EXCUSE ME? The NORWEGIANS are on the ground in Haiti before the US?

[Maru Kitteh]

Live on CNN, AC and two other correspondents spoke of the only NGO they saw operating today and the hope it gave people.

Damn, damn, damn.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. Well if it's the only one Anderson Cooper saw, then it's the only one in the whole country.

Because nothing actually happens unless it happens on film, directly adjacent to a reporter from CNN.

[BunkerHill24]

8. The Norwegians arrived early this morning and are already clearing debris

..that's a fact.

[Maru Kitteh]

16. Did that make you feel better?

Because your snark is awfully damn shallow and self-serving if it's all you have to offer on this particular facet of the subject.

So I hope you feel better.

[QC]

43. Being hateful must make him feel good, because it's all he ever does here. n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

49. My snark may be shallow but your post is factually incorrect.

Because there were already many NGOs from many countries on the ground before the earthquake.

[Bluenorthwest]

57. Ummm...those that are on the ground before the earthquake

are more likely in need of assistance than they are likely to be able to offer much themselves at once. They were also hit by the quake, not protected by being 'non Haitian' or something. Counting on those who have been struck to help is interesting, but not really accurate in terms of how things are done.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

54. It was reported on MSNBC last night that they were in route.

this is true.

[WolverineDG]

85. USAF got the airtraffic control tower back in operation

so the other planes could land.

dg

[dflprincess]

2. I don't care who gets there first

just so they get there and people get help.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. + a google

[Syntheto]

59. You don't get it....

... this was about dissing the U. S. yet again, okay? Read the damned script. The Rest of The World Good, The United States is Bad. Don't pop the poster's bubble; they're on a roll, and they're happy to have posted this and don't appreciate any disagreement. Remember, repeat after me: "In all cases, the United States is Bad."

[Captain Hilts]

3. No. VA dog teams are already there and the US military got the airport going. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

21. THAT is good to know! Are those the "live person" dogs?

So many stories about and so little real information.

I'll have a bit of extra money to give here and there over the next couple of months and I want it to go to the right places.

[Captain Hilts]

26. Yes. They were in Mex City and Armenia also. They'll find folks still alive...nt

[hileeopnyn8d]

79. Correct.

I heard CNN say the same thing about the Norwegians being there first, but they also reported that the US military set up the airport, as well as surveying the area from the air so that they knew what roads were passable and so they could generate maps for the rescue workers.

When I heard them say that about the Norwegians, I couldn't figure out why they said that after having just mentioned the other stuff.

[ClusterFreak]

4. No offense, but I doubt the desperate Haitians give a rat's ass...

...who's bringing them their food and water. Norwegians, Americans, people from Mars. It's all good. Plus, the U.S., Canada, Britain, etc....we're all just about there too.

[polly7]

22. Exactly.

The World aids Haiti, in pictures:

http://www.ctv.ca/gallery/html/haiti_relief_aid_20100113/index_.html

I said on another thread, they won't care which uniform gets them out from under the rubble or loads them on a gurney, I'm just really grateful so many all around the world really seem to care.

[Maru Kitteh]

24. I TOTALLY AGREE. I just wanted it to be us.

[JI7]

35. why ?

[Iggo]

62. Because we're right next door.

We shoulda been there already.

[seabeyond]

65. cuba should have beat us then, per your theory. fuck. nt

[harkadog]

66. If it had the resources we do then yes. But does it?

[seabeyond]

67. maybe cause we have such resource and giving so much, takes a tad longer to collect it all

this is all stupid. rapid response and things in play. and i have not kept a telly of who has done what and dont have a clue who was in there doing what

from what i understand, out of the many agencies aprticipating, some of u.s. has alread been in there....

[Iggo]

70. It ain't a theory. It's a fact.

We ARE right next door. With tons of resources.

I know we'll be there eventually, but the motherloving vikings got there before us? Burn!!!

Come on, now. :rofl:

[seabeyond]

71. meh... i think this is beyond stupid. i dont see where you get your jollies either. nt

[Iggo]

73. Aw. Poor baby. You'll get over it (n/t)

[seabeyond]

75. wtf is your problem. is your purpose in life to be obnoxious.

you really have maturity issues.

[Iggo]

81. You're the one calling me out, sister.

Maybe you should just leave it alone.

[blondeatlast]

56. Word. nt

[alp227]

5. Well, los Dominicanos also beat us.

The Dominican Republic was the first country to give aid to Haiti in the aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake. Some of the first video images of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince came from a Dominican television crew.

That despite ongoing feuds between the two nations.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/haiti.earthquake.dominican.republic/index.html

[blondeatlast]

68. The people in the apartment next door were first on the scene when I had a fire too.

Geez.

[Peacetrain]

80. You are kidding right? ..you do know that they are the same island opposite ends?

The island of Hispaniola..They should have been the first in there

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. No our people were doing Damage Assestments today

from the air, which is critical.

We are also playing control tower...

And the SHIPS that will bring the heavy lift are anywhere from 12 to 24 hours out (and not just for the US)

The Canucks, if you really want to be pissed, are also on the ground and so are the advanced teams from the US...

So are the Brazilians, but they were there already, kind of the UN Mission.

No, instead of being pissed, be happy that they are trickling in.

I hate this nationalist game in disasters... just hate it.

[tabatha]

7. Obama has a very aggressive plan to get the US

there as fast and as comprehensively as possible.

As someone noted, the US got the airport functional again, so that planes can land.

[StarfarerBill]

9. This isn't a competition.

As long as lives are being saved, anyone can do it as far as I'm concerned.

[HeresyLives]

10. Several countries are.

Keith Olbermann showed that on his report tonight.

I don't understand the importance of this...as long as help is arriving, what the fuck difference does it make which countries it involves?

Pardon my Klingon

[Cha]

15. Exactly.

[bertman]

33. HeresyLives, the importance of rapid response is to treat those who are seriously ill who

might die without IMMEDIATE help, as well as to begin rescue efforts for those who are trapped in debris and may only have hours more to live. Having no potable water and very little food might also be a problem that very quick response could help.

I'm glad to hear that we were some of the first to arrive and begin the process of dealing with this horrible disaster.

[HeresyLives]

34. But it doesn't matter who does it.

[bertman]

76. To me, it matters that the "greatest nation on earth" as we collectively think of ourselves,

should have a very strong and rapid emergency response to a neighboring country in our own hemisphere. With our resources and capabilities you would think we would be there in force right away. Of course, if we didn't have our money and our military scattered all over the world taking care of killing, we'd probably be a bit quicker.

[cbdo2007]

11. Yep, Obama told the US people to all go on vacation.....

*sarcasm*

Good grief, who cares who is there "first" even if they probably weren't there "first" but you reacting to what you see on tv.

[CTyankee]

61. No, I get the gist of the OP. We are mighty and powerful and we are practically next door

to Haiti, at least in comparison to Norway. It makes me uncomfortable, even tho I know the U.S. is putting forth a huge mobilization...I don't think that makes us bad and any other country good. That's s stretch, IMHO...

[JanMichael]

12. So were the Cubans. nt.

[Brickbat]

14. Crap, does this mean we don't get as many bonus points at the end?

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. No cookie for ya... and me

:-)

[Nikki Stone1]

17. FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA: First to Haiti in response to the earthquake.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7460466&mesg_id=7460466

[Nikki Stone1]

18. FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA: First to Haiti in response to the earthquake.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7460466&mesg_id=7460466

[HeresyLives]

25. That's not even possible.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. From the US... that is

and this is not a competition. But OTHER teams landed and deployed first.

This is the self congratulatory, USA, USA crap that I hate.

Speaking as a former rescue worker by the way. yes, this crap actually gets on the way of actual ahem work.

[proteus_lives]

19. What's your point?

[Canuckistanian]

23. I think the Canadian DART team is already there

They specialize in fresh water supplies.

But this isn't a race. Whoever gets there, gets there.

[HeresyLives]

29. Yes, left at 9am Wed

and arrived in Haiti 3 hours later.

'So far, the government has sent a C-130 Hercules plane with medics, firefighters, a search and rescue and reconnaissance team. It left just after 9 a.m. ET. Their job is to assess the needs of the devastated country. They have also brought along some basic supplies and equipment for extracting people.
The official said a C-17 (a huge cargo plane) will likely follow as well as a Navy ship with a helicopter and more supplies, including Canadian Forces engineers.'

[Maru Kitteh]

30. That's wonderful! And it makes perfect sense. Viva Canada!

I was hoping that the US would be on the ground as fast as everyone else.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Here is a secret, we were not going to be

from listening to the General in charge of CARIBCOM... they are a little "slow" but doing this to actually assess actual needs. See I can send, assuming I was in charge, oh lets say the First MEU, if they have the wrong capabilities they are not going to do as much good as they would have them.

This is not a competition, and this will take a few months. The first critical 72 hours, two DMATS are either there, or on the way. (Fairfax is in country already) And international teams from the four winds are coming in as well.

But they also have a little issue, for ALL teams, called security.

Been to a few of these shindigs and hell I actually ahem got creative with orders at times to get resources where they needed to go.

I am actually glad that people actually doing this at the command level are not taking the ... this is a race. And reality is the heavy lift is upwards of a day out... I mean there is just so much you can do to push a ship through water. And that is what mostly we are bringing in... and it will be essential. There is more, Canada, the US and Mexico have agreed to ahem coordinate with each other. I guess nobody wants to make the serious mistake of sending parallel resources. Also I expect the UN to play coordination with everybody, as well as the OAS in a secondary role.

And there are valid reasons for that.

So this is not a GO USA thing... this is GO WORLD.

[KT2000]

37. Canada was among the the

very first to arrive at Katrina as well.
Very impressive. The US should study their operation because they are able to respond so quickly.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

27. Haven't you received the memo?...we're not #1 anymore...

gotta get use to to it.

