NationStates Jolt Archive

19 September 2005
EXCLUSIVE: UP IN FLAMES
Tons of British aid donated to help Hurricane Katrina victims to be BURNED by Americans
From Ryan Parry, US Correspondent in New York

HUNDREDS of tons of British food aid shipped to America for starving Hurricane Katrina survivors is to be burned.

US red tape is stopping it from reaching hungry evacuees.

Instead tons of the badly needed Nato ration packs, the same as those eaten by British troops in Iraq, has been condemned as unfit for human consumption.


And unless the bureaucratic mess is cleared up soon it could be sent for incineration.

One British aid worker last night called the move "sickening senselessness" and said furious colleagues were "spitting blood".

The food, which cost British taxpayers millions, is sitting idle in a huge warehouse after the Food and Drug Agency recalled it when it had already left to be distributed.

Scores of lorries headed back to a warehouse in Little Rock, Arkansas, to dump it at an FDA incineration plant.

The Ministry of Defence in London said last night that 400,000 operational ration packs had been shipped to the US.

But officials blamed the US Department of Agriculture, which impounded the shipment under regulations relating to the import and export of meat.

The aid worker, who would not be named, said: "This is the most appalling act of sickening senselessness while people starve.

"The FDA has recalled aid from Britain because it has been condemned as unfit for human consumption, despite the fact that these are Nato approved rations of exactly the same type fed to British soldiers in Iraq.

"Under Nato, American soldiers are also entitled to eat such rations, yet the starving of the American South will see them go up in smoke because of FDA red tape madness."


The worker added: "There will be a cloud of smoke above Little Rock soon - of burned food, of anger and of shame that the world's richest nation couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery and lets Americans starve while they arrogantly observe petty regulations.

"Everyone is revolted by the chaotic shambles the US is making of this crisis. Guys from Unicef are walking around spitting blood.

"This is utter madness. People have worked their socks off to get food into the region.

"It is perfectly good Nato approved food of the type British servicemen have. Yet the FDA are saying that because there is a meat content and it has come from Britain it must be destroyed.

"If they are trying to argue there is a BSE reason then that is ludicrously out of date. There is more BSE in the States than there ever was in Britain and UK meat has been safe for years."

The Ministry of Defence said: "We understand there was a glitch and these packs have been impounded by the US Department of Agriculture under regulations relating to the import and export of meat.

"The situation is changing all the time and at our last meeting on Friday we were told progress was being made in relation to the release of these packs. The Americans certainly haven't indicated to us that there are any more problems and they haven't asked us to take them back."

Food from Spain and Italy is also being held because it fails to meet US standards and has been judged unfit for human consumption.

And Israeli relief agencies are furious that thousands of gallons of pear juice are to be destroyed because it has been judged unfit.

The FDA said: "We did inspect some MREs (meals ready to eat) on September 13. They are the only MREs we looked at. There were 70 huge pallets of vegetarian MREs.

"They were from a foreign nation. We inspected them and then released them for distribution."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16147117&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=exclusive--58--up-in-flames-name_page.html

:confused: :(

Yeah...the entire city is still running around in circles going "WTF?"

And yet the situation changes for better or for worse daily.


Tons of British aid donated to help Hurricane Katrina victims to be BURNED by Americans
You know, that gave me a completely different idea of how the thread would turn out to be...

that almost makes me sick...

being an amarican i am so discusted at how we hava responded to this disaster...thanks for trying to help, hopefuly it get through all the red tape

I hate my country...I'm so getting out of this shit hole and moving to the Isle of Man...

that almost makes me sick...

Not as sick as those vegetarian MREs would make you!

j/k

Burned? What the fuck for? Stupid FDA. Half the food products out there aren't "fit for human consumption" yet we gobble them up at unbelievable rates.

Gotta luv government!

(I've decided to help Rabbit temporarily, SB, as he/she's a better solution to present gov.)

Thank you, UK. Some of us actually appreciate the fact that you tried to help.

Thank you, UK. Some of us actually appreciate the fact that you tried to help.
Erm... Could you be more specific and less vague?

I would blame the corrupt FDA for being such douche's as to deny the victims that food.

You just watch, in a few days the victims will be given "fda approved" rations.

Erm... Could you be more specific and less vague?


What do you mean less vague? Did you forget what the post was about? I meant that some of us in this country appreciate the fact that UK and other nations sent food and aid to the hurricane victims, even if our government was ungrateful. That clear enough? :rolleyes:

True story, is it? If so, that's terrible. Shame on you, America. You just hit a new low, I believe. :headbang: :headbang:

(Specifying that America meant the choking bureaucracy, not the people. I'm definitely aware a lot of you appreciate the help, but it does look REALLY bad from a foreigner's POV.)

What do you mean less vague? Did you forget what the post was about? I meant that some of us in this country appreciate the fact that UK and other nations sent food and aid to the hurricane victims, even if our government was ungrateful. That clear enough? :rolleyes:
Thanks for being clear (and yes, I'm drinking right now).
This shows us who our true allies are (UK). For those that don't help, I won't support a dollar going to them in hard times. Too bad, paybacks a bitch.

And don't roll your eyes at me, sonny! :D

Ugh, you cant be serious. Day by day this government just pisses me off more and more. Bunch of second rate bureaucrats are gonna sit pretty and watch people in need of food as they congratulate each other over their red tape pissing off those who try to help. Thats great. Lets hope theres never a war and we really need their aid. Lord only knows we'd be screwed then.

For those that don't help, I won't support a dollar going to them in hard times. Too bad, paybacks a bitch.

I'm not going to get into this too far, but the whole mess with NAFTA is a huge reason why Canada was fashionably late getting aid to the Gulf Coast and with PM Martin sending official condolences.

Doesn't look like Iraq sent anything? You're not going to support any dollars going to them? Oh, wait...

[/done]

I hate my country...I'm so getting out of this shit hole and moving to the Isle of Man... ... or you can always go to Canada. :D

I'm not going to get into this too far, but the whole mess with NAFTA is a huge reason why Canada was fashionably late getting aid to the Gulf Coast and with PM Martin sending official condolences.
Has Canada really helped? If so, I appreciate it. Not because I'm in N.O., but because we'd have done the same (not to mention I'm on the Gulf Coast, and last year really messed us up.)
Doesn't look like Iraq sent anything? You're not going to support any dollars going to them? Oh, wait...

[/done]
I never supported a dollar going to Iraq-- For war or peace. I'm a Lib, not a Republicrat. I never supported the idea to begin with, dude.

Thanks for being clear (and yes, I'm drinking right now).
This shows us who our true allies are (UK). For those that don't help, I won't support a dollar going to them in hard times. Too bad, paybacks a bitch.

And don't roll your eyes at me, sonny! :D

those that don't help? everybody who's trying to help is being turned away!

True story, is it? If so, that's terrible. Shame on you, America. You just hit a new low, I believe.

Correction: Shame on American goverment, the ordinary people of America have nothing to do with this, the only people to blame here is the American goverment, nothing else.

I was either sleeping or studying when this occured, so I'm pretty sure I did not do/say anything to insult England during this time.

*sigh*

That's it, I hearby declare the state of California a sovereign nation. We have the world's 5th largest economy, and I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be stupid enough to waste supplies during a disaster.

Hawaii and Alaska can come too.

How about Arkansas? Can we come? We got a nearly unlimited supply of moonshine...

How about Arkansas? Can we come? We got a nearly unlimited supply of moonshine...

Sure, we'll need something to counterbalance the extreme liberalism that's inherent to our state. Welcome to the Republic of Cawaii-askasas!

Sure, we'll need something to counterbalance the extreme liberalism that's inherent to our state. Welcome to the Republic of Cawai-askasas!

Woot! Oh wait, that was an insult...

Woot! Oh wait, that was an insult...

Was it? I didn't mean it that way.

Was it? I didn't mean it that way.

I was being funny. I happen to think that extreme liberals and conservatives are idiots, and you called us conservative, which we are, but I don't like it either.

I was being funny. I happen to think that extreme liberals and conservatives are idiots, and you called us conservative, which we are, but I don't like it either.

Cool, me either. Maybe when the new Republic emerges the two factions will blend into a non-extremist utopia-land.

Considering the British "food" I've seen on Two Fat Ladies, I support burning the rations on the condition they are then placed in plastic bags, sprayed with bleech, placed in conrete coffins, labeled as biowaste and covered with a terrible curse and placed twelve feet underground...

Cool, me either. Maybe when the new Republic emerges the two factions will blend into a non-extremist utopia-land.

In any case, we'll bring the moonshine, you bring... what do you need at a party besides moonshine anyway?

In any case, we'll bring the moonshine, you bring... what do you need at a party besides moonshine anyway?

California definitely has got the music.

California definitely has got the music.

Cool. You bring the music then. We got the alcohol covered. I guess Hawaii can bring the chicks, and Alaska can give us all rides.

I was either sleeping or studying when this occured, so I'm pretty sure I did not do/say anything to insult England during this time.

*sigh*

That's it, I hearby declare the state of California a sovereign nation. We have the world's 5th largest economy, and I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be stupid enough to waste supplies during a disaster.

Hawaii and Alaska can come too.


