Did GWB reject Cuba's help?

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:51 am

Ok you guys help me out, this was a fleeting bit on the news last nite. Cuba has offered up teams of people who have experience with hurricanes (imagine that) to aid in disaster relief, and due to the Embargo and issues with Castro GWB refused their help?

Can anyone confirm this? Gosh it sure would be a feather in his cap if he could have accepted help like he did from Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanastan as posted in other threads.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:59 am

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 586326.htm

Martinez: Cuban aid should be welcomed

Sen. Mel Martinez said he was 'grateful' for Cuba's offer to send doctors to assist in the Katrina relief effort, though the Bush administration has not responded to the offer.

BY PABLO BACHELET

pbachelet@herald.com

WASHINGTON - Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez said Wednesday that the U.S. government should accept Cuba's offer to send hundreds of doctors to treat victims of Hurricane Katrina, provided they are needed and ``reasonably well-trained.''

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has offered to send nearly 1,600 physicians, potentially introducing another element of friction in the four-decade-long confrontation between the two adversaries. The Bush administration has said it will accept all offers of aid, but has also suggested that the United States did not need more doctors.

[...]

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:06 am

Accountable wrote: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 586326.htm

Well that leaves it open to interpretation doesn't it.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:24 am

With the surplus of american doctors, I wonder if they would have accepted some other kind of aid?

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:30 am

Raven wrote: With the surplus of american doctors, I wonder if they would have accepted some other kind of aid?
Yes the bit of news I caught I thought said they had other aid due to the fact that they are experienced in hurricane issues. Rather sad if the other help was turned down.

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:59 am

ArnoldLayne wrote: It would be a bad move to brush aside an offer like that from Cuba. Aside from the obvious help needed, what an oppotunity for strides to be made in the laying of olive branches

Precisely what my supervisor and I said this morning. Takes a big man to forgive.

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:52 pm

ArnoldLayne wrote: GWB could gain serious brownie points if he is shrewd

Ah yes in a perfect world indeed