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The generosity of the United States
During the past year, the United States has seen a President intent on apologizing for what he perceives to be the mistakes and misdeeds of our country. A President who admires countries like Cuba and Venezuela. A President who tends to dismiss those countries that are our allies in favor of those who are our enemies. A President who is very hesitant to say anything good about America or tout it's greatness.
Recently, as everyone knows, a devastating earthquake shook one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere - Haiti. Measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, the earthquake toppled buildings, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of people. Haiti has been impoverished for centuries. The government is corrupt. Haiti's infrastructure is akin to a third world country, with little signs of improvement over the years. Destitute. Most of it's people have no marketable skills and only a small minority finish school. Most Haitians exist on pennies a day. Hard to imagine it could get any worse, but it has.
So, which country was first in line to come to the aid of the Haitians? Even prior to this horrific act of nature, which country sends many groups and individuals on humanitarian missions to the region - intent on helping the impoverished with dental care, health care, education, engineering, etc.? When devastation strikes, what country is the first to come to the rescue? What country provides physical help as well as monetary aide?
Another horrific event comes to mind, similar to what has befallen Haiti. In December of 2004, Southern Asia was devastated by a massive tsunami, leaving almost 179,000 people killed and close to 50,000 missing and/or presumed dead. The United States immediately sent $400,000.00 to embassies in the region, and gave $4,000,000.00 to the International Red Cross. The U.S. Pacific command sent three surveillance planes to the area in an effort to help survey the damage. President Bush went further with an aid package of $950 million - which included the following (from the White House/George W. Bush - US Support and aid for earthquake and tsunami victims website):
- $339 million for reconstruction of infrastructure, such as the construction of roads, schools, and water distribution systems;
- $168 million to help victims transition back to their communities, including food aid, shelter, housing reconstruction, education, and programs that help victims recover and get back to work;
- A total of $35 million for early warning and disaster mitigation efforts -- $23 million to improve the international and U.S. tsunami early warning system, and $12 million to enhance tsunami early warning and disaster mitigation in the affected countries;
- $62 million for good governance and technical assistance for planning reconstruction activities and the costs of U.S. government agency operations in the region; and
- $346 million to replenish costs incurred by the United States Agencies for International Development (USAID) and the Defense Department for provision of immediate relief.
To date, the United States has committed $350 million in emergency relief assistance – which will be replenished in the supplemental to enable the United States to respond to future emergencies. This is in addition to operational costs incurred by the Department of Defense. Relief resources have been focused on emergency food assistance, provision of relief supplies, shelter, water and sanitation, health, education, cash for work, livelihoods recovery, psychological and social support, protecting women and children from human-trafficking, logistics and coordination, and debris clean-up.
When the earthquake hit, USAID immediately worked to mobilize staff to respond to the humanitarian needs in the affected countries. At the height of the relief effort, more than 150 USAID personnel, including Disaster Assistance experts, were on the ground in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Maldives, and the Seychelles conducting assessments of affected areas, managing U.S. civilian response, participating in the overall coordination of relief and reconstruction activities, apprising funding requests, and recommending appropriate U.S. Government relief efforts.
- The United States, through USAID, has funded debris clean-up and other community rehabilitation projects in the relief phase benefiting more than 344,000 people through cash-for-work projects and temporary shelter for more than 165,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.
- USAID has also funded water and sanitation activities in the emergency phase benefiting more than 885,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives.
- USAID provided 21,220 metric tons for the first four months of World Food Program (WFP) operations, contributing to WFP's beneficiary total of 1.4 million tsunami victims.
· The Defense Department brought into action military assets to support relief operations in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The Defense Department has been providing vital supplies and logistics to the humanitarian effort since December 30.
- At the height of the DOD humanitarian support activities, there were nearly 16,000 U.S. military personnel in the region focused on this effort.
- There were 26 ships, 58 helicopters, and 43 fixed wing aircraft.
- DOD delivered over 10 million pounds of food and supplies and provided well over 400,000 gallons of fresh water.
- To date, DOD has treated almost 2,500 patients.
Other agencies have also contributed to the effort including the State Department with diplomatic coordination, the Department of Health and Human Services by deploying technical health experts, the Department of Agriculture with food aid, and the Treasury Department through the efforts of the international financial institutions.