If they're doing that can Maine become the 11th province? :D

If they're doing that can Maine become the 11th province? :D

wait, of canada? if so, sure, we can always use more maritines.

everybody who's trying to help is being turned away!
Holy shit... If that is true, I'm totally disgusted.

Just one question-- Why?

Whoa, people are getting really mad about this. Have you never seen bureaucracy in action before? I'm not pissed off that aid from allied nations has been declared unfit for human consumption (in fact I'm not surprised that something this ridiculous is happening at all), so why is everyone else making such a big fuss?

Whoa, people are getting really mad about this. Have you never seen bureaucracy in action before? I'm not pissed off that aid from allied nations has been declared unfit for human consumption (in fact I'm not surprised that something this ridiculous is happening at all), so why is everyone else making such a big fuss?
Personally, I'm highlighiting government's inability to act accordingly (suprise?).
Save the private sector, this has been humiliating for we Americans.

Holy shit... If that is true, I'm totally disgusted.

Just one question-- Why?

from what i can tell, a combination of bureaucratic screwups (in the case of Britain's, Germany's, Canada's and Walmarts aid being turned away) and political reasons (in the case of Venezuela's offer of fuel and Cuba's offer of medical aid being refused) maybe there's more to it than that, but not more that i can see.

Personally, I'm highlighiting government's inability to act accordingly (suprise?).
Save the private sector, this has been humiliating for we Americans.

Humiliating indeed. One would think that a city in New Orleans' position would be well-prepared for a hurricane. I just hope a huge-ass earthquake doesn't hit SF in the near future.... But if it does, and San Fran drops the ball, maybe that'll be enough to trigger a wide-ranging reform of our response plans.

Correction: Shame on American goverment, the ordinary people of America have nothing to do with this, the only people to blame here is the American goverment, nothing else.

I had already corrected myself by the time you had posted, you realise. Look up.

...and I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be stupid enough to...

You elected a body-builder as your governor. But that's a totally different topic :p

P.S. I *heart* California.

Humiliating indeed. One would think that a city in New Orleans' position would be well-prepared for a hurricane. I just hope a huge-ass earthquake doesn't hit SF in the near future.... But if it does, and San Fran drops the ball, maybe that'll be enough to trigger a wide-ranging reform of our response plans.
I've grown up, and currently live on the Gulf Coast. There isn't much we can (realistically) do about high-category hurricaines. I've seen more tragic hurricaines than I have fingers to count on (and I'm only 28), and there's no magic wind-shield I can imagine working (at least with taxpayer dollars).
I've heard plans, and apparently they're getting grants, but that's a joke.

I'm just appalled (if not amazed) at the ineffecuality of government in the NO disaster. Leave it to the Dempublicrats to come up with excuses here, not me.

You elected a body-builder as your governor. But that's a totally different topic :p

P.S. I *heart* California.

GRRR!!! Our governor can beat up your governor (unless yours is Ventura, that would be good fight)

;)

Woo hoo, lets burn America. It seems to be the popular scapegoat these days. Those rich f*ckers don't deserve our help. Let them die. Let them starve.

Do you realize how idiotic you flamers look?

Step back and think about it. Not all food imported into America is deemed "unfit" for consumption. There isn't any red tape here... It isn't like some stupid rule where anything foreign is bad. No, the FDA inspected the food and deemed that they were unfit for human consumption. If we pulled down your so-called "red tape" we would be sending victims food which is spoiled or otherwise bad for them.

We, the american people, elected for an FDA. I, for one, trust their judgement. If they inspected the food and deemed that it was unfit then I fully support their decision to burn it.

Red tape? Bureaucratic mess? Spitting blood? That's some nice anti-American propaganda. I'd rather read an unbiased story that doesn't mindlessly insult America by using catchy, attention-grabbing phrases that mean nothing.

I definitely don't agree with the disaster relief efforts from our government (or lack thereof), and I definitely dislike the administration itself. But, for once, you readers need to take an objective look at the story you're reading and not buy into the emotions they're trying to instill in you.

Woo hoo, lets burn America. It seems to be the popular scapegoat these days. Those rich f*ckers don't deserve our help. Let them die. Let them starve.

Do you realize how idiotic you flamers look?

Step back and think about it. Not all food imported into America is deemed "unfit" for consumption. There isn't any red tape here... It isn't like some stupid rule where anything foreign is bad. No, the FDA inspected the food and deemed that they were unfit for human consumption. If we pulled down your so-called "red tape" we would be sending victims food which is spoiled or otherwise bad for them.

We, the american people, elected for an FDA. I, for one, trust their judgement. If they inspected the food and deemed that it was unfit then I fully support their decision to burn it.

