HELPING HAND
HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has offered to send help to the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
At a nightly roundtable program on state-run television Friday, the Cuban leader said his nation was ready to send 1,100 doctors and 26 tons of medicine and equipment.
"Others have sent money; we are offering to save lives," he said.
Castro -- an enemy of U.S. President George W. Bush and frequent subject of condemnation from the White House -- said he would not comment on the U.S. government's response to the tragedy because "this is not the time to kick an adversary -- while he's down."
Castro said the doctors he was offering have international experience.
The United States has no diplomatic relations with Cuba. It remained unclear whether the White House would take Castro up on his offer.
After a massive earthquake in Bam, Iran, in December 2003, the United States sent aid -- even though the United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran.
comments?
posted by M. Martin at 8:37 PM
10 Comments:
I'm not going to hold my breath on that happening any time soon.
I think Castro is just fucking with Bush which makes it kind of funny, though. Third world nation (in a lot of respects) sending Dr.'s to us.
If they do send doctors, I hope they send some good cigars for the hard working people, too..
Bush don't need no hep from that 2-bit comminist.
Castro should use that 26 tons of supplies for his own people.
Iguana, that's what I was thinking. I suspect he's messing with Bush and I suspect that says something about the Prez' standing in the world.
If he did send those supplies, however, it'd be a really humane act on his part. We'll see - my fingers are crossed.
The key words there for me are the ones pertaining to kicking the adversary when he's down. Is there any camp, anywhere on the planet, that is making the argument that the US government acted wisely and expediently in this matter? Or has the administration just been exposed as selfishly-motivated to everyone, believers and non-believers?
And, follow up question..., does the prez respond to these widespread allegations of negligence, slow response and indifference? Or are they, like Sheehan, too "below him" to respond to?
Interesting article Washington Post- A12.
World reaction to Hurricane response:
“How Could This Happen In The United States.”
The world is of course appalled.
As for Castro meh, I know a lot of families, friends parents and grandparenets, from where I used to live who escaped Cuba during the revolution and he ( Castro) certainly has a lot of nerve. I am sure he enjoys being able to bait the president.
The Post also reports that we have thus far refused aid from the over fifty something countries and organizations abroad that have offered it as the State Department is still analyzing it's needs????
I think what you are all forgetting is that if Bush actually took Casto up on this offer, then it would come down to Cuba either putting up the recources, or shutting the hell up. I think that at this point the United States shouldn't be too picky about where their help comes from. Ask the people dying down there if they could care where the money to help them came from, or if the doctor that is administering to their needs is a member of a democracy, or a communist state. It's easy to say that we should turn it down when we're drinking clean water, and able to flush our toilet. Quite anoter story when rats are gnawing on corpses outside where you're living.
But, I doo think that Castro should be using those supplies for his own people. It does stink of political grndstanding at it's worst. And that sickens me on both sides
Strider's Brother
And yes, I did live in that city for four years. No, I haven't been able to make contact with anyone I knew while I was down there.
I just realized I misspelled "do" and "Grandstanding" I am embarrassed.
Bro - don't be embarrassed. First, remember Sound Destruction is a spelling & grammar free zone (to accomodate our bro Strider's miserable attempts at each). Second, I was too distracted by your impressive comment to even notice the typos.
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