Former Presidents Bush and Clinton will visit tsunami-affected countries of South and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Maldives in February 2005.
Estimates place the generous private-sector donations towards the tsunami relief efforts at more than $700 million.
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The people of Haiti will be helped by the greatest nation on the face of the earth: The United States of America. We are the most generous country in the world. Other countries look to us for help and guidance when tragedy strikes - and we always come through. Whether it be our government sending military, monetary, or general aide, or the people of our nation reaching into their own pockets to send as much as they can spare to help out - the United States can always be relied upon. No matter that many in our own country are unemployed and our own economy is in dire straits. Americans will help one another - and others much less fortunate. This has been proven time and time again.
Oh, of course we will hear the usual laments regarding "Hurricane Katrina" and what a terrible job President Bush supposedly did in helping the New Orleans area. Yet, if people honestly examine what happened in that area, one would find the federal government reacted exactly the same way it does for any major catastrophe in our own country. The response was quick and the federal government did what it could, given the circumstances and logistics. The failures of New Orleans fall directly on it's local and state government officials - for their own corruption and ineptitude. The culture of poverty prevalent in New Orleans, and people who lived their lives dependent on the government to solve all their problems, didn't help. Many people didn't know what to do - having been so dependent on others for so long, they were lost when left to their own devices for a period of time. Of course, we don't hear too much about that, since one of the favorite mantra's of libs is "it's Bush's fault." Does a day go by now without President Obama uttering those same words?
In getting back to my original question,: When devastation strikes around the world, what country is the first to come to the rescue?
And no, the answer is not Cuba, Venezuela, Europe, Saudi Arabia, China or Russia for that matter.
The answer is the good ole' United States!!! A fact that we should ALL be proud of!
(If you would like to make a donation to the Haitian relief efforts, click on: Haiti Earthquake Aftermath; How to Help for more information. And Rush Limbaugh was right in stating that Americans wishing to help should NOT send their money to Obama and the federal government. They already take enough of our money to use as they see fit through taxes. Limbaugh instead encouraged people to send their money to reputable charities of their own choosing! I agree.)
Specifically, cash donations to charities for the Haitian relief effort given after January 11 and before March 1 of this year may be treated as if the contribution was made on December 31 of last year so that the contribution can be deducted from 2009 income. This measure applies to monetary donations, not goods or services.One way to contribute is the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. To donate, visit ClintonBushHaitiFund.org or text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation that will be added to your cell phone bill. To learn more about the situation in Haiti and what you can do to help, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.
Amy - It's sad that you let partisianship get in the way of an otherwsie great blog on what the USA does as a Nation, as a people, to help in times of natural disaster be it at home or abroad. Which has nothing to do who is the "president" at the time.
Could have actually been a moment that you actually brought both lefties and righties on LLC blog together? Guess we'll never know what could have been if at least once you used your blogging skills to "bring-us-together", rather than push us apart.
Jacob Pickard: The Hurricane Katrina natural disaster (yes, not caused by Bush or Cheney as some like to believe) was made out by the media and liberals to be a terrible tragedy BECAUSE of George W. Bush. They let partisianship get in the way during that time and even today. Liberals didn't mind "pushing us apart" with their baseless accusations that Bush was racist and did nothing to help the people in need after Hurricane Katrina. So if the left can use Katrina as yet another topic to bash Bush on, it is fair game to do the same with the current President. The current President who is seeing it is very difficult - both logistically and historically to respond in a timely fashion to save lives. Sometimes Mother Nature isn't too kind - and man himself can only do so much to aid his fellow man. Our Federal Government does respond when horrible events like this occur - and it doesn't matter who the President is. We always come through as a nation. Now, why should one President be continually based for what many perceive - even if not true- to be a slow response regarding the aftermath of one hurricane vs. the aftermath of an earthquake. And remember, in both cases, the culture of poverty prevailed - in New Orleans and Haiti. People who don't know what to do to help themselves. Slow response, ignorance, waiting to be helped rather than taking the first steps towards aid and helping others, all play into the mix.
I don't expect all the millions or billions of dollars sent to aid Haiti will help end the poverty. Just like in New Orleans. The culture has to change. Dependency on government has to change. A new way of approaching life and problems must be developed if poverty is to be ended. Sadly, I don't think this will happen. And many of us feel good for a brief time sending money, but in the long run, will it really help?
