Cuba offers 1100 fully self-sufficient Doctors deployable within 72 hours.

[T4 Primera]

Actually, within 36 hours with the first 100 there in 12. Can't seem to edit the title...

Our country is ready to send, in the small hours of morning, 100 general doctors an specialists in Comprehensive General Medicine, who tomorrow Saturday, at dawn, could be in Houston International Airport, Texas, the closest to the region struck by the tragedy, in order to be transferred by air" *it would be in helicopters mainly--, "river or land" *amphibious crafts that sometimes enter heavily flooded areas-- "to the more distant shelters, facilities and neighborhoods in the city of New Orleans, where the population and families are that require emergency medical care or first aid treatment.

These Cuban personnel would be carrying backpacks with 24 kilograms of medications, known to be essential in such situations to save lives, as well as basic diagnostic tools." They will have to take blood pressure, pulse and other readings, all these basic resources are needed to establish a clinical report, something which our doctors have a lot of experience in. At the moment tens of thousands of them are working overseas, and in many places there was no X-ray machine or ultrasound equipment, there was nothing, not even blood or other lab tests, and they arrive and make clinical diagnoses with an exceedingly high level of precision. They are practically clinical experts, because they are used to working in areas of the Third World that don't have diagnostic equipment. "They may work alone or in groups of two or more people, depending on the circumstances, for as long as necessary."

"Likewise, Cuba is ready to send via Houston, or any other airport of your choosing, 500 additional specialists in Comprehensive General Medicine, with the same equipment, who could be at their destination point at noon or in the afternoon of tomorrow, Saturday, September 3. Thus, the 1100 said medical doctors, with the resources described, would be caring for the people in most need of attention in the aftermath of the hurricane.

"A third group of 500 specialists in General Comprehensive Medicine could also be sent, and would arrive in the morning of Sunday, September 4. Consequently, in under 36 hours, 1100 of these doctors equipped with said resources' *the back-packs--, 'which amount to 26.4 tons of medication and diagnostic kits' *mostly medication-- 'will be caring for the neediest people in the aftermath of a hurricane like Katrina."

What Cuba Has Offered the People of the Gulf Coast

This offer was made officially on September 1st at 12:45

Someone needs to swallow their pride and accept the offer.

[twospirits]

While at first I thought this was not for real upon searching it seems that it is true. (It actually appeared first in the spanish media). Seems that Castro made the announcement a few hours after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice proclaimed that the US will not turn away any external aide. But considering the past history, I'll be quite surprised if the US would accept.

TS out

[TexasF355F1]

I hope he sends some cigars over as well.

[YogsVR4]

If they're needed, we should accept the help. I don't think their is an issue of pride in not accepting any help, its more a question of logistics and need.

[twospirits]

True, to me it looks like we need it, but the government may say otherwise. So far, over 50 countries are offering help.

On a side note: I especially like the fact of sending us cheap fuel as mentioned in this BBC article. But of course the State Department said no to that. I guess keeping the fuel as high as can be is a great thing.

TS out

[YogsVR4]

The State Department said no? That doesn't make sense. It would be private companies that would actually get the oil, so how can they say "no"? Aside from that, why would they not want it? Crazy

[Flatrater]

I haven't seen anything saying the US refused the oil shipments.

[Rbraczyk]

Originally Posted by Flatrater

I haven't seen anything saying the US refused the oil shipments.

Yup. We've been accepting oil from everyone I believe. We're also all set up here in New England. We're getting enough oil from Canada, but its very expensive still.

Lets just hope Steve Forbes is right.

[escort357]

What the hell did the cubans ever do to make them so disliked in america in the first place? Didn't we send Castro in there to take over the old government? Maybe I just slept through that part of all those history classes. Anyway, we'll probably turn down their offer just because most politicians are retarded. People are gonna die because we can't accept help from the cubans. It's kinda sad.

btw, communism rules!

[Flatrater]

Originally Posted by escort357

What the hell did the cubans ever do to make them so disliked in america in the first place? Didn't we send Castro in there to take over the old government? Maybe I just slept through that part of all those history classes. Anyway, we'll probably turn down their offer just because most politicians are retarded. People are gonna die because we can't accept help from the cubans. It's kinda sad.

btw, communism rules!

Before you go off on a tangent shouldn't we wait to hear that the US declined the aid from Cuba! Maybe we have more than enought doctors for that area already and not needing more doctors. Maybe we have to figure out how to get them here, were to lodge them and so on.

Also you should figure out if we dislike the Cubans or just the government of Cuba.

What I find distasteful is the fact when the shit hits the fan the whining starts. First the finger pointing happens and then the blaming. Blaming and finger pointing while ill informed is a wasted whine.

If communism rules than I suggest that you move to Cuba or another commie country! I lived under the commies, you can have them. Please leave now. I'll even start a donation fund to buy you your plane ticket.

[fredjacksonsan]

It's assinine for the US to reject assistance from Cuba.

[twospirits]

Well so far the US has not accepted. See article.

TS out

[tonioseven]

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

I hope he sends some cigars over as well.

[T4 Primera]

Originally Posted by Flatrater

Before you go off on a tangent shouldn't we wait to hear that the US declined the aid from Cuba! Maybe we have more than enought doctors for that area already and not needing more doctors. Maybe we have to figure out how to get them here, were to lodge them and so on.

If you read the article I linked in the first post you'll see that these doctors do not require transportation or lodgings. They are fully self sufficient and are trained to work in these conditions.

If you read the article posted by "twospirits" you'll see that US doctors are urging the acceptance of the offer, indicating the "need".

They are considered the best in the world at this kind of work and are offering their assistance for FREE.

Originally Posted by Flatrater

What I find distasteful is the fact when the shit hits the fan the whining starts. First the finger pointing happens and then the blaming. Blaming and finger pointing while ill informed is a wasted whine.

While ill informed....indeed.

I saw a news item the other day where trucks carrying relief supplies were held up until the necessary paperwork (contracts) had been signed. I'm beginning to wonder whether some of the hold-ups are related to KBRs contract and others like it. Could cronyism be responsible for obstructing aid?

FEMA Outsourced N.O. Disaster Plans To Politcal Cronies/Donors
Halliburton gets Katrina contract, hires former FEMA director

[YogsVR4]

Originally Posted by T4 Primera

FEMA Outsourced N.O. Disaster Plans To Politcal Cronies/Donors
Halliburton gets Katrina contract, hires former FEMA director

Gee - an article with the words "Political Cronies" - yeah, thats going to be objective


Halliburton was hired for the job - good for them. Is there a suggestion that the company should fold, the employees being fired and the stock holders losing their investments? Or is it that because Cheney was once involved with them, that there is no way they could be the best choice for the job?

Petty.