US Offer Aid To Flood-Hit Victims: Thailand

[webfact]

US offer aid to flood-hit victims

Nantida Puangthong

The United States has offered aid including personnel and cargo aircraft to Thailand to help relieve the impacts of the flood crisis.

US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney said part of the US assistance would be shipped to people affected by the flooding.

She was speaking after visiting the national flood relief centre at Don Mueang Airport where she was received by Transportation Minister ACM Sukhampol Suwannatat.

Kenney said her country is ready to provide relief personnel and aircraft to distribute assistance to floodhit people in many areas.

The US will be providing Bt3 million through its embassy in Bangkok to the Thai Red Cross Society for emergency relief.

Kenney said in her statement published on the US embassy website last week, "We offer our condolences to those who have lost loved ones and our thoughts are with all the victims.

"In the spirit of strong ThaiUS friendship, we will continue to work closely with Thai authorities to see how we can help those affected."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also offered her condolences on behalf of President Obama and the American people for everyone suffering from the floods throughout Southeast Asia.

-- The Nation 2011-10-10

[Lifer]

My My, After all the terse comments about the US not providing help on TV, I see the above news. I would bet there is a strong chance Britain will help too, as well as other western/ European countries. Case in point!

[aussiebebe]

It's heart-warming that countries always support each other during natural disasters, whatever their differences. I think Thailand sent food and medical personnel to the US after Katrina.

[OzMick]

I wonder if they will request a decent sized warship to put in the river?

[metisdead]

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[Credo]

There is not a lot that any country can do in the midst of the flooding. Assistance will be needed as soon as it begins to abate.

I am sure the offer of logistical support has been made. If they need planes, helicopters etc. they will get them.

[rotary]

I wonder where the USA will borrow the money from to do this........Gosh what part of "broke" does the USA not understand? With something like 14 trillion dollars in debt they still dig a deeper hole. Do not take me wrong.....its a great thing to help in this case but the USA is broke and they need to understand this and stop spending money they do not have.

[wana]

I wonder where the USA will borrow the money from to do this........Gosh what part of "broke" does the USA not understand? With something like 14 trillion dollars in debt they still dig a deeper hole. Do not take me wrong.....its a great thing to help in this case but the USA is broke and they need to understand this and stop spending money they do not have.

governments like the USA will never be actually broke ...........thats just a term that gets thrown around in almost all countries to take more taxes from the poor

certaintly the people will have less money ,but the suits thats making the laws and controlling the flow of the money only seem to get richer

countries can pour millions into some new weapons techology and still claim theres "no money available " for public health care

how much does it cost to fuel the government jet to go to a meeting in another country ,or go for a coffee in starbucks with 400 bodyguards ?

why is there always money for the people controlling the money ?

[toenail]

The USA has this kind of aid money already budgeted for such events. (By the way, I never, never hear the "arm chair" expert politicians suggesting to cut on the trillions of dollars of the defense budget to cut on the debt).

[Credo]

Not to mention how a little help will be remembered when it comes to trade deals, business and other assistance that may be needed. These things are more of an investment than an expenditure.

It's also what countries do for other countries that are in need.

[Lifer]

Not to mention how a little help will be remembered when it comes to trade deals, business and other assistance that may be needed. These things are more of an investment than an expenditure.

It's also what countries do for other countries that are in need.

True. Also a lot of aid gets donated by individuals, businesses, and philanthropists to aid relief agencies and the American Red cross. The military units then arrange to get the aid to the needed disaster. The US has always been there for other countries in need. Just don't understand the unnecessary country bashing that takes place on TV, no matter the country.

Edited October 10, 2011 by Lifer

[BigRick]

I wonder where the USA will borrow the money from to do this........Gosh what part of "broke" does the USA not understand? With something like 14 trillion dollars in debt they still dig a deeper hole. Do not take me wrong.....its a great thing to help in this case but the USA is broke and they need to understand this and stop spending money they do not have.

Maybe if the US did not have to pay for all these scumbag European,African countries and banks who can't even get their own houses in order. Why should America have to pitch in 43 billion for Greece? I see that we could cut a lot of debt if we stop supporting the IMF and World Bank. Let the world pay for its own problems. I love how the biggest parasites during this economic meltdown were European banks. As usual let someone else pay for their liberal ideology and socialist thinking. And if you hate American so much please feel free to stop using the internet we would not want you to have to suffer through using something we created.

And actually my comment was going to be about how cheap skate the US is with the aid to Thailand <deleted>.

Edited October 10, 2011 by BigRick

[wana]

And if you hate American so much please feel free to stop using the internet we would not want you to have to suffer through using something we created.

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

and 3 million baht ? why not just send them a sandwich and a coke to share between them

[Tywais]

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

You may want to rethink who is ignorant. He's got it right and you've got it wrong. He said invention of the internet not World Wide Web which couldn't exist without the internet. Internet History. I was using Arpanet when at university in the US and saw the evolution.

Also Co-creator, 40 years on.

Ok, just realized we are off topic, just don't like to see misinformation put up.

[thaicbr]

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

You may want to rethink who is ignorant. He's got it right and you've got it wrong. He said invention of the internet not World Wide Web which couldn't exist without the internet. Internet History. I was using Arpanet when at university in the US and saw the evolution.

Also Co-creator, 40 years on.

Ok, just realized we are off topic, just don't like to see misinformation put up.

So actually both right without the internet there would be no WWW and without the WWW there would be no TV.

The American Aid in the sense of aircraft etc would be very welcome i would have thought.

[striderman]

I wonder if they will request a decent sized warship to put in the river?

Word is they are going to ask for one with the biggest propellers

[blabla1]

Any help is welcome as long as it is welcomed with respect to the purpose and not lost in pockets or misused as usual, by the way,is it possible to drive from Bangkok to Chiang mai yet? please let me know..

[F4UCorsair]

Love or hate them, the Americans are generally one of the first to offer assistance, even when their own economy is in tatters. I recall they even offered assistance to Russia when the nuclear submarine Kursk disaster occurred. They get involved in some things (wars) they should never have touched, but this is the other side of the coin.

[cdnvic]

Next person making crude insults about another country will lose their posting rights. Please return to the topic.

[zydeco]

And if you hate American so much please feel free to stop using the internet we would not want you to have to suffer through using something we created.

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

and 3 million baht ? why not just send them a sandwich and a coke to share between them

Well, it's not just 3 million baht. There is also structural support--aircraft, personnel--at the ready that will be worth millions of dollars, not baht. So, the count has begun. China gave 81 million baht, the US 3 million and support. Now, let's see the UK, Germany, Australia, NZ, Russia, and the rest pitch in.

[BigRick]

It just seems 3 million baht is a pittance and insult. Our senators spend more than that flying here just to give a check. What are the suppose to do with 3 million baht? Buy 1 condo on Sukumvit? They need the Army core of Engineers sent here to help. Katrina aside these guys know how to deal with massive volumes of water.

[Lifer]

Next person making crude insults about another country will lose their posting rights. Please return to the topic.

Thank you for saying that. It's badly needed on this site! Thanks.

[rametindallas]

It just seems 3 million baht is a pittance and insult. Our senators spend more than that flying here just to give a check. What are the suppose to do with 3 million baht? Buy 1 condo on Sukumvit? They need the Army core of Engineers sent here to help. Katrina aside these guys know how to deal with massive volumes of water.

Hi, BigRick. I think the 3 million is a down payment and there will be substantial aid in the form of things that won't get 'siphoned off' by the politicians. After the Boxing Day ttsunami, the helicopters were able to deliver food and water and water purification plants that had been out of the reach of trucks.The same is true of the Pakistan earthquake and Pakistan floods. No need to pour money in faster than it can be wisely used. After this is all over and the tally is taken we can discuss if the U.S. response was correct. I think medical teams and other support will also be available.

[hellodolly]

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

You may want to rethink who is ignorant. He's got it right and you've got it wrong. He said invention of the internet not World Wide Web which couldn't exist without the internet. Internet History. I was using Arpanet when at university in the US and saw the evolution.

Also Co-creator, 40 years on.

Ok, just realized we are off topic, just don't like to see misinformation put up.

His title is wana

that is short for his desire he is what is known as a wannabe.

[wana]

typical big headed arrogant ignorant statment from an american

http://en.wikipedia....Tim_Berners-Lee

You may want to rethink who is ignorant. He's got it right and you've got it wrong. He said invention of the internet not World Wide Web which couldn't exist without the internet. Internet History. I was using Arpanet when at university in the US and saw the evolution.

Also Co-creator, 40 years on.

Ok, just realized we are off topic, just don't like to see misinformation put up.

His title is wana

that is short for his desire he is what is known as a wannabe.

hellodolly, your own handle commands such respect and indicates such vast intelligence ,it is wonderful that you should bless this forum and its users with your wisdom

[USExpat]

Really 100,000 dollars donated to the redcross for relief aide to a Country we have a very good relationship with... But we will give billions of dollars in aid to countries that hate us and want Americans dead.I am not saying throwing money at this problem will solve anything, but US State Department should offer the aide of the US Army Corps of Engineers through the USAID program to help the Thai government come up with a solution so this problem doesn't continue to happen again... This isn't the first time they have had flooding issues but nothing has been done about it. On the flip side, If the Thai government allowed an outside source to find a solution to the problem and they don't act on it, then that would show the Thai government doesn't care or finds it not cost effective to solve a problem that affects their farmers, low income and poor people.