I posted a diary here yesterday about Canada’s offers of aid. Well.. the Canadian military is now offering to send troops to the diaster area to help in any way possible. (Why do I get the feeling that this wont be accepted?)
Also, Canada’s DART unit, which was sent to Bangladesh during the tsunami aftermath, which is able to set up a mobile hospital and create several hundred thousand liters of clean drinkable and pottable water a day, has also been put on standby for immediate assistance
Canadian Forces are on standby to help the United States deal with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier announced Thursday.
Gen. Hillier said he spoke with his counterparts in the U.S., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers and commander of the U.S. Northern Command.
“Whenever there is a need … they have but to ask and we in the Canadian Forces will have it rolling or sailing or flying southward as quickly as possible,” he told reporters in Ottawa.
He also said the Disaster Assistance Response Team would be ready to respond as soon as it was needed.
The US military response?
“Their message back to me was very clear. Firstly it was a heartfelt thanks from their part,” Hillier added.
Well.. at least they’re grateful we offered.
Another interesting part of this story:
Senior Canadian civilian and military officials have had talks with their U.S. counterparts about offering aid, but have yet to receive a formal request for help.
Folks, Canada doesnt have a very big military as it is.. and a lot of them are in Afghanistan, but after seeing all these scenes of despair and anarchy today, surely every little bit helps?
Anyhow, as with yesterday’s diary, we stand ready to help any way we can if the US government decides to ask us.
A lot of us dont like Bush up here.. but this event overshadows any political ideology.. we WANT to help you! Canadians are asking our government why we arent doing more.. but how can we if no one gets back to us to tell us how we can help?
And as I type this, unfortunately this might be the answer; President Bush apparently doesnt think he needs help from anyone else and that the US can handle it just fine on their own:
Still, Bush told ABC-TV: “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.” “You know,” he said, “we would love help, but we’re going to take care of our own business as well, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll succeed. And there’s no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.
So apparently its not American to accept help from others? I dont doubt America will have to bear the brunt of recovery, but whats wrong with every little bit helps?