This is one of the more mean-spirited OPs I’ve seen here.
For the sarcasm-impaired, I was not being serious when I suggested that Sri Lanka and Indonesia owed us one.
Indeed. I’m a bit surprised it wasn’t moved straight to the Pit, but perhaps samclem is the optimistic type.
To answer the OP, think about it. Natural disasters in countries as wealthy as the US generally do not prompt massive international aid, because those countries can take care of themselves. Sometimes specific aid is requested - large forest or brush fires, for instance, can be too much for fire fighters from one country to handle - but generally wealthy countries are able to take care of their own.
If the United States had asked for international assistance and been refused, you’d have a point. What’s happening right now, on the other hand, is Standard Operating Procedure for First World Disasters.
I was all set to congratulate Mr. Chavez on rising above petty disputes in times of emergency… until I read this:
That said… if he’s serious, then good for him, and it’s an excellent gesture.
I think that nearly everyone is on the same page with this one.
If you need help, you’ve got it.
Apart from the offer of support from the Canadian federal government, Canadian relief agencies are mobilizing to help out in the aftermath of Katrina.
I expect that the response is about the same from other U.S. allies.
Why the hell would anyone expect otherwise?
Of course, in real terms, the amount of concrete aid that comes in will be utterly dwarfed by the amount of outgoing aid that goes out – but that’s natural – the U.S. doesn’t require financial aid. Other countries will stand ready with offers of supplies and skilled relief workers – because these are areas where we can actually help.
You can read this post as significantly abridged, seeing as we’re not in the Pit.
The local NBC station in NYC is running a special telathon and in over 21 minutes has raised over 3.2 million - Just thought I would share
Update just a bit over 6million after a hour
(and Canada we always know you are there for us!)
that canada would send help was not in question, and never would be questioned. just as canada would never wonder if the u.s. would help. both countries have a understanding that we are there for each other at all times. (although i do believe that gw is anti-canada for some odd reason.)
a good portion of the time we forget that y’all are a separate country.
I expect that Hydro workers (powerline repair workers and their trucks, etc) will go south without hesitation. We have not forgotten your aid during the Great Ice Storm.
[QUOTE=
a good portion of the time we forget that y’all are a separate country.[/QUOTE]
Dang when did that happen!? 
Always figures we were just a large southern provinece
A kind word for the OP. (Is that asbestos I smell?)
I heard on the radio that the German Red Cross was on stand by for assistance.
ah geez ya gonna make me start liking the Germans (am of German heritage)
If by gw you mean George W. Bush, he has some reason to be anti-Canadian - our former Prime Minister, Jean Cretien, was firmly anti-American, and not shy about it. And then there was that whole “not going to war against Iraq when the U.S. did” thing. But that doesn’t mean that the average Canadian citizen isn’t going to help in any way they can.
So far, 24. So “0” is about wrong.
The Norwegian Red Cross has information about how to donate to American Red Cross on their webpage. They’ve been asked by Amercian Red Cross what kind of help they can offer, and list water-equipment (I assume for purifying drinking water), medical equipment, and tents as stuff they can send quickly. (Info in Norwegian).
No, not really.
I like Germans too. (while I live in Germany, I am an American…but of German descent, so whatever…)