Any president who doesn't keep tabs on a Cat 4 or 5...

...hurricane and making sure Federal-level assets are mobilized to help whereever it hits just isn't doing his f***ing job.

This is a job-killer for any chief executive: ask any big-city mayor who got turned out on his ass because the streets weren't plowed in a timely fashion after a big snowstorm, or something similar.

[rodeodance]

2. saying the message was that things were under control but not anymore.

....In the wake of Katrina, at least so far, she said, the phone lines have been relatively quiet. By 11 a.m. Tuesday, for instance, Caritas had only received one donation. That may change, however. "The first impressions were that the damage was under control," Decker said. "But if the media reports continue in the way they did yesterday (Monday), then I think the response will be much greater."

[FloridaPat]

3. One of the governors last night said they had people from other

countries and states asking how to help. I think right now it is such a disaster that details are not being reported. Corporations are coming out with money though.

[mzteris]

4. Do you blame other

countries for not helping? They hate us at this point - and rightfully so. Yeah, I know, they shouldn't let that get in the way of helping the "people" affected but still - I can understand that they can't stand the USA's arrogance and bullying behaviour around the world. Can't you?

[western mass]

5. Europe sending aid to the US would be OBSCENE

The U.S. has the wealth to help its own people many time over.

The wholesale looting of this wealth by criminals like * is the problem...let's keep that in focus.

[melody]

9. people should help people individually

Nations aren't hurting here, people are. "Nations" don't hurt at all.

I would hope European help groups would see that Americans are no more to blame for their junta's inactions/actions than the people in any other banana Republic.

[bleedingheart]

6. The German Red Cross said they will be there when asked

that when the American Red Cross needs help they will be there when needed and I believe them.

[TahitiNut]

8. I'm sure that Mexico is ready and willing to provide laborers.

:evilgrin: ((( :sarcasm: )))