Flood-Hit Thailand Declines Offer Of Help: US Navy

[Buchholz]

I think someone better call the U.S. Military and ask them to return.

Unfortunately, that's not always a viable option. The task force list of commitments is a lengthy one.

.

[jerrybuice]

I am a US citizen and you are right. Sad to say we do nothing for free. There is always some catch to it.

...today the US help you, tomorrow they'll be ready to reclaim the favor and put it in your a**...

and don't tell me it never happened before

[ricardofel]

... it's all pretty disturbing ... can anyone comment on protocols that would warrant a UN intervention to prevent human disaster, without an invitation from the Thai government? ... at what point do Thais need to be protected from the Thais?

... these people seem just too incompetent to care for themselves ... freakishly incompetent

well said....freakishly incompetent and it has nothing to do with politics....INCOMPETENCE at it's best!

[TheWalkingMan]

Probably denied the help as they were not able to label the products as being from the PTP. Idiots.

[monty1412]

If this isn't absolute proof of their bona fide stupidity, nothing is. It's as if they want people to die.

It's starting to look that way...

It certainly does. A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier task force is capable of providing an astounding amount of assistance from electricity to medical care to food to water to manpower to evacuation helicopters. It runs the whole gamut of help that is unrivaled.

This is absolutely absurd of the government to turn it ALL away.

... sailing off over the horizon, these resources could be sorely needed in Thailand's near future ... but, more importantly are the logistics necessary to deploy them where they are needed, and not wasted ... no institution is better prepared for that mission than the US military ... and the Thais certainly cannot hack it.

... a freakishly incompetent Thai government has so far shown itself incapable of staying in front of a rising crisis ... noted elsewhere here, the follow-on consequences could be far more damaging to a country with no history of competence at this sort of thing ... disease ... (an epidemiologist friend in Thailand with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is being redeployed to respond to the call for help the Thais will eventually make ... quietly, of course).

... now that the US offer of assistance has been stupidly declined by the freakishly incompetent Thais, the Thai government is unlikely to invite them back ... Thais will watch their own people perish, rather than lose face ... sadly, that is just how Thais are.

what scares me even more is this is the country that was contemplating nuclear power resources... my god can you just imagine the mess now if it had of gone ahead..

[angeledge]

Unbelievable...

So many people lost their life because of their bad decisions and they still take bad decisions. Who think like a fish in this government? Have you taught at the after flooding? No... I see a civil war coming...

Please... Throw all sinawatra family out of this country. You are going to resolve half of the problems this country have.

[swillowbee]

...today the US help you, tomorrow they'll be ready to reclaim the favor and put it in your a**...

and don't tell me it never happened before

... I see that you are still online, mezcal ... please ... illuminate us.

... please cite an instance when humanitarian aid by the US was offered, after which the US "put in in your a**".

... honestly ... do you really, really believe that is American policy?

[NanLaew]

...looks, life thai foreign ministry made a big mistake, because there weren't any diplomatic favours in exchange for help.

What diplomatic favors could Thailand possibly do for the US to facilitate this 'military assistance'?

If this isn't absolute proof of their bona fide stupidity, nothing is. It's as if they want people to die.

The fact that a sovereign nation declined help from another is tantamount to genocide?

That's a stretch.

... it's all pretty disturbing ... can anyone comment on protocols that would warrant a UN intervention to prevent human disaster, without an invitation from the Thai government? ... at what point do Thais need to be protected from the Thais?

... these people seem just too incompetent to care for themselves ... freakishly incompetent

UN intervention? <deleted>???!!! This aint Bosnia or Darfur <deleted>!

According to wiki,

"A typical aircraft carrier in the U.S. military uses nuclear power to desalinate 400,000 US gallons (1,500,000 lt; 330,000 imp gal) of water per day"

But there's loads of water here already. That's the main problem. Why on earth would Thailand want more?

[surayu]

what scares me even more is this is the country that was contemplating nuclear power resources... my god can you just imagine the mess now if it had of gone ahead..

You are scared because you cannot understand how "science" works in Thailand, this is not "falang's science", it is "The THAI Science", not the same thing, so if they had it done, now we would have nuclear powered pla-duks spinning their fish tails at full speed to send back the flooding waters from where it came from, so no more floodings, and they even glows at night......but "you not thai, you-you cannot undelstand!"

[cowslip]

Thailand doesn't need major help and being seen to do so would be more than losing face, it would affect the country's international standing - credit, investment the baht etc - they didn't ask for aid at the time of the tsunami and they won't ask now. They have ample capital reserves anyhow.

the only aid they may ask for is in some specialist areas........ engineering, dykes, medical advice.

What would they do with a US ship?

[NanLaew]

"There were two channels (in the Thai government)," the defense official told AFP. "One was saying 'Yes' and one was saying 'No.'"

I wonder which channel of the Thai government said no? I sure hope this fact is revealed.

Is this a trick question?

The governing channel OBVIOUSLY.

[LTGTR]

Great,the Thai flagship,SS Minnow (of Gilligans Island fame) can navigate the waters of BKK to assist.How <deleted> stupid is Dumblick Shinnawatra to not accept their assistance.

Edited October 25, 2011 by LTGTR

[vahack]

If this isn't absolute proof of their bona fide stupidity, nothing is. It's as if they want people to die.

its not stupidity its arrogance. Thais are some of the most arrogant people on the planet. The average rice farming peasant is far more arrogant than the average American suburbanite. Amazing for a so-called Buddhist nation. Amazing Thailand.

They built dykes and levies instead of pipes and canals. They had over a month to prepare but did nothing. Arrogance.

[uptheos]

Remember Thaksin's words long ago;

"Thailand is now a developed country, we give help not receive it"

Let them get on with it, there's lots of other countries that will welcome US help.

[KKvampire]

"There were two channels (in the Thai government)," the defense official told AFP. "One was saying 'Yes' and one was saying 'No.'"

If you need an example of how government operates in Thailand here it is.

Incompetent , uncaring and basically useless and this is only the beginning of a major crisis with food , water shortages, disease and unemployment. Thailand showing its independence

[vahack]

Great,the Thai flagship,SS Minnow (of Gilligans Island fame)

thats pretty funny

[hbullinger]

I assume that the Thai military forces would be willing to accept help from the US forces.

It is time for the coup!

[KeyserSoze01]

Sadly, the new government is not up to the job. To refuse an offer of assistance at a time of natural disaster borders on criminal. In this case, I would say it's stupidity.

[Tywais]

Well, as I see things these marines would need a work permit; seven underlings, get screened for syphilis and swim to the immigration every ninety days. How sick this all is - disgusting!

Just to get this out of the way. If they are invited work permits are not required and is covered under labor laws, specifically the below. I worked here in the military for a year and had no work permit and no passport but was completely legal. Military ID is all that was required.

Exemptions:

5. Persons who perform duties on missions in Thailand under an agreement between the Thai Government and a foreign Government or international organization;

[atyclb]

If this isn't absolute proof of their bona fide stupidity, nothing is. It's as if they want people to die.

It's starting to look that way...

It's the same old "loss of Face" stupidity. When was the last time a Thai Government

accepted the offer of help from foreign government? If they had called in people from

foreign countries with experience in water management in low lying areas (Netherlands

to name one) many, many years ago, then perhaps this flood may have been less of a

disaster than it is now. The least that could have been done was to make a study of

other countries defenses against flooding and adapted them to suit Thailand.

I hear from a reliable source in the Japanese community that indeed Japan was funding such a modern flood control system but withdrew support as money was "disappearing" and the project not progressing adequately. Reportedly this was a few years ago.

[vahack]

I assume that the Thai military forces would be willing to accept help from the US forces.

It is time for the coup!

ya man where do you think they get their helicopters!

[angeledge]

I assume that the Thai military forces would be willing to accept help from the US forces.

It is time for the coup!

It is going to happen. No more sinawatra in thailand. Anyway, thai military took the best decisions so far.

[NanLaew]

Thailand doesn't need major help and being seen to do so would be more than losing face, it would affect the country's international standing - credit, investment the baht etc - they didn't ask for aid at the time of the tsunami and they won't ask now. They have ample capital reserves anyhow.

the only aid they may ask for is in some specialist areas........ engineering, dykes, medical advice.

What would they do with a US ship?

Agreed. Just because some of the TV hardy perennials are having to move upstairs and have to use a 'bush toilet'* for the next few weeks, it doesn't mean Thailand needs major disaster relief.... ever.

Look at page 2A of today's Nation for Moody's comment on Thailand's creditworthiness. I bet the US and Italians are spewing at that!

* Hint: before dropping a log, check which way the current is flowing.

You'll thank me for it.

[Tywais]

they didn't ask for aid at the time of the tsunami and they won't ask now.

More misinformation:

U.S. Military Support to Tsunami Relief Efforts

U.S. Pacific Command is sending a forward command element (FCE) to Utapao, Thailand, to establish the command, control and communication structure for Joint Task Force 536 (JTF 536).

Thailand's decision to allow use of this Thai military facility is welcomed. The U.S. intends to use, with Thailand's cooperation, this military facility as a regional support center for emergency and medical personnel providing assistance throughout the region as well as a staging area for U.S. military and rescue aircraft, forensic experts, and other relief assistance.

US Department of Defense

[NanLaew]

I hear from a reliable source in the Japanese community that indeed Japan was funding such a modern flood control system but withdrew support as money was "disappearing" and the project not progressing adequately. Reportedly this was a few years ago.

Those bloody thieving Democrats again!!!

[stevo9er]

We should send over some FEMA guys to help out....

[zydeco]

If this isn't absolute proof of their bona fide stupidity, nothing is. It's as if they want people to die.

It's starting to look that way...

It's the same old "loss of Face" stupidity. When was the last time a Thai Government

accepted the offer of help from foreign government? If they had called in people from

foreign countries with experience in water management in low lying areas (Netherlands

to name one) many, many years ago, then perhaps this flood may have been less of a

disaster than it is now. The least that could have been done was to make a study of

other countries defenses against flooding and adapted them to suit Thailand.

Well, they may "save face", but they're going to lose their a**.

[atyclb]

<br />"On October 15, a small ten-man team of US Marines traveled to Thailand to deliver thousands of sandbags and to assess how the American military could help with relief efforts"<br />sending sandbags is the least, what US government should be doing, in such situation. Much more important are basic medical supplies, medicines and equipment.<br /><br />but, of course, it's a very strange position, not to accept an offer of help. Those marines could be used in rescue work, which is so much needed.<br /><br />looks, life thai foreign ministry made a big mistake, because there weren't any diplomatic favours in exchange for help.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Well, as I see things these marines would need a work permit; seven underlings, get screened for syphilis and swim to the immigration every ninety days. How sick this all is - disgusting!

LOL.......... not to mention police coming around trying to extort money. Perhaps Washington refused to fund work permits for the carriers crew.

[NanaFoods]

According to wiki,

"A typical aircraft carrier in the U.S. military uses nuclear power to desalinate 400,000 US gallons (1,500,000 lt; 330,000 imp gal) of water per day"

But there's loads of water here already. That's the main problem. Why on earth would Thailand want more?

Is the "loads of water" of which you speak of drinkable and proximate?

That's usually a problem during a flood.

" A Thai company that distributes drinking water across the city sent out an SMS to customers announcing deliveries had been halted because of the crisis."

http://www.huffingto..._n_1026351.html

That's what I thought.

Edited October 25, 2011 by NanaFoods

[toenail]

As one is aware, the United States and Thailand have been "friends" through out the Vietnam War era and afterwards. Annually there is military training done with the Thai army and navy from the US forces. The Thai government accepts this with no problem. It is a "shocker" for the Thai goverrnment NOT to accept help from the American military that has the resources of helicopters and men to assist in this massive, MASSIVE tragedy. I suppose "saving face" has something to do with it???? - Who knows.

If I remember correctly, the USA accepted foreign assistance with the Katrina flooding. All civilized countries accept help (such as Japan this year) when they need to save lives during a tragedy. (ok, Burma does not-- is Thailand wabt to be likeBurma?)