As an Australian, I'm ashamed.

[Bang]

I find it hard to believe in the words or motives of any politician. I'm sorry, but they're all evil, corrupt and cruel. The politics is made in such a way that it is impossible to go through the ranks without being corrupt. I don't find any politician does go into war with selfless motives. They go there for more power, or individual goals, not for the country. Do you really believe in Bush? Seriously.

They didn't spend as much time in Afghanistan when compared to Iraq. They used much less troops too.

As for the North Korea thing. The US wasn't the only ones that helped North Korea end its nuclear program. (Another problem with the US, that they always think they did it.) They made it worse. North Korea delayed 6 party meetings and the reason was because of the US. They publicly stated that the reason was the US.

In fact, much attention was taken away from North Korea ever since 9/11. They focused on other countries, such as Iraq when North Korea was publicly declaring they had nucler weapons!


Still doesn't justify equating selfless international aid with any kind of WAR.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I was very surprised to see that Russia offered help to send over things for the hurricane victims. My economics teacher told me it was England and Russia that admittedly start helping. If Russia can help, Australia can

[Bang]

Sri Lanka said it was donating $25,000 (£13,500) to the American Red Cross, while Japan has pledged $200,000 and Australia, $8m (£4.3m), to the charity. - From BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4210264.stm

??? Doesn't that mean Australia is helping?

Also I'd like to emphasize that I'm for giving aid to help the people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. I did not state it anywhere, or it wasn't my intention to state anywhere that I wouldn't donate or would be against donating. In fact I'm for donating money. I'm just saying that there is a reason behind why maybe countries aren't officially donating, and that there is a reason for US hate. Also I was angered by the fact that Matthew was equating international aid with war against terrorism as if the war was a 100% selfless act and that the budget spent to war can be interpreted as budget for international aid.

[Jowe]

Despite it all, sure we should help out America.. But Australia isn't exactly one of the richest countries in the world. We've only got a population of around 20mil, so we are actually a small country..

IMO Katrina is bigger then the tsunami, interms of what needs to be done in the aftermath. Besides from the dense human toll, the city/state needs to be rebuilt from scratch. So that's power, water etc etc..

The thing that has really bugged me, is the response from the US themselves, its been 3days or so, and alot of people haven't recieved help yet even though they were told to go to the convention centre .. (although the convoy has finally arrived today.. after a bunch of people have died due to lack of supplies ).

[Matt]

More Australian citizens died in the Tsunami than have currently died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

that's the most selfish thing i have heard.

America is not poor at all. They have the money to give all the relief they need.

And yet 33 million of it's citizens live BELOW the poverty line. Sure the country is rich but the gov. doesnt help the people.

US only uses less than 1% of their GDP for international aid. It should be around .9%. Among the richest countries in the world, the US uses the least
Did you even read that?

but they have the largest economy, and even giving less than 1% is more than any other country.

[Riot]

There really is only one way into New Orleans, and thats' I-10 and the hurricane destroyed that road. It was tough to get supplies into the city in the first place. Not to mention the FEMA did a horrible job planning and executing.

[J@3]

Matthew, are you suggesting that we should donate another billion to the US or something more than the $10 million we've given? Or that the general public should be more proactive in their donations?

[The X]

I'm quite happy for Australia to withhold $500 million that they gave to Indonesia and give it to USA it's not like Indonesians like Australians or anything, they hate them....you should help your allies before helping out the others....

[Bang]

Still compared to the money they have, America is giving very little. Just think how much a percentage is. There are countries that give 10%. You have to look at everything relative because it shows how much they are really into it. I mean 1% no matter how you look at it is measly. What would you value more, a country that gave 10% of their economy or 1%? Think about it. You have to agree that 1% is a bit minimal. I mean come on. Even Americans think it's minimal. They think that the aid to defense ratio should be 1:3 but currently it's 1:19.

[Matthew]

Matthew, are you suggesting that we should donate another billion to the US or something more than the $10 million we've given? Or that the general public should be more proactive in their donations?

I think its ridiculous that we give 1 billion to Indosesia and only 10 million to america. America is a close friend, and Indosesia is not. Yet we give 100 times (literally) to those ungrateful cunts.

