America's enemies

[Guest guest]

America's Enemies Respond to Katrina

By Steven Durel

 

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, some around the world have been

rejoicing. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, for example, gave an Internet

statement saying, " Congratulations to the Islamic nation, to our

sheikh Osama abu Abdullah (Osama bin Laden) and to sheikh Ayman

Zawahiri (bin Laden's deputy) for the destruction of America, which

is at the forefront of evil. It is the start of its collapse. "

 

The statement is obviously a venomous one, poisoned by religious

fundamentalism. The simple fact of the matter, however, is that not

all of America's enemies share Zarqawi's point of view. In fact, in

the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of the US's old enemies

came together to help their foe.

 

Cuba, a socialist nation under the rule of Fidel Castro for nearly

fifty years, proclaimed that it was eager to assist the United

States. Cuba's National Assembly sent a Message of Solidarity on

September 1, stating that it was saddened at the loss of life,

particularly the lives of the poor. The following day Castro offered

to send the US 100 health specialists armed with 2400 milligrams of

medicine and an additional 1000 health specialists in later days. On

September 4, Castro stated that the US had not accepted his offer to

help. In response to this and still wanting to help, the Cuban

leader pledged a total of 1586 physicians each carrying 27 pounds of

medicine.

 

Said Castro to the medical staff he had prepared, " We continue to

wait patiently for a response. In the meantime, all of you will be

taking intensive courses in immunology and also something that I

should be doing—an intensive brush-up course in English. "

 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the man who Pat Robertson urged

the US to assassinate weeks ago, also pledged his nation's support

to the Hurricane-ravaged area. Chavez, who is also a proponent of

socialism, offered aid in the traditional forms—$120 million in aid

and 120 rescue specialist—as well as through fuel, since Venezuela

currently provides 10% of the US's oil.

 

" Venezuela has offered help that until now has not been accepted. For

example, they offered 66,000 barrels of oil per day during the

winter for poor citizens of our countryÂ… Until now no receptiveness

has been shown towards the offer, " explained Reverend Jesse

Jackson. " President Chavez also offered, to help with the crisis,

one million dollars, two mobile medical units capable of attending

to 150 persons each, ten water purifying plants, eight electricity

generators with a capacity of 850 kilo watts each, 20 tons of

bottled drinking water, 50 tons of canned food, which until now have

not been accepted. "

 

President Chavez made a point to link the recent high frequency of

powerful hurricanes to global warming, citing the fact that the

United States chose not to sign the Kyoto Agreement.

 

Iran, a nation on the outs with the US since 1979, an Islamic

country bordered by occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, offered help

to " the Great Satan. " The Iranian Petroleum Ministry offered the

United States $20 million worth of crude oil to help ebb high

prices, which were inflamed by the hurricane. Iran also offered

humanitarian aid to assist the actual human victims of the storm.

 

North Korea's Red Cross Society was also deeply concerned for the

victims of Hurricane Katrina. Said the Red Cross, " We hope that

people in the affected area can recover from the damage as soon as

possible and return to their safe lives. "

 

Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Cal.), who recently visited North Korea,

stated, " The former North Korean ambassador to the UN expressed a

message of deep sympathy for the damage inflicted on the US and

asked me to deliver that message to the US government. "

 

Across the globe, nations are eager to help the United States.

People who condemn our foreign policy and leadership on a daily

basis have raised their hands with open offerings to assist us in a

time of need. They don't do it to impress us or garner our support,

only to help us when our citizens are drowning, starving, and

running on empty. I personally think that we US citizens need to

remember this instance, consider that perhaps those " anti-Americans "

aren't so dastardly after all.

 

 

War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left.

[Guest guest]

It's really sad that other nations offer more hope than our own. I suspect that it's not just words with them, they would actually help, whereas our own nation's governments are sitting on their hands saying "I dunno, what do YOU wanna do" pass it on.... "I dunno...."fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

America's Enemies Respond to KatrinaBy Steven DurelIn the wake of Hurricane Katrina, some around the world have been rejoicing. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, for example, gave an Internet statement saying, "Congratulations to the Islamic nation, to our sheikh Osama abu Abdullah (Osama bin Laden) and to sheikh Ayman Zawahiri (bin Laden's deputy) for the destruction of America, which is at the forefront of evil. It is the start of its collapse." The statement is obviously a venomous one, poisoned by religious fundamentalism. The simple fact of the matter, however, is that not all of America's enemies share Zarqawi's point of view. In fact, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of the US's old enemies came together to help their foe.Cuba, a socialist nation under the rule of Fidel Castro for nearly fifty years,

proclaimed that it was eager to assist the United States. Cuba's National Assembly sent a Message of Solidarity on September 1, stating that it was saddened at the loss of life, particularly the lives of the poor. The following day Castro offered to send the US 100 health specialists armed with 2400 milligrams of medicine and an additional 1000 health specialists in later days. On September 4, Castro stated that the US had not accepted his offer to help. In response to this and still wanting to help, the Cuban leader pledged a total of 1586 physicians each carrying 27 pounds of medicine.Said Castro to the medical staff he had prepared, "We continue to wait patiently for a response. In the meantime, all of you will be taking intensive courses in immunology and also something that I should be doing—an intensive brush-up course in English."Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the man who Pat Robertson urged the US to

assassinate weeks ago, also pledged his nation's support to the Hurricane-ravaged area. Chavez, who is also a proponent of socialism, offered aid in the traditional forms—$120 million in aid and 120 rescue specialist—as well as through fuel, since Venezuela currently provides 10% of the US's oil."Venezuela has offered help that until now has not been accepted. Forexample, they offered 66,000 barrels of oil per day during the winter for poor citizens of our country… Until now no receptiveness has been shown towards the offer," explained Reverend Jesse Jackson. "President Chavez also offered, to help with the crisis, one million dollars, two mobile medical units capable of attending to 150 persons each, ten water purifying plants, eight electricity generators with a capacity of 850 kilo watts each, 20 tons of bottled drinking water, 50 tons of canned food, which until now have not been accepted."President Chavez

made a point to link the recent high frequency of powerful hurricanes to global warming, citing the fact that the United States chose not to sign the Kyoto Agreement.Iran, a nation on the outs with the US since 1979, an Islamic country bordered by occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, offered help to "the Great Satan." The Iranian Petroleum Ministry offered the United States $20 million worth of crude oil to help ebb high prices, which were inflamed by the hurricane. Iran also offered humanitarian aid to assist the actual human victims of the storm.North Korea's Red Cross Society was also deeply concerned for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Said the Red Cross, "We hope that people in the affected area can recover from the damage as soon as possible and return to their safe lives."Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Cal.), who recently visited North Korea, stated, "The former North Korean ambassador to the UN expressed a message of

deep sympathy for the damage inflicted on the US and asked me to deliver that message to the US government."Across the globe, nations are eager to help the United States. People who condemn our foreign policy and leadership on a daily basis have raised their hands with open offerings to assist us in a time of need. They don't do it to impress us or garner our support, only to help us when our citizens are drowning, starving, and running on empty. I personally think that we US citizens need to remember this instance, consider that perhaps those "anti-Americans" aren't so dastardly after all.War doesn't determine who's right. War determines who's left. Jonnie

Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.