My question for the day....

[SUBMAN1]

Looking at all the devastation from this hurricane, where is our foreign aid? Something bad happens anywhere in this world, we are quick to respond, but when it happens to us, what then?

-S

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Looking at all the devastation from this hurricane, where is our foreign aid? Something bad happens anywhere in this world, we are quick to respond, but when it happens to us, what then?

-S

We borrow money or print it. Just like everyone else. And we slowly destroy our economy in doing so.

[nikimcbee]

You mean you want the UN here? I'll let the smurfs live at your house.

[baggygreen]

I had a tiredness-induced epiphany last night when reading a couple of articles criticising australias involvement in providing aid etc through oceania and SE asia, apparently its us trying to push our influence everywhere else.

Why dont we leave em all be. Bugger em. No, we won't support fledgling democracy in Timor Leste. No, we won't prop up PNG or Fiji or the Solomons. Why do we bother sinking billions of dollars into ungrateful nations who do nothing but complain anyway.

Lets do what they want for once, leave them to sort out their own problems, and then listen to them complain when their free aid and support stops leaving them up the creek.

And frankly, i sometimes wonder if the US shouldn't do the same.

[mrbeast]

Considering that the USA is the richest country on the planet one would think that it wouldn't need much aid.

Then again the USA has been offered aid from other countries IIRC Cuba offered 100 doctors after Hurricane Katrina and after 9/11 several countries offered help.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mrbeast

Considering that the USA is the richest country on the planet one would think that it wouldn't need much aid.

Then again the USA has been offered aid from other countries IIRC Cuba offered 100 doctors after Hurricane Katrina and after 9/11 several countries offered help.

What he said.

[Safe-Keeper]

Looking at all the devastation from this hurricane, where is our foreign aid?

The US gets foreign aid just like any other country. Funny how you phrase your OP like a question when you're really in no hurry for facts and would rather just sit back and condemn.

Cough.

Oh, and... you're welcome.

[kiwi_2005]

Well im sure if America asked New Zealand for aid we would be happy to give it, our banks usually start it off where they open an account and anyone who wishs to help donates money into that account, then after a month or so it gets sent, one country we helped we sent over $600,000 thats just from the banks not bad for only a population of 4 million ppl and 40 million sheep I know we offered Aid to the disaster in New Orleans. Im sure if Texas asked for some aid we would give it. And if money is not needed then we got heaps of milk products and 40 million sheep to spare...

[Platapus]

Another good question would be of the foreign aid that is offered the US, how many times have we accepted it?

[Letum]

With the US's wealth it should be a matter of coals to Newcastle.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Letum

With the US's wealth it should be a matter of coals to Newcastle.

With our current disgraceful national disaster response capability, I would gratefully accept any and all help.

National pride be damned, there are people who need help. That "should" be important to the federal/state/and local governments.

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Looking at all the devastation from this hurricane, where is our foreign aid? Something bad happens anywhere in this world, we are quick to respond, but when it happens to us, what then?

-S

If the foreign aid after Katrina is anything to go by, theres is going to be a lot of help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...ricane_Katrina

Just a couple of days ago it was in the news that Germany wants to send the THW with specialists and cars again, and I am sure there is a lot of help from other countries, too.

More unverified quotes from Wikipedia but still interesting:

"An article in the April 29, 2007 Washington Post claimed that of the $854 million offered by foreign countries, whom the article dubs "allies," to the US Government, only $40 million of the funds had been spent "for disaster victims or reconstruction" as of the date of publication (less than 5%).[42]
Additionally, a large portion of the $854 million in aid offered went uncollected, including over $400 million in oil (almost 50%).[43]
The report "Transforming the Aid Environment" argues that the "way in which the United States perceives foreign aid is perhaps best understood in the way in which the country acts when they are the recipient nation. When other countries offered the United States $854 million in cash and oil as foreign aid to help the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, they merely accepted 4.7% of the total aid offered, the rest went uncollected. There is no reason for not accepting the available resources, other than that aid is a political tool. The United States wanted to avoid the political influence aid has on the policies of the recipient nation.

The policicy actually makes kind of sense to me. If I were the US I would certainly not want to create the impression the country of Absurdistan could bribe me with a meagre 500.000 $.

[SUBMAN1]

Katrina is one time in all of this. And though this country may be rich, it isn't unlimited in its capability. The offer of help is the part of the equation that is missing from outsiders here. All take and no give. One way street. Some of the posts above prove this without a doubt.

You foreigners can spin it any way you want, but it shows how you feel about us. You simply do not care unless it might possibly hurt your own interests. No other way to spin that now is there? Eat it since there is no argument there.

-S

[GlobalExplorer]

As you are obviously not interested in facts, play with yourself then. I only took you off the ignore list because you post interesting stuff outside the GF.

[Morts]

Originally Posted by GlobalExplorer

As you are obviously not interested in facts, play with yourself then.