WHY?

[SaskMan]

on earth would U.S Government officials deny Cuba's offer of 1586 doctor's for the relief effort in the areas affected by Ktrina. Cuba is a world leader in hurricane preparation and response. Can someone tell me why those doctors were denied the opportunity to help?

[buckee]

Re: WHY?

Because they all smoke cuban cigars ?? I don't know.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: WHY?

It's a difficult question to answer because it is so complex. First, let me say that I believe that their offer would not have a significant impact on the situation. What we really need now isn't more doctors, but more facilities. If we were in desperate need of doctors, the answer might have been different.

So why not accept the offer anyway? Because, like it or not, Cuba and the US are still in a defacto state of war, and will likely remain that way until the current dictatorial regime is no longer in power.

[fisherguy]

Re: WHY?

same reason they won't let the Canadian doctors there do anything....beurocracy. Canada sent military ships with emergency suplies and doctors to help. They were prepared and equipped to get the supplies off the ships and directly to the people displaced...but US policy said they had to unload in Florida and all the supplies had to be logged and distributed through the US military.(Takes a lot of extra time). Then the doctors sent are not allowed to so much as give a patient an asprin because they are not licensed to practice in the US. Kind of makes you wonder what the point of taking help is if you are going to use it in teh least efficient manner possible.

[ParrotHead]

Re: WHY?

Lemme guess - those 1500 doctors are on a small boat headed to Miami????

[jdickey]

Re: WHY?

When the Cubans get in the U.S., they would want to stay! Beats swimming to America!

[py_archer]

Re: WHY?

We give aid to other countries so we can tell them what to do. Draw your own conclusions.

[wtnhunt]

Re: WHY?

Like Texan says I really dont think we have an immediate need for a bunch of physicians from cuba or anywhere else for that matter here at this point.

[SaskMan]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

They aren't trained like U.S. doctors

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be shocked if every single U.S doctor was trained in the exact same way. You have no doctors trained in say....South Africa, Pakistan, ????

[ QUOTE ]

I really dont think we have an immediate need for a bunch of physicians from cuba or anywhere else for that matter here at this point.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are there no people in need of medical treatment at this point after the devastation. If there are then I think that maybe some physicians are needed.

[ QUOTE ]

We give aid to other countries so we can tell them what to do

[/ QUOTE ]

If this is indeed the case why go on about what a generous country the U.S is in offering support and help if the only reason they do it is so they can tell that country what to do.

[ QUOTE ]

When the Cubans get in the U.S., they would want to stay

[/ QUOTE ]

This reminds me of all the people in the lounge complaining about the offered help of the Mexican army. Kind of makes a guy wonder just what country or countries are indeed good enough to help out the U.S. I remember people on here crying the blues about where the relief was right after the event, well it is being offered and denied. Beggers can't be choosers. I know I may have pissed some people off here but many things written on these forums the last while totally contradict each other.

[horst]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

This reminds me of all the people in the lounge complaining about the offered help of the Mexican army. Kind of makes a guy wonder just what country or countries are indeed good enough to help out the U.S. I remember people on here crying the blues about where the relief was right after the event, well it is being offered and denied. Beggers can't be choosers. I know I may have pissed some people off here but many things written on these forums the last while totally contradict each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point, and ill admitt, i did complain a little.But you cant have it both ways.I was wrong, ill admitt it, and it really is great to see other countries, even ones like Cuba and Mexico offering help when they have so many problems of thier own.I thought the post in the lounge was outta line when Mexico offered help and everyone started making sterotypical comments about it.Heck, Mexico and Cuba responded in the same time frame our Government did, letting them in mighta helped speed things up.pretty sad when theyre just starting to recover the dead and dont even know if the live ones are all rescued two weeks after the hurricane

[Reloader]

Re: WHY?

I must agree with 2 points in here.

1. (This does not apply to the Canadian or many of the European or Japanese doctors but does apply to cuban doctors.)Doctors in many other countries are not trained to the same standards as US doctors. That is not to say none are, but many aren't properly trained and in the US their credentials amount to little more than the training given a hospital tech/orderly or CNA.

2. We don't need doctors so much as facilities. We have a lot of US doctors already there or on their way there. We do need people but mostly for Debri removal, cleanup and sanitizing of emergency shelter locations.

As for the Canadian doctors and suplies...that is just red tape beuracracy...

[horst]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

As for the Canadian doctors and suplies...that is just red tape beuracracy...

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently thats holding a lotta things up.I wouldnt blame these countries for not helping again Found this on another sight.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — For four days, a C-130 transport plane ready to lift supplies to Katrina victims has stood idle at an air base in Sweden. The aid includes a water purification system that may be urgently needed amid signs deadly diseases could be spreading through fetid pools in New Orleans.

The one thing that stands in the way of takeoff? Approval by U.S. officials.

Although some foreign aid is on the way to the U.S., many international donors are complaining of frustration that bureaucratic entanglements are hindering shipments to the United States.

"We have to get some kind of signal (from the U.S.) in the next few days," said Karin Viklund of the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. "We really hope we will get it." Aside from water purification units, the country has offered blankets and mobile network equipment.