Jake…you and I don’t see eye to eye on much. And this time it’s no different. Amy’s blog and the Bush/Katrina example is the perfect analogy to the current Haitian catastrophe. You know this because I battled people in the LCR and here when liberals, coming from the MSM, started blaming Hurricane Katrina on Bush and Republicans over Kyoto and their perceived Republican’s lack of respect for global warming. I still can’t believe how ignorant some liberals truly could be over Katrina. But I guess I was wrong because now the tide has turned and the liberals are silent. Why? Because this time they have a liberal president, senate, and congress.
One of the worst politicians during the aftermath from Katrina and from the democratic party was Hillary. So when I watched Hillary’s briefing about not jumping in directly with Haiti but to take a short time to step back and assess the situation, I had to LOL. She was the first in line, after she took her cue from the liberal MSM, to attack Bush for liberals perceived lack of his not making quick decisions with Katrina.
The MSM is “pushing us apart” with their major partisanship and yet liberals like you and the democrats in Washington only follow the MSM all too often. That’s why America is voting them out one by one.
I agree with JP this is no time for that.Stop looking in the past and lets move on.
Are people actually defending the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina??? Are you KIDDING me?!?!? Go down to New Orleans now, see how much of the city "has been repaired," and then tell me that the federal government's response to the disaster was "adequate."
Andy Kristensen: The federal government's response to Katrina was in accord with what has happened with past natural disasters. Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters of our time. In addition to the hurricane itself, numerous levees broke (53), flooding most of New Orleans. (New Orleans, in reality, is a city that shouldn't exist - being that it is below sea level to begin with, and the levees protect it from being flooded by the Gulf waters.) This was a disaster of such a magnitude that we had never witnessed before. Yet, our federal government did respond - and quickly. On the other hand, state and local governments in Louisiana were slow to act, and unorganized. Governor Blanco even resisted the efforts of the Feds initially - and until the state requests help, the feds are limited as to how they respond. Did you know that?
Mayor Ray Nagin and Blano failed to start evacuations of New Orleans and other areas even after they knew Katrina was on it's way.
New Orleans had many pockets of severe poverty, high crime, and high unemployment prior to the hurricane. It was a city in dire straits to begin with. Then along comes Hurricane Katrina, making things even worse. Very similar to what we are witnessing in Haiti. And the rebuilding begins - and doesn't happen overnight.
When was the last time you visited New Orleans, Mr. Kristensen? By all estimations and reports, it is on its way to being repaired.
Wow Amy, you couldn't be any more wrong. ALL levels of government failed, NOT just the state and local. It is true that they failed to evacuate in time; regardless, the federal government also did not do their part in preparing the city for the hurricane. Where were all the high-powered levees that the government had been advised to build? They simply did not exist. Bush's response to the hurricane? Putting Brownie on the job. Since then, the city has BARELY been rebuilt, and thousands are still living in trailor parks and displaced people camps. There was absolutely almost no help from FEMA, and the Feds have done nothing to help people return to their homes and rebuild the city. And actually Amy, a year ago on a mission trip. I've experienced it first-hand. You have not im assuming. SO before you go off and start talking about all the rebuilding that is "occurring" there, you should've gone there in the first place and see how nothing is being done for the people who were affected by the Hurricane. And it's been 5 years since it happened- you'd think we'd have at least some progress by now.
Amy: New Orleans shouldn't exist? Using your logic, the Netherlands shouldn't exist either. Maybe the Corps of Engineers should ask the Dutch how to do the job.
Amy: New Orleans shouldn't exist? Using your logic, the Netherlands shouldn't exist either. Maybe the Corps of Engineers should ask the Dutch how to do the job.
referee33: New Orleans is sinking. At the rate of more than one inch per year. Many areas are farther below sea level than previously thought. See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13065975/ for some information. New Orleans is basically a swamp. A dangerous place to try to inhabit. That is all I meant.
Mr. Kristensen: By all estimations, the federal government has aided many other areas of the United States that have fallen victim to natural disasters. Wild fires out west, tornadoes and flooding in the Midwest, hurricanes in Florida or other parts of the country. And their response and aid was expected.