For that, I'm ashamed. Loyalty is somthing I believe in and I think we have showed none to America in this disaster.

(no im not saying anyone should donate. I never do. Donations are not somthing people should feel pressured into doing. It should be somthing they want to do.)

[ShAuN]

I know theres a thread about the flooding of New Orleans.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed to be Australian. When the tsunami happened, we all felt like we should help Indosesia. But when this disaster struck New Orleans, nobody cares. Why? Becuase it's America? So we should help a country who really doesnt help us in Indosesia, but just turn the other way when its a close ally in America?

Thats pathetic. For the first time, I openly admit I donated money to charity. And for the first time, I'm ashamed to call myself Australian. Those people who think we shouldn't help becuase America is rich and a super power? That means we shouldn't expect help if we get invaded or attacked or face a tragedy.

America, imo, should never again offer any help to any country. Fuck them all, and that includes here. Actions speak louder than words.

Thanks man thank god you care, I think Bush cares more about the Tsunami Relief Fund and IRAQ more than New Orleans.

[ShAuN]

Ok obviously all of you have heard about Katrina, I dont understand why Bush is keeping the soldiers in IRAQ, rebuilding over there, dropping bags of food and water for them, but not in New Orleans? I liked Bush over Kerry but now Bush sucks ass. I went into 7/11 and saw a thing were you put donations in, it was for the god damn Tsunami Relief Fund! People at night there are getting rapedand murdered, beaten, little kids are dehidrating its insane! Bush isnt doing sh*t about it and its America! Hes helping the IRAQ'S more than the AMERICANS!!! Hes done enough over there by re-building so much stuff like basketball courts, soccor, football baseball fields etc..... There was no Weapons of Mass Destruction, why the hell are the troops still over there??? I just think he needs to get his head straight and start taking care of OUR problems.
_________________

[iG®]

Worl would help, but Bush said that "America likes helping itself" .

[FendeR`]

I find it hilarious that people seem to think that after all the time and money invested into helping Iraq, we're suddenly going to pretty much 180 out of it and go help New Orleans. It's not like we're not going to help them, we can still help them plenty while we're in Iraq. And quite frankly "ShAuN", you sound like a moron.

[Riot]

Ok obviously all of you have heard about Katrina, I dont understand why Bush is keeping the soldiers in IRAQ, rebuilding over there, dropping bags of food and water for them, but not in New Orleans? I liked Bush over Kerry but now Bush sucks ass. I went into 7/11 and saw a thing were you put donations in, it was for the god damn Tsunami Relief Fund! People at night there are getting rapedand murdered, beaten, little kids are dehidrating its insane! Bush isnt doing sh*t about it and its America! Hes helping the IRAQ'S more than the AMERICANS!!! Hes done enough over there by re-building so much stuff like basketball courts, soccor, football baseball fields etc..... There was no Weapons of Mass Destruction, why the hell are the troops still over there??? I just think he needs to get his head straight and start taking care of OUR problems.
_________________

You. are. an. idiot.

Why are we in Iraq? Because they Saddam is a bad, bad man and he was housing terrorist training camps. We weren't the only ones with intellience that said he had WMDs. Hell, in the 80's and 90's Saddam admitted to having them and when we (UN) told him to destroy them he didn't cooperate. He wouldn't let inspectors inspect certain sites. He was hiding something.

As for Hurricane Katrina, we have over half a million troops that are on non-active duty in America. Half a million. We don't have a shortage of man-power. It's just we've never had to evacuate a whole city before and neither the FEMA or the local government was prepared to do so. IT was total chaos.

Lately, Bush has stepped up to the plate. He saw that FEMA wasn't handling the situation properly and he took charge. Now you see things getting done. I also saw Bush at ground zero yesterday hugging refugees and comforting them as they look at their house that is no longer there.

I saw a President who said so far the evacuation and rescue has been horrible and needs to be fixed. I saw a President who said New Orleans will be back. I saw a President who pledged $10 billion dollars and he said that's only the beginning of the aid help. There will be more money, more men and more supplies. I saw a man who took the burden of the evacuation on his shoulders. I saw a man who was in shock like we all were. He's human, but this wasn't his fault.

