Bush is saying NO to help from other countries? that's brilliant

[Imagevision]

He obviously doedn't want to appear as a leader who can't get the job done while people continue to die in NO.

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[skids]

1. Need sourcing on this.

You can find reputable sites with stories of the aid that has been offered from various foreign companies (just by googling,) but when the article first appeared about Bushco turning that aid down, it was from a website that many people pointed out was not a reliable source.

So if anyone has a reputable source about the aid being turned down, it would be helpful to post it so that the the Internet journalism sites can roll with the story.

[The White Tree]

2. Here is one link about this:

I got the site from Yahoo by typing Katrina and Foreign Aid and it seems to be a reuters story:

<http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=227571&source=r_general>

WASHINGTON (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.

.................

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 White Tree]

3. Another Story link:

<http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=a6dNGVz18VhE>

International Offers of Aid Pour Into U.S. in Katrina Aftermath

Scanning this I read the following from the story:

France Steps Up

France has 35 disaster-relief workers in the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe ready to leave for the U.S. the minute they are asked, Denis Simonneau, deputy spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, said today. Another relief crew of 60 could be sent from mainland France ``very quickly,'' he said.

Simonneau said France also has 600 tents, 1,000 camp beds, 60 generators, and three portable water-treatment plants ready to be shipped from Martinique. In addition, two planes, two naval ships and a hospital ship are standing ready in the Caribbean, he said.

Nathalie Loiseau, a spokeswoman at the French embassy in Washington, said France made its offer yesterday and is awaiting a response.

[neweurope]

4. They played an interview with him here in Germany where he said that.

"We are able to take care of our own business."


--------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[The White Tree]

5. This seems to be an earlier in time story (8/31)

Although i can't tell if this is an editorial it has Associated Press on the front and the part I am snipping here seems factual.

<http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1853>

08/31: Should the U.S. accept foreign aid?

Associated Press
From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States.
The storm was seen as an equalizer — proof that any country, weak or strong, can be victimized by a natural disaster. Images of flood-ravaged New Orleans earned particular sympathy in central Europe, where dozens died in raging floodwaters only days ago.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Wednesday 10 to 12 foreign governments have offered general assistance to the United States to deal with the hurricane aftermath. No decision has been reached about accepting the offers.

[Imagevision]

6. thank you for the links

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[The White Tree]

7. And one last one - The Boston Globe:

US sends mixed signals on accepting aid from abroad
By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | September 2, 2005

<http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/02/us_sends_mixed_signals_on_accepting_aid_from_abroad/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+National+News>

The offers of foreign aid keep pouring in: helicopters from Canada, cash from Japan, tents and military aircraft from France -- even oil from Venezuela, a political foe. At least 25 countries have offered humanitarian assistance to the United States to recover from Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

But despite the increasingly desperate situation on the ground, the Bush administration has sent mixed signals about whether it will take these global well-wishers up on their offers.

President Bush indicated yesterday morning that the United States had not requested foreign help and didn't need it.

''I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven't asked for it," Bush told ABC's ''Good Morning America." ''I do suspect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country is going to rise up and take care of it. You know, we love help, but we're going to take care of our own business, as well."

Sorry for the multiple posts. I just wanted to get them up as quickly as possible.