[Cha]

31. Oh Boo Hoo..Who cares who got

there first as long as the Haitians and all the people there are being helped?

[gateley]

32. It's not a competition, it's an effort to try to save lives and help people live.

It doesn't matter.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. Yeah, I get that. It's just that we're REALLY CLOSE BY and I'd like my tax dollars to

be spent in pursuit of the ease of suffering, as opposed to what is mostly being done with it now.

I find it completely stupid, with our resources and proximity that we should find ourselves (with some notable and noble exceptions and private ngo's) on the coat-tails of the rest of the world.

I expected more. Sue me.

[gateley]

47. Well I sure agree with you about our tax dollars actually going to something

that we approve of. But as others have posted, we've done a lot. Our tax dollars are being well spent, even if it hasn't been as visible as some of the other countries.

[vaberella]

36. I don't give a fuck who's first. As a Haitian....I just hope my people are getting help. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. You got a PM

[Dappleganger]

55. Exactly!

The only thing that matters is help gets to those who are in need immediately.

[buzzard]

38. I don't care who is first and I am sure the US will supply a major part of the relief it is one

thing you do better than most every other Country.

[marshall]

39. Aren't most of the cruise ships in the Carribean from Norway

I daresay Norwegians are very familiar with the area.

[blondeatlast]

58. Valid point. nt

[Solly Mack]

41. It isn't a contest.

[NYC_SKP]

45. This is no way to live life, my friend, to look at things in this manner. Be well. n/t

[Pirate Smile]

46. Here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4224294

[bluestateguy]

48. It's not a contest

The American people are the most generous in the world, and we have a president who is devoting the full resources of this nation to help.

[MineralMan]

50. By now, you've probably read other information that

disproves your lame attack on the US and its response. I do very much hope you will wait a bit longer before your next diatribe.

[lunatica]

51. So what if it's true?

You can't live with other countries being first in anything? Not everything is about the USA? Today Haiti happen to be far more important.

[cali]

52. do you think this is a race? you make me want to vomit.

using this tragedy in such a sleazy little way shows what you are.

[seabeyond]

53. that is what i am thinking. is it a fuckin competition. not that i think this op is even correct

but geeezus... who the fuck cares, as long as haiti is getting help

[Bluenorthwest]

60. They all just try to get there

It is not a competition.

[Rebubula]

63. WTF?

Why do you care who gets there 1st? Millions of people in the US have donated money and hundreds more are in route there.

I guess some people just revel in pointing out the splinters in the eyes of the US.

[malaise]

64. It hardly matters

The world is there. For the record Caribbean neighbors were the first to get there because we are closest. Additionally there are lots of Cuban doctors in Haiti and they had field hospitals up and running since yesterday.

[BolivarianHero]

69. Just as well...

Usually when Americans enter Haiti, Duvalier's old cronies come out on top.

[and-justice-for-all]

72. Well Cuba responded faster than the US in regards to Katrina...

but were denied.

[upi402]

74. Socialistical, over-taxed Norway???

dubbel-yew tee F ?

Are we broke, or just broken? I saw President Clitnot prompting the plebes to donate a dollar. Sure, never ask the privileged to give back a little. Milk the suckers of their last, much needed dollar - and leave the wealthy off the hook, free to roll in their million$

[DevonRex]

77. I saw American planes and helicopters there on CNN yesterday.

They had already even airlifted people to Guantanamo for medical help. The Coast Guard is already there, too.

[hileeopnyn8d]

83. ^^That^^

We were there, this isn't even factual, and I didn't realize that it was from yesterday because all the new posters jumping into the "we suck" chorus.

We set up air traffic control and the Coast Guard was there yesterday morning flying reconnaissance missions to assess where the damage was concentrated, as well as how best to access them due to the roads being impassible.

Which is why we're calling for more helicopters now, because the damage to the port and the time it will take to remove debris from the roads valuable time would be lost.

Oh, and I feel I need to add my "it isn't a competition" to this thread.

[Ignis]

78. Well, that's because Norway has the largest military in the world.

Oh...wait.... :blush:

[redwitch]

82. They may have been enroute before the quake.

Haiti gets help from lots of countries all the time. And especially since the hurricanes hit.

[bobbolink]

84. I'm willing to be the Cubans were right there.... but I certainly don't expect that to ever be

mentioned in this country.

The CUBANS are usually the first responders in that area.

[Posteritatis]

86. Given the sheer mass the US is bringing there, that's understandable

Of course some small teams are going to get there within hours, but a Norweigan S&R group or Canada's DART team are obviously going to move faster than a carrier battlegroup or MEF, both of which the US is sending there right now.

This isn't something for you to get upset over anymore than it's something for the rest of us abroad to look down on the US for. The scale of the US mobilization for this thing is stunning, and made me feel quite a bit better about the whole situation when I read about it yesterday.