Red tape? Bureaucratic mess? Spitting blood? That's some nice anti-American propaganda. I'd rather read an unbiased story that doesn't mindlessly insult America by using catchy, attention-grabbing phrases that mean nothing.

I definitely don't agree with the disaster relief efforts from our government (or lack thereof), and I definitely dislike the administration itself. But, for once, you readers need to take an objective look at the story you're reading and not buy into the emotions they're trying to instill in you.

Okay, let's review your brilliant analysis.

1. Anyone criticizing this move is "idiotic."
2. If the FDA says it, it must be true.
3. FDA = The People = America
4. Anyone criticizing the FDA is anti-American.

That about the core of your argument?

Okay, let's review your brilliant analysis.

1. Anyone criticizing this move is "idiotic."
2. If the FDA says it, it must be true.
3. FDA = The People = America
4. Anyone criticizing the FDA is anti-American.

That about the core of your argument?
I'll take it point by point.

1. Anyone criticizing this move mindlessly, just because of propaganda or other posters, is idiotic.

2. Isn't that a given? You trust the FDA every single day. All the meat, produce, drugs, and herbs that come into this country are inspected by the FDA. You assume that the FDA is correct when you eat that food.

More to the matter at hand, why would they not be correct? We have no reason to believe as such.

3. In a generalization, yes. If you don't like what they did, go through the proper procedure to get the facts. Once you have the real facts (more than just those from one severely biased news source) and you still feel that some injustice was done, you have the power to change it. The FDA is by the people and for the people so do something about it if you don't like it.

4. I'm overusing the word, but damnit, you're doing some anti-Inzainia propaganda there :headbang: No where in my post did I say anything about patriotism, Americanism, or anything related. Don't put words in my mouth.

Okay, let's review your brilliant analysis.

1. Anyone criticizing this move is "idiotic."
2. If the FDA says it, it must be true.
3. FDA = The People = America
4. Anyone criticizing the FDA is anti-American.

That about the core of your argument?
Asshole, did you even acknowledge the presence of my bunny? :D

Woo hoo, lets burn America. It seems to be the popular scapegoat these days. Those rich f*ckers don't deserve our help. Let them die. Let them starve.

Do you realize how idiotic you flamers look?

Step back and think about it. Not all food imported into America is deemed "unfit" for consumption. There isn't any red tape here... It isn't like some stupid rule where anything foreign is bad. No, the FDA inspected the food and deemed that they were unfit for human consumption. If we pulled down your so-called "red tape" we would be sending victims food which is spoiled or otherwise bad for them.

We, the american people, elected for an FDA. I, for one, trust their judgement. If they inspected the food and deemed that it was unfit then I fully support their decision to burn it.

Red tape? Bureaucratic mess? Spitting blood? That's some nice anti-American propaganda. I'd rather read an unbiased story that doesn't mindlessly insult America by using catchy, attention-grabbing phrases that mean nothing.

I definitely don't agree with the disaster relief efforts from our government (or lack thereof), and I definitely dislike the administration itself. But, for once, you readers need to take an objective look at the story you're reading and not buy into the emotions they're trying to instill in you.

a) it's easy to say that any passionate argument that happens to disagree with the washington consensus is mindless america-bashing, but does that make it true? i dislike the americans who do prevent the other americans (who, apparently, i like. i at least don't want them to starve) from receiving medical supplies. so i like some americans, and dislike others. the net result? about neutral.

b) trusting that there was a good reason for the food to be burned would be good advice were this the first time that it'd happened during this particular crisis, but it appears to be more systematic (red cross workers being turned back, bottled water being stopped a few miles outside, medical supplies being refused because of the economic system of the country that offered them, food being burned, a coast guard ship sitting off the coast waiting for orders that never come, et-cetera, et-cetera) than that. how many times does it need to happen before "spitting blood" becomes an appropriate turn of phrase?

c) i must have missed the point involving the line "rich f*ckers don't deserve our help. Let them die. Let them starve." in fact, this whole thread would seem to be the opposite point entirely. we want the people in question NOT to starve, and are angry at the people who are starving them. who, unfortunately, work for their government.

...and now, a joke to totally undercut the argument i'm trying to make. "screw 'em, they voted for kerry anyway"

I'll take it point by point.

1. Anyone criticizing this move mindlessly, just because of propaganda or other posters, is idiotic.

Okay, and who is doing that? I think this is a strawman.


2. Isn't that a given? You trust the FDA every single day. All the meat, produce, drugs, and herbs that come into this country are inspected by the FDA. You assume that the FDA is correct when you eat that food.

More to the matter at hand, why would they not be correct? We have no reason to believe as such.

Trust it? No; I'm a risk taker and supermarket food is just one more such risk. I wouldn't actually trust the FDA alone in a room with my daughter.


3. In a generalization, yes. If you don't like what they did, go through the proper procedure to get the facts. Once you have the real facts (more than just those from one severely biased news source) and you still feel that some injustice was done, you have the power to change it. The FDA is by the people and for the people so do something about it if you don't like it.

I think this view is a bit naive. When was the last time anyone voted on FDA policies? It's never appeared in my ballots. This ain't no direct democracy, at best I can vote for Joe Schmoe who won't actually be able to do a thing either, even if he wanted to.

4. I'm overusing the word, but damnit, you're doing some anti-Inzainia propaganda there :headbang: No where in my post did I say anything about patriotism, Americanism, or anything related. Don't put words in my mouth.

You said "That's some nice anti-American propaganda. I'd rather read an unbiased story that doesn't mindlessly insult America by using catchy, attention-grabbing phrases that mean nothing." Sounds Americanism-related to me.

Asshole, did you even acknowledge the presence of my bunny? :D

No one acknowledges Rabbit! That's the rule. He just quietly takes over the world, one signature at a time, unnoticed just like Hitler. That's his power. You never knew. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

There is no Rabbit. Shhhh. :)

*snip*
You used the word naive... it was appropriate for the post, in its entirety.

There is no Rabbit. Shhhh. :)
I see, and I shall keep the hush for now. ;)

MY :headbang: STUPID :headbang: ****ING :headbang: G****N GOVERNMENT!!! I really really hate them, oh how I hate them, Hate hate hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, them.

In no way am I trying to insult America, it's the regime I hate. America deserves better.
As for the so-called 'biased', anti-American site I quoted, try these stories from the same site, is everything anti-American if it doesn't suck Senor Brush's balls?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16150719%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=apollo%2don%2dsteroids%2d-name_page.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16150697%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=florida%2dflees%2d-name_page.html

According to the FDA, British Soldiers, fighting alongside Americans, are eating food 'unfit' for human consumption. So we're good enough to be your biggest and best ally but our food is 'unfit'. We deserve better, America deserves better, and even fools who call me anti-American deserve better.

No, the FDA inspected the food and deemed that they were unfit for human consumption. If we pulled down your so-called "red tape" we would be sending victims food which is spoiled or otherwise bad for them.
We, the american people, elected for an FDA. I, for one, trust their judgement. If they inspected the food and deemed that it was unfit then I fully support their decision to burn it.


Unfit? This was the same food being used in British MREs. So, what? It's fit for soldiers but not anyone else? Nest time read the OP before you spout off nonsense.

Considering the British "food" I've seen on Two Fat Ladies, I support burning the rations on the condition they are then placed in plastic bags, sprayed with bleech, placed in conrete coffins, labeled as biowaste and covered with a terrible curse and placed twelve feet underground...

And if this is the common American consensus, which I know it is not by the way, then I would wholeheartedly support in such an event where America is up the bracket that everybody in the world laugh long and hard at America's misfortune.

At the very least, us British don't eat what consists of Cow turd and offal mixed with the remains of unfortunate workers who fall into the meat grinding machine which is then put in between two buns that make people so fat that they can't get through a doorframe, or so fat that everyone nearby thinks there is an eclipse.

The British have stuck by America, right or wrong.

You may constantly rub British noses in the sh*t by constantly insulting us and belittling us, but no. We're still there.

Yesterday, British soldiers burned and nearly joined the 96 other British soldiers killed in Iraq because of Blair's willingness to do Bush's bidding and follow him into the horror that is the occupation of Iraq.

The American government and it's instruments of power and it's blind sheep supporters are arrogant, paranoid and power hungry.

What gives a beacon of light to the future of America through the darkness that has descended upon America is the Americans here on this thread and elsewhere who express their horror at the refusal burning of food aid, and can see through their government's lies and are ashamed of them.

Well, State of It, your post was welcome and very spirited, but there was a little overextending there, if I may say so. Also there could be a minor, general flame towards the American public for their unfortunate obesity pandemic in your post. I don't think anybody likes to be told their country's mostly made up of obese people, especially when they already know it.

P.S.: Bjornoya, I live in Canada. My premier's a nearly-convicted drunk driver. I think that's awesome in itself. ;)

Thanks for being clear (and yes, I'm drinking right now).
This shows us who our true allies are (UK). For those that don't help, I won't support a dollar going to them in hard times. Too bad, paybacks a bitch.

