Posted on 08/31/2008 6:35:33 PM PDT by Clive
A Canadian Forces C-17 carrying a military medical team and emergency supplies was expected to arrive from CFB Trenton Sunday to assist U.S. forces preparing for Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to hit land here as early as Monday with a force comparable to the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
The massive Globemaster left CFB Trenton at 12:42 p.m. Sunday afternoon bound for Louisiana, where thousands of people in New Orleans and across the U.S. Gulf Coast fled their homes as Hurricane Gustav barrelled through the Gulf of Mexico packing a punch potentially as powerful as Katrina, the storm that devastated the coastal city three years ago.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered mandatory evacuation of the city of 239,000 and told residents "This is still a big, ugly storm, still strong and I encourage everyone to leave."
Not everyone is leaving though, according to Global National's Paul Johnson ...
"They defy the evacuation order because they're afraid to leave their homes empty . . . or can't stomach the indignity of being an evacuee," Johnson said.
"But most others have taken Gustav as seriously as authorities are warning . . . an unprecedented pre-storm exodus that's based on the lessons learned from Katrina - Get out, and get out early."
The storm evoked memories of Katrina which struck almost exactly three years ago, flooding 80 percent of the city, killing 1,500 people in five states and costing $80 billion.
National Guard troops and aid from across the U.S. and Canada were expected to land in Louisiana Sunday, where the airport was scheduled to close by evening.
"Canadian Forces medical personnel were on board to conduct a mass evacuation and assist U.S. medical personnel with any medical issues over there," Isabelle Hotte, a spokeswoman for the Department of National Defence, said Sunday.
Well, we did send an icebreaker following Katrina.
I remind you that Canada, like the US, is a common law country. In common law countries the military deploys ONLY at the bidding of the CIVILIAN authority.
Canada and the US have always helped each other out in emergencies. Examples:
When Katrina hit, among the first responders to arrive was a Canadian urban rescue team that flew in from British Columbia on its own initiative. They were followed by other civilians to help with the rescue efforts and to help restore the infrastructure.
Following Karina, Canada sent a destroyer, two frigates and an icebreaker, all loaded to the scuppers with relief supplies. When the warships had off-loaded their supplies and departed for home, they left behind engineers, rescue workers and divers. The icebreaker was a major navaids tender and so it was held back to help restore buoys and other navaids that and met aids had gone adrift.
When the US airspace was shut down on 9/11, Canadian civilians, by the thousands, on their own initiatives, offered support to stranded US airline passengers across Canada.
When Iranians raided the US embassy during the Carter administration, Canadian diplomats took personal risks to help extract US citizens from Iran. As part of the operation the Canadian government (a Liberal government, BTW) issued Canadian passports to the US citizens.
I am not claiming one-sided virtue for Canada. US and Canadian linemen, highway crews, snow clearance crews and firefighters (and their equipment) routinely respond to each other's disasters.
But we can always count on Canada bashing on Free Republic.
I am going to have my morning tea and scones and cool down.
With all due respect Clive. I was in Vancouver when Katrina hit, and MOST of the arrogant canucks I had to dealt with were blaming Bush for the catastrophe.
That’s MOST.
It’s hardwired into their own consciousness to bash us whenever they get the chance, and I’ve seen it from the get go. What do I know? I’m from BC, born and bred.
But we can always count on Canada bashing on Free Republic.
***
I criticize everyone if they truly deserve it, not only Canada but the rest of our allies. I judge my comment based on my experiences there instead of throwing an opinion without being a witness myself. Then again, I’ve had good moments there so it wasn’t all that bad.
I don't think any two countries have better mutual neighbors. Our part of the world is great. Sucks to be an Ossetian, Akbazian, Georgian or Russian.
My response was: "Brothers may fight." She saw my point immediately, perhaps relating it to the relationship between Kiwis and Diggers.
That's because those two cities are chock full of lefties.
My internet service was down for the weekend, and the only place I could go for American news was CNN.
Talk about anti-American propaganda!!! James Carville started to sound rational compared to some of the other commentators and reporters.
I can't tell you how many times I yelled at the TV!
My point is, that I shouldn't judge you, or all Americans by watching CNN, any more than you should judge all Canadians by the CBC.
Nice post JBGUSA.
Thanks fan-fan.
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