The United States has accepted offers of nearly $1 billion in assistance from some 95 countries, said Harry K. Thomas Jr., the State Department's executive secretary. One of those rejected came from Iran. The U.S. has accepted Switzerland's offer for tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, bedding, crutches. It made the offer Tuesday night.

Tehran offered to send 20 million barrels of crude oil if Washington waived trade sanctions, but Thomas said the offer was rejected because it was conditional. The sanctions were imposed after militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took its occupants hostage in 1979.

Thomas said "every country has heard from us, all have been told their offers are being evaluated and that 'we may take your offers later.'"

But Poland, Austria and Norway said they had not heard back on their aid offers, and countries outside Europe said they were also waiting for replies:

• India, which regularly is hit by flooding from monsoon rains, has said it has a planeload of supplies waiting. The United States said Thursday night that it has accepted $5 million in aid.

• Taiwan said it was waiting to hear for guidance its $2 million pledge. The U.S. said late Monday that it has the financial offer along with medical supplies.

• The government also said in a statement Thursday that it had accepted South Korea's promised aid of $30 million and 100 tons of goods such as blankets, diapers, crutches, bunk beds and wheelchairs. South Korea had promised the aid by this weekend. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Kyu-hyung said Wednesday the delivery will likely be delayed until next week as "preparations are not going well."

Even Honduras — the second-poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean — has offered aid. It was told by the U.S. Embassy that "at this moment, the U.S. government is not asking for international assistance."

However, some countries said they received detailed requests for help from U.S. authorities and have started shipping supplies.

European Commission spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich said "the coordination effort is going much, much better because aid is now leaving and aid is arriving."

She said glitches are to be expected. "The Europeans and the Americans had to learn to work together," she said. "Coordination is the most difficult thing in any relief effort."

The British government said it began sending some 500,000 military ration packs with food on Monday and that it was working closely with U.S. authorities in the recovery effort.

German officials approved sending forensic experts to help identify Katrina victims after being asked by the U.S. government, spokesman Thomas Steg said.

He said that on Wednesday, a separate group of some 90 technicians left the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany aboard a U.S. military plane equipped with 15 large-capacity pumps to help clear floodwaters from residential areas.

European aircraft maker Airbus said the world's largest air cargo plane, the A300-600 Super Transporter, was carrying French and British relief supplies to hurricane-stricken areas.

[Guest lostiniowa]

Re: WHY?

because our president is a pie hole

[Strut_Buster]

Re: WHY?

Has somethng to do with cuba being communist, and the cuban missile crisis. Economic sancions. Until Castro is dead the US won't assist or take assistance from cuba.

[Reloader]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

because our president is a pie hole

[/ QUOTE ]

lostiniowa...your name says it all! (the lost part not the Iowa part for the rest of you Iowa ppl here)

Try and be a little more constructive. You can blame Pres. Bush if you like, it is your right to be wrong. However, pure, unsubstantiated insults are neither called for or apropriate.

[Strut_Buster]

Re: WHY?

With 99% of social issues yes. With the war no.. just my 2 cents....

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

because our president is a pie hole

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty easy to come in here and spout off without an explanation.

As far as Cuba goes...yeah I agree, keep them out. They are on the axis of evil yet. Even though they are coming to help...or at least say they are, we need to keep those folks out. You guys laugh, they could be spies and once they are here, it would be hard to keep track of them and make sure they go home. Now you have a bunch of smart doctors running around our country from a country that is listed as a member of the axis of evil. I don't know about you but that worries me

[Bruce Schmeck]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

because our president is a pie hole

[/ QUOTE ]

WOW! Another brilliant retort from a self-professed genius.

[buckee]

Re: WHY?

Maybe president Bush thinks Castro is a pie-hole After all, Castro has done some pretty pie-hole things in his day.

Speaking of pie-holes...man I sure had a nice deer roast for supper tonight.

[wtnhunt]

Re: WHY?

Really dont know for certain, but dont think that physicians in all countries are held to thesame standards. Sure there is medical attention needed, but I dont think that is so much a problem as having aplace for them. Too many doctors with a language barrier and no where to really go to help those in need in my opinion would just create a lot of chaos.

[Strut_Buster]

Re: WHY?

Many physicians from the Middle east came to the USA to get their education. I actualy met a kid from egypt here at school aspireing to be a doctor. Its interesting talking to him and learning his sociology. May take him hunting this fall. He sounds really interested in it.

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: WHY?

I think it is a cover up. We are planting our own soil here. JMO. It's the smart ones you have to watch..i;e, pilots, doctors, etc... not the dumb ones.

[Guest hunter480]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

because our president is a pie hole

[/ QUOTE ]

Comments like that make me remember why I thank God every night I`m not a deamoncrat. After that, not knowing all the details, it`s foolish to carelessly make judgements about a decision that was made when it may well have been a security issue.

Is lostiniowa really howard dean?

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: WHY?

[ QUOTE ]

Is lostiniowa really howard dean?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or Howard Stern?

Sorry LII, I couldn't resist. AND, I amused myself...

[oldksnarc]

Re: WHY?

Didn't know we had gone begging - so, yes, we can be choosy. Accept aid from Mexico because it is one of our allies (even tho we have issues with them) - Cuba is not.