And don't roll your eyes at me, sonny! :D

Um, what? I sure hope that was sarcasm. Otherwise I'd have to say something scathing about how Sri Lanka is collecting national pocket change to send to the poor USA. (I mean, they're still recovering from a tsunami that devestated several countries, but damn straight they should send the richest country in the world some money to rebuild one of their cities, if they want any aid in the future.) And what about countries whose aid is being entirely refused, like Venezuela and Cuba? Sure there are political reasons for refusing it, but would aid from China be refused?

As someone who lives in the Upper Midwest. I would have taken that much needed food and just parachuted it to the sections that needed it. But thats just how my mind works.

I'm not going to get into this too far, but the whole mess with NAFTA is a huge reason why Canada was fashionably late getting aid to the Gulf Coast and with PM Martin sending official condolences.

Doesn't look like Iraq sent anything? You're not going to support any dollars going to them? Oh, wait...

[/done]

Um...fashionably late? Well, sure the aid ships took a while to get there, but they did have to avoid Ophelia and all. (And is does take time to procure and pack 3 large ships full of supplies in the first place.) However, there was a Canadian Urban Search and Rescue team done there very shortly after the levees broke. Air Canada was running evacuation flights out of New Orleans. Hell, do your own google search, or check out CTV news. Canada had a lot of folks who were on the ball very early.

True story, is it? If so, that's terrible. Shame on you, America. You just hit a new low, I believe.
Yeah cause all of america has direct controll over the creation of import regulations regardless of how dumb they are :rolleyes:

Im sorry but the power to vote does not = the ability to controll these sort of specific regulation we try

And hopefully we put good people into office (or better then history has shown so far) but that still does not give us the driect ability to effect such things

Dont blame all of us for this

the only people to blame here is the American goverment, nothing else.
Actually if you want to get technical about it the blame lies mainly with american beauacracy rather than american government. Especially since I doubt the original decision was made by somebody who's job changes every time a new president comes in.

P.S.: Bjornoya, I live in Canada. My premier's a nearly-convicted drunk driver. I think that's awesome in itself. ;)

So even if they wanted to fight, they couldn't cuz either Arnold wouldn't know where B.Columbia is to find your premier (What part of Columbia does Britain own anyway :confused: ), or your premier would either end up off a bridge or in a ditch on his way here.

That's it! The best way to avoid conflict is to elect people too stupid or to disoriented to go to war!

Can't say I'm surprised. But this is the nature of all government. God forbid the rules should be broken (or even bent) in extraordinary circumstances, or some bureaucrat's feelings might be hurt. This is what happens when government gets big. On the other hand, if the food had been tainted the post (not necessarily by the original poster) would have been about how Bush was trying to poison black people.

People think that electing a Democrat would make a difference. The people who actually run the country are not the elected officials but the career underlings who carry out the day-to-day affairs of the profligate agencies, administrations, departments, &c. Think about it: the president stays in for eight years, tops, but the deputy special assistant director of whatever is in for twenty, at least. They can keep their heads down and do what they want until the guard changes, at which time the new elected officials will spend their whole time in office getting familiar with a fraction of what his office is legally responsible for. But that's okay, since we have these trusted career administrators here to oversee things, and they know what to do.

They certainly do. They build their empires, and if their job is to solve a problem that is the last thing that will ever happen because it would make them obsolete.

Where was I? On a tangent again? Damn, I do that a lot.

Personally, I agree with France when it says the U.S is arrogant (though not completely).

Gaikokujin's gai of Asia can be so arrogant sometimes. Hakujin's are very arrogant.

The odd thing is that Britain has much stricter rules on food, for instance with genetically modified plants. The government requires for there to be a field inbetween a gen-field and a normal crop. I don't see how the rations would be condemned, unless it somehow rotted along the way, but they are made to not do that, so maybe (head explodes)

Correction: Shame on American goverment, the ordinary people of America have nothing to do with this, the only people to blame here is the American goverment, nothing else.


Yep our govn't sucks. I was actually hoping other countries wouldn't try to help by sending stuff because I knew shit like this would happen.

The New Orleans News calls this story "outrageous yet unconfirmed."

Where was I? On a tangent again? Damn, I do that a lot.
No no, continue, it is a most interesting tangent.

No no, continue, it is a most interesting tangent.

Aw, you're just saying that.

Seriously, though. Fear is a powerful motivator in government, specifically, fear of responsibility. I may have been a touch cynical in my last post; I'm sure some of the regulators involved actually thought they were doing the refugees a service by destroying the food. Don't interpret this as charity on my part; if it was sincere then it was also grossly short-sighted and, yes, arrogant. Rules are important, since they provide a foundation for order and civilization. But rule-worship is deadly; it inevatibly results in failure to adapt. The balance, I think, is to have as few rules as possible and to make those rules as general as possible, in order to establish that framework but not handcuff the decision-makers when quick action is needed.

Man o man that's dumb. Hoo boy. Congratulations to every Needermeyer stand-in walking the corridors of American-flavoured Bureaucracy. All hail the mediocretins of officious myopia.

Let's just hope Rita doesn't mess up NO again.

Can't say I'm surprised. But this is the nature of all government. God forbid the rules should be broken (or even bent) in extraordinary circumstances, or some bureaucrat's feelings might be hurt. This is what happens when government gets big. On the other hand, if the food had been tainted the post (not necessarily by the original poster) would have been about how Bush was trying to poison black people.

People think that electing a Democrat would make a difference. The people who actually run the country are not the elected officials but the career underlings who carry out the day-to-day affairs of the profligate agencies, administrations, departments, &c. Think about it: the president stays in for eight years, tops, but the deputy special assistant director of whatever is in for twenty, at least. They can keep their heads down and do what they want until the guard changes, at which time the new elected officials will spend their whole time in office getting familiar with a fraction of what his office is legally responsible for. But that's okay, since we have these trusted career administrators here to oversee things, and they know what to do. NeoCon Manual:

page 2

#1) Blame any one but Bush.
#2) Blame anything but Bush.
...
#14) Spell out some justifications for his shortcomings...anything at all...no matter how ridicule...Its better than saying nothing.

Actually if you want to get technical about it the blame lies mainly with american beauacracy rather than american government. Especially since I doubt the original decision was made by somebody who's job changes every time a new president comes in.NeoCon Manual:

Page2

...

Let's just hope Rita doesn't mess up NO again.


No, Looks like Rita has her eyes on Houston and/or Corpus Christi.

No, Looks like Rita has her eyes on Houston and/or Corpus Christi.


It's going to hit NO, it just depends how hard, they've allready told people to leave NO

and apparently it could collapse the levee again

The Weather Channel says somewhere between Lake Charles, LA and Brownsville, TX. Most likely Houston. NO is being evacuated as a precaution just in case it doesn't go where they expext it to.

19 September 2005
EXCLUSIVE: UP IN FLAMES
Tons of British aid donated to help Hurricane Katrina victims to be BURNED by Americans
From Ryan Parry, US Correspondent in New York

HUNDREDS of tons of British food aid shipped to America for starving Hurricane Katrina survivors is to be burned.

US red tape is stopping it from reaching hungry evacuees.

Instead tons of the badly needed Nato ration packs, the same as those eaten by British troops in Iraq, has been condemned as unfit for human consumption.


And unless the bureaucratic mess is cleared up soon it could be sent for incineration.

One British aid worker last night called the move "sickening senselessness" and said furious colleagues were "spitting blood".

The food, which cost British taxpayers millions, is sitting idle in a huge warehouse after the Food and Drug Agency recalled it when it had already left to be distributed.

Scores of lorries headed back to a warehouse in Little Rock, Arkansas, to dump it at an FDA incineration plant.

The Ministry of Defence in London said last night that 400,000 operational ration packs had been shipped to the US.

But officials blamed the US Department of Agriculture, which impounded the shipment under regulations relating to the import and export of meat.

The aid worker, who would not be named, said: "This is the most appalling act of sickening senselessness while people starve.

"The FDA has recalled aid from Britain because it has been condemned as unfit for human consumption, despite the fact that these are Nato approved rations of exactly the same type fed to British soldiers in Iraq.

"Under Nato, American soldiers are also entitled to eat such rations, yet the starving of the American South will see them go up in smoke because of FDA red tape madness."


The worker added: "There will be a cloud of smoke above Little Rock soon - of burned food, of anger and of shame that the world's richest nation couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery and lets Americans starve while they arrogantly observe petty regulations.

"Everyone is revolted by the chaotic shambles the US is making of this crisis. Guys from Unicef are walking around spitting blood.

"This is utter madness. People have worked their socks off to get food into the region.

"It is perfectly good Nato approved food of the type British servicemen have. Yet the FDA are saying that because there is a meat content and it has come from Britain it must be destroyed.

"If they are trying to argue there is a BSE reason then that is ludicrously out of date. There is more BSE in the States than there ever was in Britain and UK meat has been safe for years."

The Ministry of Defence said: "We understand there was a glitch and these packs have been impounded by the US Department of Agriculture under regulations relating to the import and export of meat.

"The situation is changing all the time and at our last meeting on Friday we were told progress was being made in relation to the release of these packs. The Americans certainly haven't indicated to us that there are any more problems and they haven't asked us to take them back."

Food from Spain and Italy is also being held because it fails to meet US standards and has been judged unfit for human consumption.

And Israeli relief agencies are furious that thousands of gallons of pear juice are to be destroyed because it has been judged unfit.

The FDA said: "We did inspect some MREs (meals ready to eat) on September 13. They are the only MREs we looked at. There were 70 huge pallets of vegetarian MREs.

"They were from a foreign nation. We inspected them and then released them for distribution."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16147117&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=exclusive--58--up-in-flames-name_page.html

And THIS is why good Americans say "fuck the government". We don't need to be dealing with ridiculous burecracy, socialistic policies that baby everybody, and why we LOVE OUR GUNS. Because this crap happens. Its not an insult dude. Food is food. Its just our pathetic government has ass loads of agencies that have bored agents looking for something to do from 9-5.

The Weather Channel says somewhere between Lake Charles, LA and Brownsville, TX. Most likely Houston. NO is being evacuated as a precaution just in case it doesn't go where they expext it to.


from the path it seems the edge of the hurricane is going to hit about half of NO, it just depends how powerful that small part of it is

WTF? Send it to Iraq and Afghanistan. At least they will appreciate the help even if half of it is blown up by terrorists.

WTF? Send it to Iraq and Afghanistan. At least they will appreciate the help even if half of it is blown up by terrorists.

Somalia would probably appriciate it too.

Somalia would probably appriciate it too.

Most of Africa actually. The Africans are probably going be more efficient in distribution.

NeoCon Manual:

page 2

#1) Blame any one but Bush.
#2) Blame anything but Bush.
...
#14) Spell out some justifications for his shortcomings...anything at all...no matter how ridicule...Its better than saying nothing.

You don't seriously think you can blame the president for this particular snafu, do you? Are you seriously going to make the case to me that the president personally (re)hires every federal employee when he takes office? I mean, sure, ideally the president is ultimately responsible for everything assigned to him, but the reality is that no president can do it. There's too much stuff assigned to him.

You're kind of jumping to conclusions, too. Did I ever say anything about my politics in this thread? I used the name "Bush" once in my sample headline (which we all know would have happened had things played out the way I suggested), but what I said applies to any president. But you're evidently too busy blurting out "neo-con! neo-con!!!!!11!!" to read what's there.

::Big sigh::

Wow........sometimes I wonder whats up with this Government.

About the only thing I truly support in the United States is our Troops, our Veterans, and those few Good people that do Good Things, and so on and so forth with that. And yes, I also support our Allies Troops and Veterans. :D I'm not curel you know.

You don't seriously think you can blame the president for this particular snafu, do you? Are you seriously going to make the case to me that the president personally (re)hires every federal employee when he takes office? I mean, sure, ideally the president is ultimately responsible for everything assigned to him, but the reality is that no president can do it. There's too much stuff assigned to him.

You're kind of jumping to conclusions, too. Did I ever say anything about my politics in this thread? I used the name "Bush" once in my sample headline (which we all know would have happened had things played out the way I suggested), but what I said applies to any president. But you're evidently too busy blurting out "neo-con! neo-con!!!!!11!!" to read what's there.
To be fair, introducing additional Federal interference into matters and having the American tax payer spring for it does seem to be one of the neocons party pieces.

when I saw the title I though anti-anglicans had struck again :eek:

of all the cheeck first Bush dosn't meet are politicians now they burn food we gave to the people of NO

I think I will go and burn down mcdonalds :mad:

To be fair, introducing additional Federal interference into matters and having the American tax payer spring for it does seem to be one of the neocons party pieces.

True statement. One of many reasons I'm not one of them. Did you take away from my writings that I support this nanny-state garbage?

It's pretty bad when not only Europeans and other industrialized nations are trying to give us food, money, etc, but third world nations as well...:( Even Sri Lanka tried to give us $25000. Obviously the world sees how poorly the whole situation has been handled. I of course think we should never be so presumptious as to turn down the friendly aid of other nations...especially when we're not getting things done ourselves.

True statement. One of many reasons I'm not one of them. Did you take away from my writings that I support this nanny-state garbage?
Not particularly. This sort of thing is the main reason a lot of American conservatives feel that the neo cons are biscmirching the name, isn't it?

Is the FDA fucking nuts? Hear they are not allowing any mad cow disease checks so that the American people are being poisoned by this horrible substance called FDA aproved beef and than our ally Britain tries to help us out in this horrible catastrophe and our govt. wants to burn food. Brilliant plan guys.

Not particularly. This sort of thing is the main reason a lot of American conservatives feel that the neo cons are biscmirching the name, isn't it?

Beats me. I'm more of a libertarian.

Well, next time you need help after an emergency I hope we save us all the time and trouble and just don't bother trying to help.

Hurricane Rita collasped the levees

Just as they predicted

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9438536/