New Orleans was a recipe for disaster. The city itself is built below sea level, with pockets of poverty throughout. Katrina was such a magnitude of a storm that we as a nation had never experienced. And rebuilding takes time. Did you know that many areas of New Orleans are indeed rebuilt? Such areas are those that didn't rely on the money from the feds, but took matters into their own hands with private funds, insurance money, and elbow grease. The areas that are struggling are those sitting and waiting - yes, waiting, for the feds or local governments to provide. And we all know that government is one of the most inefficient and bloated entities when it comes to problem solving.
There are signs of progress in New Orleans. 111 million cubic yards of debris and counting has been cleared. Electricity and water were restored shortly after the hurricane. New Orleans population has even come back close to pre-Katrina counts. The Louisiana Superdome was fixed. The French Quarter is home to tourists once again.
Katriana was not a common disaster. And we are still learning from it.
Andy Kristensen: what is a "high powered levee?" I thought levees were just concrete walls...
And did you know that the Army Corps of Engineers feared the levees surrounding New Orleans were inadequate as far back as the mid-1980's? Several presidents later, the levee situation was not changed. Who is to blame for not addressing the levee issue originally? Oh, of course, it has to be George W. Bush!!!
However, here is an interesting report on why New Orleans was ripe for disaster. It provides many facts that some are not aware of. The facts that analyze all the finger-pointing and blame:
See: http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/12/210912.shtml
The first paragraph is so true:
"Lying an average of seven feet below sea level, surrounded by the waters of Lake Ponchartrain, the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne, which separates Lake Pontchartrain from the Gulf of Mexico, and protected by a series of sinking levees, the city of New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen."
Andy...From the reports I saw there has been much done. But if you say or have cause to believe the rebuilding by our government and the charity by many Americans is inadequate, and it's the total lack of our Fed Gov, then go and ask Obama and the dems, who run everything, to fix it. You seem to be all for the trillions in new debt by Obama and the dems you and others put in office. So why not go after them if you believe the Fed can fix all this?
Amy and Jim- I agree and disagree with many of the things that you said. Agreements include: Obama should be doing more about it then he is, New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen, a decent amount of the city has returned, and the feds have done a good job of cleaning up after other natural disasters. Disagreements- Agreeing with the debt that Obama is racking up (I'm preparing a blog that BLASTS all the spending he's doing), the federal government shouldn't be responsible for cleaning up, charity and elbow grease can fix everything, the "important parts" of the city have been rebuilt, and the city is close to normal.
I've been there. I've witnessed it first hand. It is not almost rebuilt. At all. And high-powered levees mean that there are levees that are made out of stronger material than concrete, i.e. reinforced titanium and steel levees. Bush is not the one to blame entirely for not preparing the city. Like you said, the report was issued in the 1980's. He was, however, responsible for the clean-up, and that so far has not been too adequate.
Andy...what do you know about the mayor of NO and the Gov as to what they told Bush and what they failed to do on their own before, during, and after Katrina?
I also want to extend any help you may need with your blog on subjects like the one you are going to publish. I've spent the past 30 years of my life working with Wall Street. If you need any data like spending to GDP, and or GNP, history or interest rates with spending, etc, let me now. But let's do this on the side and use our email address provided.
Mr. Kristensen: Did you know that concrete is used in levee's because it is considered more "environmentally friendly" than steel? Also, do you know how much titanium costs? To suggest that levees be built from titanium is a bit much, considering titanium goes for about $29.00 per pound. Steel is much less costly, of course, but corrosion is always a problem.
Other countries that have below-sea level areas use methods other than levee's to control flooding. Japan and the Netherlands both seem to have superior systems compared to the United States. However, another interesting fact in regards to New Orleans, is that when work was being done to shore up areas that were weak and needed repairs, people living in the area's complained - and the work ended. Too much noise pollution.
And the Federal government is only responsible for so much when it comes to disaster relief. The majority of work falls on the states themselves that are affected by disasters. Louisiana was slow in asking for aid, and slower in distributing the money that flowed in from Uncle Sam to start clean-up and rebuilding projects. The refrain "it's Bush's fault" is starting to get very old. And we still are hearing it to this day - from the current occupant of the White House.
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