Having had my fill of negative and narrow opinions in that wretched thread on Germany and Katrina, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the actions of the majority of the people in Europe. Actions speak louder than words, and these actions shout. Look at what is happening:
Germany is sending high speed water pumps, heavy lift transport aircraft, a hospital ship, and water purification units. They have already delivered 75,000 meals.
France is sending water purification units, a hospital ship, two Navy support ships, portable generators, portable housing, and teams to set it all up. Much of this was prepositioned in the Antilles for French military use, so they are dipping into their military reserves.
Luxembourg sends a rescue team, camp beds, and blankets. Small country, big heart.
Britain is sending 500,000 field rations, medical teams, marine engineers, urban search/rescue teams, and shallow water boats. Imagine the dazed person rescued by the Royal Navy, and offered a spot of tea - man, that was some hurricane, it blew me across the Atlantic.
Austria is sending a crisis team and water pumps.
Belgium sends medical teams, civil engineers, divers, portable generators and lights.
Czech Republic sends a flood rescue unit, pumping units, water purifiers, a field hospital, chemical analysis group, and medical units.
Greece is sending two cruise ships for housing.
Hungary sends rescue teams.
Finland sends rescue teams.
Ireland sends first aid kits, meals, water purification units, medical equipment, and specialist teams.
Italy sends water pumps, chlorine for water purification, portable housing, and baby food formula.
Netherlands sends medical teams, water pumps (and you can bet they have some big ones), engineering teams (they have plenty of experience with flooding), a water purification unit, and a Navy ship with fresh water and medical supplies.
Spain sends fire fighters and rescue units with equipment, medical teams, a field hospital, generators, portable water treatment plant,
Sweden sends cell phone network repair equipment, heavy lift aircraft, water pumps, water purification units, and meals.
The European nations have already opened up their own strategic petroleum reserves to alleviate shortages, and folks, that is no small thing to do.
Even outside of Europe, the assistance has poured in. Kuwait sends half a billion (yes, that's billion) dollars. Man, those guys don't mess around... Venezuela, a country that has been at odds with our current president, has responded very generously. That's character. Cuba, who is about as broke as a country can get, and as at odds with us as a country can get, sends assistance. The size of the country doesn't matter - Latvia, Lithuania, and even Malta have sent assistance. And that's just a partial list - it's hard to find a country that hasn't offered assistance.
And we aren't talking token gestures, the assistance being sent is both substantial and expensive. I really feel rather humbled by it all, especially by the nations we've had disagreements with lately, stemming at least partially from bullheaded thinking on our part. Those quarrels got pushed aside very quickly. Whether I agree with it or not, our current government has adopted a 'go it alone' policy in recent years. Then, we get hammered, and we find that we can't go it alone. (I hear a collective "well, duh!" from the rest of the world)
If there is one bright spot in this disaster, it is this realization: We have a lot of very good friends out there, and we need to listen to them.
Germany is sending high speed water pumps, heavy lift transport aircraft, a hospital ship, and water purification units. They have already delivered 75,000 meals.
France is sending water purification units, a hospital ship, two Navy support ships, portable generators, portable housing, and teams to set it all up. Much of this was prepositioned in the Antilles for French military use, so they are dipping into their military reserves.
Luxembourg sends a rescue team, camp beds, and blankets. Small country, big heart.
Britain is sending 500,000 field rations, medical teams, marine engineers, urban search/rescue teams, and shallow water boats. Imagine the dazed person rescued by the Royal Navy, and offered a spot of tea - man, that was some hurricane, it blew me across the Atlantic.
Austria is sending a crisis team and water pumps.
Belgium sends medical teams, civil engineers, divers, portable generators and lights.
Czech Republic sends a flood rescue unit, pumping units, water purifiers, a field hospital, chemical analysis group, and medical units.
Greece is sending two cruise ships for housing.
Hungary sends rescue teams.
Finland sends rescue teams.
Ireland sends first aid kits, meals, water purification units, medical equipment, and specialist teams.
Italy sends water pumps, chlorine for water purification, portable housing, and baby food formula.
Netherlands sends medical teams, water pumps (and you can bet they have some big ones), engineering teams (they have plenty of experience with flooding), a water purification unit, and a Navy ship with fresh water and medical supplies.
Spain sends fire fighters and rescue units with equipment, medical teams, a field hospital, generators, portable water treatment plant,
Sweden sends cell phone network repair equipment, heavy lift aircraft, water pumps, water purification units, and meals.
The European nations have already opened up their own strategic petroleum reserves to alleviate shortages, and folks, that is no small thing to do.
Even outside of Europe, the assistance has poured in. Kuwait sends half a billion (yes, that's billion) dollars. Man, those guys don't mess around... Venezuela, a country that has been at odds with our current president, has responded very generously. That's character. Cuba, who is about as broke as a country can get, and as at odds with us as a country can get, sends assistance. The size of the country doesn't matter - Latvia, Lithuania, and even Malta have sent assistance. And that's just a partial list - it's hard to find a country that hasn't offered assistance.
And we aren't talking token gestures, the assistance being sent is both substantial and expensive. I really feel rather humbled by it all, especially by the nations we've had disagreements with lately, stemming at least partially from bullheaded thinking on our part. Those quarrels got pushed aside very quickly. Whether I agree with it or not, our current government has adopted a 'go it alone' policy in recent years. Then, we get hammered, and we find that we can't go it alone. (I hear a collective "well, duh!" from the rest of the world)
If there is one bright spot in this disaster, it is this realization: We have a lot of very good friends out there, and we need to listen to them.
