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Personally I am very grateful for the offer from Canada, and equally frustrated by what seems to be a slow gathering of resources. But I'm not there, so I can't tell. There are tremendous logistical bottlenecks. I have no way to evaluate if Canada could help at this time.
The Globe and Mail article already says:
"Yesterday, the Department of Human Health Services in the U.S. contacted our public health agency and asked for an inventory of emergency supplies that, if they need them, we could send at a moment's notice."
Our respective generals are talking.
In fact, I just read the following from AP, despite some earlier blustering from Bush:
"With offers from the four corners of the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday."
I know it's a hard time to say "be patient" when people are dying. I think we will need you, and I'm pretty darn sure we will be asking. I wish it were sooner too, but maybe the greater need will be for a rotation in the near future. It's frustrating, but someone needs to figure out where and when you'd be able to do the most good. No matter how professional your team is at this stuff, without coordination with local efforts and the logistics already involved, your resources would be squandered. This will be a long long haul for that area. If we ask tomorrow, next week, or next month, we will still be in a state of simply trying to keep people alive, and will be grateful when you and/or your supplies arrive.
I know you want to help, I do too. I'm on volunteer lists, but I may not get called for a long time yet.

   

Remember all the teams that went to Indonesia to help the tsunami survivors and most of what they did was get in the way of the people who were filling up body bags?

While the offers of help are greatly appreciated, it would appear that everyone right now is just trying to grasp and assess what should be done before they start asking who will be doing it.

   

Ya but there weren't massive amounts of stranded survivors in Indonesia - Most people who were going to be killed were killed and than the water receeded - who could be helped like there are in New Orleans. Also, there weren't bloody snipers shooting at evac helicopters - I mean comon, that's gotta be a good enough excuse to show off the JTF2.

   

It seems the politicians are talking making noise while people on the ground are saying loud and clear this is a clusterfuck of epic proportions. It is a problem of huge propoertions no doubt but it is amazing that rats are now eating dead people in the streets of new Orleans, the old and young drown in their own homes and gangs are looting and raping their way through the rubble. The politicians seem almost to be blaming the poor and hospital patients who had no means to evacuate for the misery they suffer now. There are many hard working people from all levels of government there doing great work but the leadership from the top is lacking. The DART should be sent in as well as every man we can scrape up. there are people dying down there and they are our neighbours ffriends and relatives. I hope and pray that the American federal government gets it's collective head out of its ass and starts getting things really going down there.

   

There was $9 billion looted in Iraq and no one said a dam thing. You see a black guy in a flooded Walmart taking a pair of sneakers and it's time to call in the national guard.

Left Behind

   

Must be racism!

   

Shoot-to-kill orders for New Orleans

I know bullets are colour blind. I would love to hear why Bush was getting gutar lessons while FEMA is telling rescuers to pay for their own gas.

   

Funny... Last catastrophy, the US had troops had supplies in Indonesia within a week of the Big Tsunami. Now they can't even be there for their own people. Canada has leaned from its mistakes and has the DART team is ready now, not in 2 weeks. Their only obstacle is that BUSH is too pride (or dumb) to ask for help. THe other one that burns me is one of the above posts... to tell rescuers to buy their own gas.

   

On a last note.... Get an Apache Helicopter to escort the Rescue helicopters, the gang lord will think twice before opening fire.

   

I was with the DART last time in Sri Lanka and trust me, it still takes a bit of time to get them down there and set up. We can have the advance party there in 2 days once ordered to, but to move the bulk of equipment and troops, it comes down to logistics, namely Airlift.

   

I gotta say I disagree with this attitude. We want to help....again? Times of disaster and tragedy are not times for being smug or self absorbed. There is clearly a demand and Canada is in a place to offer supply. It is as simple as that. They absolutely should NOT have to ask. They should be made aware of what is available to be able to respond, "yes, please, that would kick ass." or "no, dude. thanks we've already got one of those in place."

Some of the attitudes surronding this disaster are appalling and PM Martin has sodded this up, again.

Just as the New England states rushed to help Halifax after the explosion back in the day, Canada should have *something* packed up and ready to go, and opinion polls and self-righteous eye-rolling should be stuffed up the collective Liberal arse.

When I'm in *big* trouble, I'd love to see my neighbour there to help. And if my neighbour's down I'm bloody well gonna offer to help, he (or she)neighbour doesn't have to ask.

   

I agree, Tenacious.
Times like these need people to help, not stand about with cheap shots.
I saw that some of the Canadian lumber companies were ramping up to get building materials down to help. That kind of help will do more to solve the trade problems than any phone call.

   

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