I am interested to hear the views of forum members who live in countries that are aiding the US.

Why does the US need our money?

The Red Cross is appealing for people overseas to contribute money to its Hurricane Katrina Appeal. But why does the world's richest nation need handouts?

The world's only superpower has been forced to turn to aid agencies to speed up the humanitarian effort in the wake of Katrina.

Seemingly unable to draw on its wealth at short notice to immediately respond to the disaster, charities in other countries, such as the British Red Cross, are now launching appeals to raise money.

In addition half a million military ration packs worth an estimated £3m have been flown out from the UK and more are expected to follow.

The public in many countries are accustomed to providing aid to poverty stricken developing nations, but the need to provide assistance to the most opulent country in the world may leave many perplexed.

Sympathy

It is not a position the US is used to being in either. President George W Bush seemed to initially dismiss suggestions of receiving foreign assistance.

"I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven't asked for it," he said. "I do expect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country is going to rise up and take care of it.''

Later, US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, said "no offers of assistance will be refused''.

The gross national income of the US is $37,870 per capita, according to the World Bank. It is just $810 for tsunami-hit Indonesia and $200 for poverty-stricken Niger.

And, national wealth aside, Americans have a strong track record of generosity concerning disasters on their own soil. They gave $2bn following the 11 September attacks.

'Unprecedented'

The British Red Cross says the appeal is about getting money quickly to speed up the aid effort, but admits it does raise questions about measures the US Government has in place to deal with large-scale domestic disasters...

READ MORE

I think it is important that countries do offer aid, in whatever form appropriate, to any country that is effected by a natural or man-made disaster. It would be a comfort to most people to know that regardless of where disaster struck, the rest of the world community wil give aid and assistance - regardless if that disaster ccurs in a 3rd world country or on the wealthiest nation on earth.

If we don't at least offer aid, then we start down the track of "which people deserve aid and which people don't" - that's not really healthy debate.

What Rich said, and I also think that collecting private funds is much a longer process than appealing to International Institutions like the Red Cross. In general, though, too many Countries are having the sorta "revenge" attitude, like -oh look who's in need now ah ah now it's me looking down on you and you will have to thank ME now and oh oh it must be humiliating for you ah ah the big rich needs our money-
Anyways the US should definitely provide itself with a national ready intervention agency, like the one that we have here, called Protezione Civile.

just look at U.S' government's messed up bugdet and its costly war in Iraq.

Originally Posted by WARmachine88

just look at U.S' government's messed up bugdet and its costly war in Iraq.

Do you live in a glass house? I sure hope not.

Originally Posted by Marinerhodes

Do you live in a glass house? I sure hope not.

so you think U.S government can pay for the rebuilding itself even though they are so in debt and have to pay for the expensive war in iraq..

Originally Posted by WARmachine88

so you think U.S government can pay for the rebuilding itself even though they are so in debt and have to pay for the expensive war in iraq..

Now you are putting words in my mouth. If you choose to bash on something then back it up with fact. Don't throw out comments like that and not expect a like response.

yes yes i do.

WARmachine88, stay on topic and do not start flame wars on these forums, the subject is foreign aid for disaster relief, not what your opinion of either the current war in Iraq or the United States economy are, especially without any thought or references put into your posts. Behave in a mature manner on these forums or find another place to spend your time.

Originally Posted by Marinerhodes

Now you are putting words in my mouth. If you choose to bash on something then back it up with fact. Don't throw out comments like that and not expect a like response.

couple fact

1. U.S is the richest nation in the world.
2. Suddenly, U.S needs aids while usually it is U.S supporting other nations.

an explaination for that:

U.S government budget is in a bad shape and government is in huge debt and every citizen is paying interest for the money the government has borrowed.
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
The government just cannot afford the huge rebuilding money with such a deficit and costly war going on.