Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods

[sabra]

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=23281&name=Netherlands+offers+US+help+with+Katrina+floods

Netherlands offers US help with Katrina floods

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.

...

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.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Thank you, Netherlands, Canada, France and Germany!!

I don't think ** will accept the help from you, but thank you anyway.

[rodeodance]

4. I read this a few days ago. Is there any follow up?

[HootieMcBoob]

5. Don't forget Venezuela n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Viva Venezuela!

[Bob3]

2. If anybody knows anything about Dikes and levees and floods

and what to do - it's the Dutch.

[Patiod]

15. Heard a guy on "The World" (PRI) last night

He was head of the Dutch equivilent of the Army Corps of Engineers

He said our Army Corps chose to go with a "once every hundred years" scenario - making the levees strong enough that they would only be breeched by a once-in-a-hundred-years event.

The Dutch flooded out in the 1950's, and a lot of people were killed. They opted to go with a once-in-10,000-years event degree of protection. Much more costly, but the Netherlands is safe now, and how costly will the loss/rebuilding of New Orleans be?

[tocqueville]

3. the Dutch have a damned good experience of those situations

[puddycat]

11. Yes, the Dutch are very experienced with this kind of situation.

thank you, Netherlands!

[Karmadillo]

7. Sorry, but the drug policy in the Netherlands is totally unacceptable.

Keep your aid, you progressives.

[MsTryska]

8. i hope we do take up the Dutch offer....

i was just thinking about them and their dikes this morning.

They could be very helpful in rebuilding NO once it dries out as well.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. Well, I accept their offer

I'm a US taxpayer and if my government is going to pretend that we are too good for any external help I'm going over their heads.

Any one have a # for the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Waterways, I'm inviting them to help fix this mess.

[wake.up.america]

16. Bush has got to be the world's dumbest ass. Rejecting help from a ...

country with centuries of experience in dikes. Am I missing something?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. No, you seem to have it about right

"Bush has got to be the world's dumbest ass." That pretty much covers it as far as I can tell.

[henslee]

10. We are not two steps ahead of the problem. We were not two steps

ahead to anticipate the levy breaking. I have no faith in folks that run things. Sure they'll be meetings and committees and hearings and all that crap. Most of it will be window dressing... and attempts to deflect blame.

[dogday]

12. They will probably deny the help as they

did with our northern neighbor Canada. Bush get off your ass and accept any and all help for these people. You heartless bastard...

[Blue_Roses]

13. Take the offer!

take the offer! take the offer! This is not a time for pride...we need all the help we can get! :applause:

[maxsolomon]

14. "why aren't other countries offering help?"

they offered AS FAST as our own government did.

can you whiners now eat some crow? c'mon, lets hear it.

[wake.up.america]

17. Bush has pissed off soooo many people off. The offers for help...

is for the American people who have suffered so much, not for Bush.

What gives him the right to reject offers of assistance?

[damntexdem]

18. Could these countries offer help directly to the Gov of LA?

Would Dubya dare try to prevent the help from coming into the U.S. if the Louisiana Governor accepted it?

Is there some way to get around Dubya's refusal of international aid?

[KoKo]

19. Can't the Governor over-ride Bush on this and have them come in?

Do they need special visa's or something. This is a desperate situation... What is going on...Who is in charge here?

[damntexdem]

22. But if the Guv said he wanted the help, ...

would the Administration dare to deny the special visas and permits?

[Windy]

23. russia also offered search and rescue assistance

and bush turned it down!

[Fleshdancer]

21. The warmth and support from the Netherlands is not a surprise

Good people over there. Very good people.

:hug: