Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 5:09 pm
axxxtw
Founder
Posts: 910
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Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
1 September 2005
AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands has offered the US authorities the services of a dike inspection team to help combat the flooding in New Orleans.
The team is ready to leave for America if it is required, the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Waterways said on Thursday.
A quarter of the Netherlands' land area lies below sea level and the country has built up a reputation for water management due to the ongoing battle to keep the water at bay.
The officials are attached to the Ministry of Waterways and Public Works and have experience in dealing with burst embankments and flooding. Last year the Dutch town of Stein was flooded when a dike along a canal was breached.
The US response to the offer was not known by Thursday afternoon.
France and Germany have also offered humanitarian assistance to the states in the US effected by Hurricane Katrina.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands expressed her condolences to US President George W. Bush about the damage and suffering caused by the hurricane, the government information service RVD said on Thursday.
[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]
_________________ wash your hands.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 5:22 pm
axxxtw
Founder
Posts: 910
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Apparently the U.S. president is declining many offers. Canada, Germany, Venezuela, Russia, and other countries. WTF?
_________________ wash your hands.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 5:58 pm
Peter's Wife
Posts: 41
Location: Not Amsterdam, sadly
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axxtw:
That is directly contrary to the reports we have in our media. All of the following news comes from MSNBC or CNN (mostly online but some on TV). Just yesterday I read that over 20 countries have offered help and that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was quoted in the AP as saying, "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused."
I think that there is some delay in accepting help because the situation on the ground is so disorganized but, to my knowledge, help is definitely being accepted with teams of specialists on their way from several nations including one I read about from Australia. I do not believe the U.S. has affirmatively asked for help and that may be the confusion. One of our reports yesterday said that the Russians were prepared to help if asked and one of today's reports said that the Germans were prepared to help if asked. I don't think the U.S. is likely to "ask" but will accept help that is offered, particularly if that help is something the U.S. has a particular need for (such as the Dutch offer of dyke/levee inspection and repair). I did read yesterday that a team of some sort from Russia was declined but I don't know why.
I also read today that Ted Sluijter, press spokesman for Neeltje Jans, the public park where the Delta Works are exhibited in the Netherlands, was reported as saying by AP, "I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that [the damage caused by Katrina] could happen in a Western country. It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the coordination" was poor." He's right on target.
The whole thing, especially the response on the ground, has been a unequivocal disaster. The people in the area affected were really hit twice, once by the hurricane and once by a government that is not there for them. The problem is only exacerbated by the number of poor who live in the area and could not leave ahead of the storm due to lack of vehicles, money for gas, places to go, their need to care for elderly or young that could not travel etc. And, as always, the American love of guns which, in the hands of a dangerous and disaffected minority, now creates nightmare for the rescue personnel. It's going to take a lot to stabilize the situation on the ground. It's really hard to believe that this is the U.S. and not some third world country.
Peter's Wife
Last edited by Peter's Wife on 2005-09-03, 12:27 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 6:04 pm
axxxtw
Founder
Posts: 910
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_________________ wash your hands.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 6:15 pm
Peter's Wife
Posts: 41
Location: Not Amsterdam, sadly
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axxtw:
I don't know how accurate blogs are or whether the alleged State Department Bulletin referred to in that blog is real of if it is outdated and has been replaced by an updated Bulletin. Check out:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/k ... index.html
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's spokesperson said, "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused." I cannot imagine that she said publicly help would be accepted if it were not accepted. She and Bush are hand-in-hand on everything.
Check out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9179059/
I just heard another good quote on the news with a syndicated radio personality named Dave Ross. He had a tape of one of the officials saying, "We had an evacuation plan. We begged everyone to leave." Dave Ross pointed out that, for those who were, "Too sick, too old or too poor to leave, you're seeing the only plan."
P.W.
Last edited by Peter's Wife on 2005-09-03, 3:52 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 6:23 pm
Rainer
Posts: 85
Location: Los Angeles
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The New Orleans levees that were in place were not designed to withstand a storm as fierce as Katrina. What happened in New Orleans was an accident waiting to happen. The question is why wasn't anything done over the years to upgrade the system. I don't blame Bush in particular, but rather our government in general. Don't forget that the New Orleans levees were incapable of handling a category 4 hurricane on January 19, 2001 as well (the day before Bush took office).
While there will be plenty of blame to go around, I think there is a proper time and place for everything, and right now is not the time for partisan politics. We're all in this together. It's just a sad fact of life that the poor always suffer the most when natural disasters strike.
While it is great that other nations have offered to help, I am not sure that it is a question of supplies or manpower. It looks like there was an organizational failure, as if there was no advance planning on how to deal with a major catastrophe like this. And don't forget, hurricane season is still ongoing. Another one could strike any time. I cannot imagine what would happen if another big storm hits next week.
I have been to New Orleans several times. It is one of America's most historic cities, and it has a truly unique culture. I hope that they decide to rebuild.
Oh yes, I actually donated money to the red cross. I never have in the past because I was always skeptical about what happens to the money after it is donated. While not casting a cynical eye on what other people do, I found it sickening that Serena Williams, the tennis player who is probably worth about 20 million dollars, held a press conference to say she'll donate $100 for every ace she serves in the US Open. If I were here opponent I'd stand idly while she served and let every point be an ace.
_________________ blaze one for the nation
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 6:54 pm
axxxtw
Founder
Posts: 910
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_________________ wash your hands.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-02, 11:17 pm
Peter's Wife
Posts: 41
Location: Not Amsterdam, sadly
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I just read that 18 trucks of ice and water were in a staging area before the storm. They ended up being destroyed in the floods. I don't know how many other supplies were destroyed or cut off or pre-storm plans went awry because of the size or strength of the storm or why this wasn't anticipated.
I've also read that the area hit is the same size as the U.K. I can appreciate then, that it would hamper efforts, to bring relief to the affected area when that area ends up being so large. But I cannot appreciate or understand why the response, even under those conditions, has been so incredibly inadequate.
P.W.
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Re: Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods
Posted: 2005-09-03, 11:25 am
freakpa
Posts: 375
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The US will not accept any foreign aid. First, it looks bad, like the US isn't on top of the world. But the real reason is much sneakier - we know that the Dutch are the world's best waterway experts and the US can greatly benefit from their experience. But that too will probably be denied.
The way the US currently works is personal profit. If the US accepts foreign aid in the form of labor, the US loses the ability to mark up American labor and take the profits. A German housebuilder would work on Germany's tab as a favor - but then Halliburton (yes, they're supposed to be getting huge contracts on the labor) will lose the ability to pay $25 per hour for that person's time, and billing the US taxpayer $150 per hour for that person's labor. Accepting free aid from outside costs the Bush buddies $125 per hour. That's just bad business for those who pay and are paid off.
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