Qatar gives 100 million dollars for US hurricane relief

[ECH1969]

DOHA (AFP) - The Gulf emirate of Qatar announced it will donate 100 million dollars to relief efforts for the US victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The aid was granted by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani "in the name of the government and the Qatari people," the official news agency QNA said.

Quoting a foreign ministry spokesman, QNA said: "Qatar expresses its sympathy and its solidarity to the US people and government in these painful circumstances and sends its condolences to the families of the victims in this humanitarian catastrophe."

Three other Arab countries -- Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates -- have also offered aid to the United States.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050903/wl_mideast_afp/usweatherqatar_050903180659

[Olney Blue]

1. Thank you, Qatar.

[valerief]

2. Why are you thanking Qatar?

The money will not go to the victims. It will just go to Halliburton, who will quadruple-quintuple-charge every relief service and item the US govt buys from them.

[Brundle_Fly]

3. well I hardly think thats what Qatar wanted.

Maybe our crap WH will stick it there, but every bit helps.

[mountainvue]

15. Was this donation solicited by Poppy

on his Blackberry?

[donheld]

36. Who the hell cares

Lets just take the money and help people.

[redwitch]

4. Because it was a decent thing for them to do

They aren't responsible for how our f**d up gov't decides to spend it.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. Because it's not their fault if the money is squandered?

Because they see a tragedy and are giving money to help?

Because our government has failed all of us and we need all the help we can get?

Because $100 million dollars is a generous gift?

Because they deserve more than bitterness for what is not their fault?


Why shouldn't we thank them?

[valerief]

10. Do you really believe Qatar is not part of the BushCo cabal?

They are one and the same. Oil brothers.

[philosophie_en_rose]

12. Of course they are.

But money is money.


The United states shouldn't need international assistance, but it does. And any donation is better than nothing.

Hell, I'm not a huge fan of Castro - but he's doing a better job organizing help than Bushco.


In other words, if your family were stuck on a roof and needed medical help, would you spit in the face of a freeper handing out water? I wouldn't.

[valerief]

17. But who do you think will get the money from Qatar?

It will stop right in the hands of BushCo. Their donation is PR only. It's not real money.

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. PR for whom?

For Qatar? What does it matter to Qatar what it's US reputation is?

For Bush? He's turning away help from any number of sources. It doesn't help him.

[valerief]

23. An oil rich country is offering $$$$ to the US

Therefore, oil rich countries must be filled with good, caring people.

So, as oil prices climb, don't fault the oil rich countries, because they're the good guys.

That's the press spin.

[mountainvue]

16. It was a very generous gift. n/t

[rockymountaindem]

5. Thanks Qatar!

We appreciate it.

[Endangered Specie]

6. Great, now we'll have to listen to reporters butcher the pronunciation

"Cutter" "Cuter" etc... ;) jk

In all seriousness though, I didn't realize they had that type of money to 'donate' to anything? Wonder how many people could find Qatar on a map. Any help is appreciated, even if it doesnt all make it to where its needed most.

Thats 100x than the NBA's original offering.

[redwitch]

9. How DOES one pronounce Qatar?

Kattar, Cutter, Cat-tar? I think they are pretty well heeled and can afford this donation. I really do think it is great of them.

[Endangered Specie]

14. I cant get it precisely,

but I have been told by people who would probaly know (middle eastern friends) that it is definetly not "cutter"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_of_disputed_pronunciation

[valerief]

18. I think it's pronounced like Guitar with a K

(K)uitar.

[Binka]

20. It Is Pronounced Kaw Tar

I lived there for eight months. Beautiful place. Pristine. Fucking rich beyond belief. The Monaco of the ME.

And it is and owned and operated US state.

[TheDonkey]

22. according to Webster, yes.

but isn't it a state that supports terrorism?

[Endangered Specie]

32. It is the home of AlJazeera

as far as terroist support, dont know (but how many countries in the world havent supported terrorism of some kind?)

[valerief]

25. That's what I said

I think you think I have a southern accent or something, but I don't.

[Igel]

34. The is uvular in Standard Arabic.

We don't have one: start with 'k' and go back a ways. Not aspirated. It might be roughly like 'g' in colloquial Qatari Arabic.

Wikipedia shows the t is pharyngealized. If that helps: so it would be emphatic, to use the standard, nearly meaningless, term for the sound class.

Obligatorily trill the 'r'.

Initial stress (well, three moras from the end, which means initial stress in this word). Don't reduce either a.

cutter or gutter is close enough. We speak English; we approximate other country's pronunciation when we can, and when we care.

[6th Borough]

24. LAst time I checked (albeit a long time ago), Qatar had the highest GDP...

per person in the world.

It isn't your impoverished, say...Yemeni type gulf state.

More along the lines of an oil rich, monaco vacationing emirate.

[Opusnone]

7. Exxon?

This energy titan will likely show NET income this year of over $20 billion USD.
http://biz.yahoo.com/e/050505/xom10-q.html

How 'bout a little something for the effort, Exxon?

[valerief]

11. They're not happy with just our blood

They want our kidney stones, too.

Exxon will do nothing but continue to rape the civilized world.

[maddezmom]

35. 7 million committed....should be more

ExxonMobil Pledges $250,000 to Dallas Red Cross Chapter as Part of Total $7 Million Commitment for Hurricane Assistance
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050902/25557.html?.v=1

[mountainvue]

13. And Wal Mart Can only give 15 mil? n/t

[benburch]

19. May Allah smile upon the people of Qatar. nt

[drdtroit]

26. Just a cover to make an illegal contribution, or tribute, to the BFEE.

[GOPNotForMe]

27. Isn't that the name of the fictional middle eastern country in West Wing??

Or maybe I'm just slow...

[iamjoy]

29. Tha Was Qumar (West Wing)

supposed to be based on Afghanistan, I think.

[shanti]

28. that's what I'M talking about!!

no strings attached?

[leetrisck]

30. CENTCOM is there

remember? Very wealthy. Thanks.

[AlamoDemoc]

31. I think this is indeed a very generous on the Qatari government

and we should be thankful on their generosity and help, period!

[xchrom]

33. cool -- now let's see how much actually goes

to the victims.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

37. I wonder if this is what Cheney's been up to...

He has yet to surface. He probably has to negotiate round the clock since Junior is so incompetent.