Canada sending four ships to Louisiana

[Steve French]

RE: Canada sending four s

"It is bloody time that civilization got out of the WAR making mode...."

Yes, exactly. The Military as we know it is obsolete - an anachronism from a bygone era, like the Maginot Line, or horseback Cavalry in the age of mechanized armour. Once a country has nukes, it's game over for plastic military soldier boys. Time for a new paradigm, the only viable option in the age of nukes is pacifism. This is the reality, as the logical conclusion to any other course is self destruction.

This guy figured it out nearly a hundred years ago:

"War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.
I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else." - from a speech delivered in 1933, by Major General Smedley Butler, USMC.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

A little help from "up North"...

anadians beat U.S. Army to New Orleans suburb Thu Sep 8, 1:36 AM ET



BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Reuters) - A Canadian search-and-rescue team reached a flooded New Orleans suburb to help save trapped residents five days before the U.S. military, a Louisiana state senator said on Wednesday.


The Canadians beat both the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. disaster response department, to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, where flood waters are still 8 feet deep in places, Sen. Walter Boasso said.

"Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people."

"We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere."

The stricken parish of 68,000 people was largely ignored by U.S. authorities who scrambled to get aid to New Orleans, a few miles (km) away. Boasso said residents of the outlying parishes had to mount their own rescue and relief efforts when Hurricane Katrina roared ashore on August 29.

The U.S. government response to the disaster has been widely criticized. Politicians and editorial writers have called for the resignation of top Bush administration officials.

Boasso said U.S. authorities began airdropping relief supplies to St. Bernard last Wednesday, the same day the Canadian rescue team of about 50 members arrived from Vancouver, nearly 2,200 miles away.

"They chartered a plane and flew down," he said.

Two FEMA officials reached the parish on Sunday and the U.S. Army arrived on Monday, he said.

"Why does it take them seven days to get the Army in?" Boasso asked.

He speculated that the smaller parishes suffered because the focus was on New Orleans, the famous home of jazz and Mardi Gras.

As for the Canadians, Boasso gave thanks for their quick work.

"They were so glad to be here," he said. "They're still here. They are actually going door-to-door looking in the attics" for people to rescue, he said.

this is not a competition. contest......but nice to know "we" are able to help.....

 

[Ocean Breeze]

"It is bloody time that civilization got out of the WAR making mode...."

ain't that the bloody TRUTH. :thumbleft: There is NO need for massive military buildup........but there might be a need for highly efficient, peacekeeping cabability. Time to change the whole tone of things. Let the warriors stay in their pre historic mindset.....where "might" (braun) is better than brains.

The area of society that needs the most progress is the most lethargic. War is prehistoric and totally out of sync with what should be a modern progressive society......world.


the situation in New Orleans etc called for effective organization and peacekeeping "forces"........Not the warmongering military. How can the US claim to be progressive .......when the only area it focusses on is the miltary might and enhancement??? ( WAR - pre-emptive and so called defense ) What is it that they have to "protect "so closely now?? --their "image" (such as it is??) self deluded stature??? (such as it is now) Mega bucks spent on their precious military that could be used to relieve so much poverty, improve health, and living accomodations. and improve the education systems......as KNOWLEDGE (NOT MONEY) is where the real "power" lies.

 

[Martin Le Acadien]

As usual, the Canadians get to Louisiana first, it started in 1755 and thank God our cousines au nord remembered us. Now about Washington, D.C.

Merci mes amis

 

[#juan]

Canadian ships may be delayed by Ophelia
Last Updated Wed, 07 Sep 2005 19:00:21 EDT
CBC News

The four Canadian ships on their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast may have to seek shelter in port or head farther out into the Atlantic to avoid another tropical storm building up off the coast of Florida.

Tropical storm Ophelia, the 15th named storm of the season, was 135 kilometres east-northeast of Cape Canaveral at midday Wednesday and was moving slowly and erratically to the northwest with winds of 80 km/h.

Steve Miller of the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax said he expected the storm to gain hurricane strength by Friday.

The fleet navigating officer on board HMCS Athabaskan said that the convoy was assessing the situation.

Lt. Todd Kennedy said that if they decided not to go into port, they would likely move more than 350 kilometres east of the system where they would experience high winds and waves of two to three metres. "You can expect that the winds are going to pick up, the seas are going to pick up and it might get a little uncomfortable, a little bumpy, but that's normal."

The four Canadian ships -- a destroyer, two frigates and a coast guard vessel -- were expected to arrive in the Gulf Coast region on the weekend, but might be delayed by Ophelia.

The convoy set sail from Halifax on Tuesday after loading supplies during the Labour Day long-weekend

 

[Martin Le Acadien]

Canadian ships may be delayed by Ophelia
Last Updated Wed, 07 Sep 2005 19:00:21 EDT
CBC News

The four Canadian ships on their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast may have to seek shelter in port or head farther out into the Atlantic to avoid another tropical storm building up off the coast of Florida.

Oh, Canada, Please hurry with all Godspeed, go east and then set sail for New Orleans.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Canada sending four s

They'll get there as they can, Martin. At least your government has accepted the help. They don't usually and they seemed really reluctant at first.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: RE: Canada sending four s

They'll get there as they can, Martin. At least your government has accepted the help. They don't usually and they seemed really reluctant at first.

indeed they will get there.

This pause/delay before accepting assistance is another contributing factor to the mess . ( oh that darned pride......sure can get in the way of humanitarianism)

Keep up the good work , Martin.------and keep us posted as you can. Many of us.....are following this very closely and with heartfelt caring thoughts ....to /for all the victims .

 

[Andem]

I really think the assistance offered by Cuba, over 1,500 doctors, could have really been godsent to the region. Come on, they really do need all the help they can get - especially medical personnel. Unfortunately, I believe they've decided to refuse the Cuban help. Their damn policies are really hurting their people.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Canada sending four s

They should welcome the Cuban doctors. They should also welcome Chavez's of cheap heating fuel for the poor. Allowing the ideological tenets of neo-conservatism to keep help away at this point is tantamount to killing Americans for the profit of Bush's cronies.

 

[Martin Le Acadien]

As far as I am concerned, Cuba's & Venezuela"s help is appreciated and SHOULD BE ACCEPTED! A basic doctor at every shelter would be a godsend.

Cheap heating oil? We'll take all the help we can get, hell, my neighbour just gave me a case of MREs! The daughters have declared them too high in Carbs!

We got some ice, now where is the beer truck from Montreal! And Bud the Spud Man from PEI, we are getting a little light on Fresh Veges.

 

[Reverend Blair]

We got some ice, now where is the beer truck from Montreal! And Bud the Spud Man from PEI, we are getting a little light on Fresh Veges.

The real reason why New Orleans will rise again...inhabitants with spirit. 8)

 

[Martin Le Acadien]

We got some ice, now where is the beer truck from Montreal! And Bud the Spud Man from PEI, we are getting a little light on Fresh Veges.

The real reason why New Orleans will rise again...inhabitants with spirit. 8)

FYI-Rev. Blair (Little known facts about Louisiana)

1. New Orleans was built and founded by French-Canadians in 1717 to guard the Mississippi River! (Quoted from the Times-Picayune, New Orleans).

2. Louisiana was bult by displaced Canadians who having nothing built a culture and an economy which has survived wars, hurricanes, droughts, depressions and Madmen. The Acadians arrived with nothing but a dream and built a culture and society which is celebrated around the world! Jazz, Jumbalaya, Zydeco, Cajun cuisine, Mardi Gras, and Gumbo to name a few!

3. We are draining New Orleans, shipping in relief supplies, getting people to safe ground and rebuilding. Yes, we have lost people and the sadness has even touched our house where we learned that a friend's nephew, 12 yrs old, has died in the Storm when the waters rose quickly. The parents should have evacuated but did not think there was any danger! Sadly we bury our dead, but even at a Jazz Funeral the tempo is up beat when we return from the cemetary, life goes on!

4. Some public officials are going to have to answer some tough questions and even the Dubya supporters are telling Bush&CO that there might have been things that could have been done!

5. WE WILL REBUILD! We mostly come from good Canadian Backgrounds and like the industrious Beaver, building is an ongoing endevour.

(HINT-If you have ever walked through the Old quarter of Quebec City, the Vieux Carre de Nouvelle Orleans are exactly alike minus the hills)

 

[Steve French]

RE: Canada sending four s

Four?
That's all we've got!
Canada will be UNDEFENDED from the commie insurgents or tur'rists who live in caves, or whoever is planning to invade Newfoundland. What if Mars attacks?
Who will protect us from the proles of Oceana when the U.S. is effectively castrated?
Oh, oh....

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: RE: Canada sending four ships to Louisiana

I really think the assistance offered by Cuba, over 1,500 doctors, could have really been godsent to the region. Come on, they really do need all the help they can get - especially medical personnel. Unfortunately, I believe they've decided to refuse the Cuban help. Their damn policies are really hurting their people.

AGREE!! Accepting that offer would have been smart....politically ......but also for humanitarian reasons. Cuba is geographically close to the area. ....and it makes all kinds of sense that there should have been a more tolerance response from the bush regime. Politics :twisted: over ruled humanitarianism .......again. :evil:

The gesture from Cuba was positive and sent a message. Bush blew that one again. Cuba ends up looking better than bush .......

 

[beentheredonethat]

Re: RE: Canada sending four ships to Louisiana

Ocean Breeze:
The gesture from Cuba was positive and sent a message. Bush blew that one again. Cuba ends up looking better than bush .......

*******************************************************************************
It could be that Cuba knew very well that they would be rejected, so they just wanted to score brownie points in the international community. Haven't you ever offered to do something, knowing the other person would say no? But, it gave you the satisfaction of knowing you offered. That doesn't seem sincere to me.

Been There

 

[no1important]

RE: Canada sending four s

Yes they do. I do not know why "W" does not end that embargo against Cuba anyways. It is silly and hypocritical since they have a military base in Cuba........

Cuba also has very well trtained doctors and they should of been allowed in to help the people. The people who need doctors, don't care where they are from, they want and need medical care. I wonder how many people will suffer and die because of "W's" arrogance? "W" is an arrogant prick if you ask me.

 

[Reverend Blair]

It could be that Cuba knew very well that they would be rejected, so they just wanted to score brownie points in the international community.

Cuba is well known for sending doctors to disasters and teachers to underdeveloped nations. There is no reason to think that the offer was at all insincere. It matches their past record.

 

[no1important]

RE: Canada sending four s

From what I understand as well, Cuba has some of the best trained doctors in the world.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Canada sending four s

That's the reputation.