Katrina and....

[Ellynn]

Wow, took them long enough..... But thats cool they offered to help....

Leave it to Bush to try to refuse any help..... Just let them suffer in the meantime huh?

Meanwhile people suffer.......gas is $3.40 a gallon here.... Almost can't afford to drive to work to make money....sigh

[misombra]

WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - More than 20 countries, from allies Germany and Japan to prickly Venezuela and poor Honduras, have offered to help the United States cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Accustomed to being a rich donor rather than on the receiving end of charity, the United States initially seemed reticent about accepting foreign aid, but later said it would take up any offers. The hurricane devastated New Orleans and other parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and possibly thousands.

"Anything that can be of help to alleviate the tragic situation of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"America should be heartened by the fact that the world is reaching out to America at a time of need," he added.

Earlier, President George W. Bush said in a television interview that the United States could take care of itself.

"I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn't asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country's going to rise up and take care of it," Bush told ABC's "Good Morning America."

McCormack said there had not been a change of position over accepting foreign aid and White House spokesman Scott McClellan also said later the United States would take up offers of help.

The State Department said offers so far had come from Canada, Russia, Japan, FRANCE, Germany, Britain, China, Australia, Jamaica, Honduras, Greece, Venezuela, the Organization of American States, NATO, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, South Korea, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Assistance ranged from medical teams, boats, aircraft, tents, blankets, generators and cash donations.

State Department officials said it was likely some of the offers would not materialize and, as a wealthy nation, the United States would be uncomfortable taking funds from poorer countries.

Where the United States really needs help is getting cheap oil and the Bush administration will be reaching out to Arab nations and other oil producers over the coming days.

With eight oil refineries down in the Gulf, Bush said he expected Saudi Arabia to do everything it can to provide more oil.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.

The State Department did not comment on Venezuela's offer but several officials smiled at the gesture from Chavez, who on Wednesday called Bush a "cowboy" who failed to manage the disaster.

Cuban President Fidel Castro, a close Chavez ally, led a minute of silence in homage to victims of Katrina in parliament on Thursday. The parliament then returned to normal business with a resolution attacking Bush over the Iraq war.

i seriously doubt the u.s. will accept aid from venezuela.

[Junket]

As I said in another thread.

Pride kills.

[Only-virgins]

"We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten," Compass said. "Tourists are walking in that direction and they are getting preyed upon."

Why do I get teh feeling that this is being over-exaggerated. people panicing and be a bit hostile..fine..but "Hey look its a flood!..lets rape people!"..now thats just wierd and hard to believe. The rape part is hard to swallow. Probably one case and EVERYONE according to the media is being raped.

[Junket]

Why do I get teh feeling that this is being over-exaggerated. people panicing and be a bit hostile..fine..but "Hey look its a flood!..lets rape people!"..now thats just wierd and hard to believe. The rape part is hard to swallow. Probably one case and EVERYONE according to the media is being raped.

It wouldn't surprise me, considering there's isn't a strong police presense and there's people wandering around, especially at night.

There's no electricity so there's that much less protection in their homes.

Assumin' they have a home to begin with.

[Ellynn]

Another funny thing is that the military was working on building up the levys along the coast so that something like this WOULD NOT happen. THere was always a small fear I guess that there would be a hurricane and it would wipe out the city. Well....when Bush came into office....He cut funding for building these levys so that he could use more money for the war..... So therefore they were never completed and therefore the city was destroyed....

[Lloyd95]

Another funny thing is that the military was working on building up the levys along the coast so that something like this WOULD NOT happen. THere was always a small fear I guess that there would be a hurricane and it would wipe out the city. Well....when Bush came into office....He cut funding for building these levys so that he could use more money for the war..... So therefore they were never completed and therefore the city was destroyed....

Yes, I heard on the radio that the budget was cut up to 90% of the fund set aside for the funding of those levees.

Looting for food is one thing, but shooting down helicopters that are there to help, car jackings, rape, I just don't get it.

I was in NYC on 9-11, a block away from the WTC and that city totally came together that day and the months after.

I think the national guard should have the right to shoot the guys that are shooting at them and looting (NOT FOR FOOD).

I also find it funny that some looters are stealinig TV's. What the hell are they going to do with them? Dumb asses.

[shh!]

All of the non-food/medicine looting is just an excuse for people to exploit the fact that there is not enough of a police presence in the area. We went through the same thing after the Rodney King verdict here in Los Angeles - people were trying to justify stealing TVs, computers, sporting goods, furniture to local newsmen on camera. Disgusting, really. But some of the thieves were found (after order was restored) and were thrown in jail for stealing. I hope they got LONG sentences.

The criminals have got control of New Orleans, at least for now.

[misombra]

there has always been high crime there anyway, this is no surprise. and i do believe that many women are getting raped. i can't even imagine it i'm sure it's hell. also i believe that military helicopters can shoot back if they're being shot at, i'm not completely sure but i think they've declared martial law in that area.

[Lloyd95]

there has always been high crime there anyway, this is no surprise. and i do believe that many women are getting raped. i can't even imagine it i'm sure it's hell. also i believe that military helicopters can shoot back if they're being shot at, i'm not completely sure but i think they've declared martial law in that area.

They should be able to shoot back. Imagine explaining to some kids that they lost their mom or dad b/c mom or dad was shot trying to rescue fellow Americans; and were shot down by those they were trying to help. wtf?

[misombra]

yep, it's ****ed up. but if you think about it, with the crime rate already so high, those criminals lost everything they had, there is no food or other resources, they're angry and going crazy. chaos.

[Lloyd95]

Looting food to survive is one thing; shooting at people who are trying to help is another. I don't know...if I were down there to help, and someone shot at me, I'd be like, "OK, f*ck you, I'm turning the helicopter around."

[shh!]

That explains why I read this morning many police officers are turning in their badges...

[misombra]

police men are turning in their badges and just giving up? i mean it's not like they've dealt with violence before. that's lame.

[Lloyd95]

I don't understand why they would turn in their badges?