Europeans Wonder About Slow Katrina Relief

[tocqueville]

By KARL RITTER, Associated Press Writer
16 minutes ago

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - For four days, a C-130 transport plane ready to lift supplies to Katrina victims has stood idle at an air base in Sweden. The aid includes a water purification system that may be urgently needed amid signs deadly diseases could be spreading through fetid pools in New Orleans.

The one thing that stands in the way of takeoff? Approval by U.S. officials.

Although some foreign aid is on the way to the U.S., many international donors are complaining of frustration that bureaucratic entanglements are hindering shipments to the United States.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050907/ap_on_re_eu/katrina_world

[tabasco]

1. My German girlfriend tells me her co-workers are in disbelief...

that such an unmitigated disaster could happen in America.

They are shocked that our government has become so powerless to help.

I told her it is much worse for me to see my country diintegrate so quickly.

CAN WE SURVIVE THREE MORE YEARS OF CALIGULA BU$H ??

[tocqueville]

3. 90% of the French proposed help has been turned down so far

I heard that on TV tonight.

They only allowed a trickle, the only military help allowed was two C-130 carrying 20 tons of help. The rest is 4 emergency workers and 20 Red Cross. They are located in ....Arkansas.

[rpannier]

2. To be fair

The response by many european governments to the flooding this past summer in Europe leaves a lot to be desired too. The europeans should consider focusing more on their business.

[Spazito]

4. So they shouldn't have offered or...

offered and then shut up?

[tocqueville]

5. could you develop that ?

figures please

[tocqueville]

6. Katrina and Europe in comparison

The 2005 European floods hit mainly Romania, Switzerland, Austria and Germany, as well as several other countries in Central Europe during August 2005. The disaster came at a time when Portugal was suffering from intense forest fires which left 15 dead and days before the powerful Hurricane Katrina hit the United States.

Death toll

The death toll was 42, with 31 dead in Romania, six in Switzerland, and five in Austria and Germany. Thousands were evacuated from their homes; the rains were the worst flooding to hit Europe since the 2002 floods.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_European_floods

[tabasco]

7. How many people were killed in those floods?

I saw what was happening n Germany and the response was excellent.

You think the "europeans (sic) should consider focusing more on their business." ??

You mean like the USA?

The Europeans have every right to comment on our situation.

In fact, they are helping us out.

[Rex]

8. Bush has isolated us away from the real world.

In the real world you protect the people who you swear to serve and defend. Not so, evidently, with the BFEE.

You can't have it your way with the BFEE.

[Selatius]

9. We're Americans. We don't need help because we're the greatest power.

:sarcasm: