Thanks to the Aussies

If no one else does it I'd like to thank the Austrailians for their offer of help in the rebuilding from hurricane Katrina.

I also thank them, but could you provide a link with what they are doing to help?

I heard about it on the morning news on the way to work and am trying to find something to link to.

According to a news link thismorning about a press conference in DC, Germany, France, and Briton have all offered to send aid, and they were the 3 named out of the dozen that have said that if the US asks for aid, they will send it.

Also as always in an emergency in the US, Canada will help with the rebuilding effort.

This will be a better initiative in the fellowship of nations than supporting the stupid "war" effort.

$10m aid to US Red Cross: PM

We have also offered a team of twenty odd disaster specialist - the same ones used after the Asian tsunami. The American government is yet to reply to that offer.

I have to say I'm not surprised, and I mean that as a compliment. I spent the better part of the last couple of years in Australia and New Zealand, and Aussies and Kiwis are , generally speaking, the most friendly and outgoing, help-your-neighbor-type folks you'd ever care to meet. Great people all around.
---Ryan

Yes I must agree with Ryan C. I have NEVER met an unfriendly Aussie or Kiwi anywhere I have been in the world. They truly are some of the best people around always willing to help and then go above and beyond.

Thanks to all who help.

I would have been happier if our AU Gov had sent troops with aid ASAP,money helps in the long run,but is not what those American folks need right at this momment.

I agree that more could be done by Australia to help out. In fact we have offered. Those offers are yet to be responded to.
The donation for some reason has not been made to the American goverment or one of it's agencies, but to the Red Cross.
John Howard said that he is yet to speak directly to George Bush, but has conveyed his sympathies and desire to help in any way, in a note.
Mostly, I think they are waiting to be told what is needed and how we can help.
We do have representatives there who have been trying to get into the area, but are being told they are not allowed any closer than Houston, Texas.
We still have 50 odd Aussies unaccounted for as well as around 20 that are known to have survived. Some families have flown out to Houston to try and locate their loved ones.
So we are directly affected by this as well as being symathetic and supportive of our friends and allies.

I am glad we have given 10 Mil and believe we should have given more. But Americans must ask themselves why they must accept taxpayer donations from comparatively tiny economies when their nation is the world's Number #1 Super Power with an annual military budget of over $350 BILLION dollars.