Democrats and left-wing nuts need to stop blaming Bush fro everything that goes wrong. "I bowled a 55, damn it it's Bush's fault."

[cyanide]

I think its ridiculous that we give 1 billion to Indosesia and only 10 million to america. America is a close friend, and Indosesia is not. Yet we give 100 times (literally) to those ungrateful cunts.

So you're saying you'll be satisfied if Australia gave $1 billion to the US, and only $10 million to Indonesia because of "friendship" without taking into consideration the fact that a comfortable, rich America can generate billions on its own, and a poor, third world nation like Indonesia can't? No offense, but I just don't think poor countries should continually get screwed over because they're not rich and powerful enough to command the respect and loyalty that America does.

Ok obviously all of you have heard about Katrina, I dont understand why Bush is keeping the soldiers in IRAQ, rebuilding over there, dropping bags of food and water for them, but not in New Orleans? I liked Bush over Kerry but now Bush sucks ass. I went into 7/11 and saw a thing were you put donations in, it was for the god damn Tsunami Relief Fund! People at night there are getting rapedand murdered, beaten, little kids are dehidrating its insane! Bush isnt doing sh*t about it and its America! Hes helping the IRAQ'S more than the AMERICANS!!! Hes done enough over there by re-building so much stuff like basketball courts, soccor, football baseball fields etc..... There was no Weapons of Mass Destruction, why the hell are the troops still over there??? I just think he needs to get his head straight and start taking care of OUR problems.

I think people at night in Iraq are getting raped, murdered, beaten, and little kids are dehydrating, as well. Might as well keep helping Iraq rebuild instead of, like what FendeR' said, make a 180 turn. After all, America should finish what it started.

[Indy]

Just to let you guys know, Fidel Castro has offered to send doctors and medicine to New Orleans and other hit areas.

[ShAuN]

You. are. an. idiot.

Why are we in Iraq? Because they Saddam is a bad, bad man and he was housing terrorist training camps. We weren't the only ones with intellience that said he had WMDs. Hell, in the 80's and 90's Saddam admitted to having them and when we (UN) told him to destroy them he didn't cooperate. He wouldn't let inspectors inspect certain sites. He was hiding something.

As for Hurricane Katrina, we have over half a million troops that are on non-active duty in America. Half a million. We don't have a shortage of man-power. It's just we've never had to evacuate a whole city before and neither the FEMA or the local government was prepared to do so. IT was total chaos.

Lately, Bush has stepped up to the plate. He saw that FEMA wasn't handling the situation properly and he took charge. Now you see things getting done. I also saw Bush at ground zero yesterday hugging refugees and comforting them as they look at their house that is no longer there.

I saw a President who said so far the evacuation and rescue has been horrible and needs to be fixed. I saw a President who said New Orleans will be back. I saw a President who pledged $10 billion dollars and he said that's only the beginning of the aid help. There will be more money, more men and more supplies. I saw a man who took the burden of the evacuation on his shoulders. I saw a man who was in shock like we all were. He's human, but this wasn't his fault.

Democrats and left-wing nuts need to stop blaming Bush fro everything that goes wrong. "I bowled a 55, damn it it's Bush's fault."

Im not a democrat, but hey guess what Im pretty sure we caught Suddam or is it just me?? Well Bush needs to get the troops out of IRAQ, just bomb them, If some women and children die, look what happen to 9/11. Atleast i will make AMERICA more safe. And no Im not an idiot, your probally just one of those queers who believe in world piece.

I think people at night in Iraq are getting raped, murdered, beaten, and little kids are dehydrating, as well. Might as well keep helping Iraq rebuild instead of, like what FendeR' said, make a 180 turn. After all, America should finish what it started.

Yea buddy but this is America, just drop a bomb over there and get the f*ck out of there.

[J@3]

And no Im not an idiot, your probally just one of those queers who believe in world piece.

yeah, Riot's not a warmonger or anything.

[Riot]

You. are. an. idiot.

Why are we in Iraq? Because they Saddam is a bad, bad man and he was housing terrorist training camps. We weren't the only ones with intellience that said he had WMDs. Hell, in the 80's and 90's Saddam admitted to having them and when we (UN) told him to destroy them he didn't cooperate. He wouldn't let inspectors inspect certain sites. He was hiding something.

As for Hurricane Katrina, we have over half a million troops that are on non-active duty in America. Half a million. We don't have a shortage of man-power. It's just we've never had to evacuate a whole city before and neither the FEMA or the local government was prepared to do so. IT was total chaos.

Lately, Bush has stepped up to the plate. He saw that FEMA wasn't handling the situation properly and he took charge. Now you see things getting done. I also saw Bush at ground zero yesterday hugging refugees and comforting them as they look at their house that is no longer there.

I saw a President who said so far the evacuation and rescue has been horrible and needs to be fixed. I saw a President who said New Orleans will be back. I saw a President who pledged $10 billion dollars and he said that's only the beginning of the aid help. There will be more money, more men and more supplies. I saw a man who took the burden of the evacuation on his shoulders. I saw a man who was in shock like we all were. He's human, but this wasn't his fault.

Democrats and left-wing nuts need to stop blaming Bush fro everything that goes wrong. "I bowled a 55, damn it it's Bush's fault."

Im not a democrat, but hey guess what Im pretty sure we caught Suddam or is it just me?? Well Bush needs to get the troops out of IRAQ, just bomb them, If some women and children die, look what happen to 9/11. Atleast i will make AMERICA more safe. And no Im not an idiot, your probally just one of those queers who believe in world piece.

I think people at night in Iraq are getting raped, murdered, beaten, and little kids are dehydrating, as well. Might as well keep helping Iraq rebuild instead of, like what FendeR' said, make a 180 turn. After all, America should finish what it started.

Yea buddy but this is America, just drop a bomb over there and get the f*ck out of there.

Saddam maybe caught, but his regime and the extremists are still out there. We are there to rebuild a whole country, it takes time and patience young skywalker.

[ShAuN]

Saddam maybe caught, but his regime and the extremists are still out there. .

Then Bomb the country

[quote="Riot"] We have done plenty enough, lets rebuild AMERICA you retard WERE TREATING IRAQ BETTER THAN WE ARE TREATING NewOrleans!!!!!

[Riot]

Are we really? Or did you just pull that out of your ass? Are we really treating New Orleans worse than we are treating Iraq? We have more troops in Iraq because we need more troops in Iraq than in New Orleans. We have more money going there because we need more money there then in New Orleans.

The reason why it took so long is there was no plan to effectively get the people out of the city and where to put them all. We are just figuring out where to put them.

Bomb the country? You really have no clue what the fuck you are talking about so I suggest you shut the fuck up. Just bomb them...that's hilarious.

[Jugs]

Saddam maybe caught, but his regime and the extremists are still out there. .

Then Bomb the country

We have done plenty enough, lets rebuild AMERICA you retard WERE TREATING IRAQ BETTER THAN WE ARE TREATING NewOrleans!!!!!

You're an idiot.

I haven't been posting much about this catastrophe as i'm going under some family sicknesses... but i'll post my opinion

I think Bush is doing well with the situation (as Riot pointed out where he seen a President give $10 billion etc.) But they do not need all the troops from iRaq to come back to america, they need to finish their job (as that's already been pointed out)

New Orleans is getting help but a lot more is needed. And a lot more will come. I strongly believe that New Orleans will be back on their feet within 2-3 years... maybe longer, maybe shorter, not entirely sure.

If I had an income/some money, i would donate it all to the victims of the Hurricane. I didn't donate any money to the Tsunami relief because i semi-predicted that they'll get too much money. I only donated some cos our school forced us to give money for casual dress days to raise money.

Actually my school is pissing me off with this Tsunami relief, and not 1 thing has been mentioned about the hurricane. My school is an INTERNATIONAL school, that means all the nations. But the school is so asian-orientated that they focus everything there. And it works

Anyways, the tsunami was a HUGE disaster, same with the hurricane. If Australia cares about their friends, the US, then they should donate more. i'm not asking for 2020202020billion but at least another $200 million.

[The GOAT]

I think Bush has been doing well with the whole situation, and I hate Bush.

[FendeR`]

It's official. This "Shaun" is a moron. rofl, I thought Riot was a little extreme in his approach to war, but damn.