Letter to Canadians

[Bill]

Open Letter to Canada From U.S. Ambassador David H. Wilkins

By U.S. Embassy
Sep 8, 2005, 14:43

"There for Us Again Early and Eagerly"
September 6, 2005

Four years after the devastating terror attacks of September 11, 2001, my country finds itself once again hurting deeply.

And today - just as it did four years ago - Canada has come to our aid early and eagerly.

On behalf of my grateful country: Thank you Canada for once again being there when we need you the most.

Hurricane Katrina is the worst natural disaster the United States has faced in modern history. The death and destruction wrought by this powerful storm is so massive it is difficult to comprehend.

But we do know for certain we cannot face it alone. Just as Canadians helped shoulder our grief and pain in the wake of 9-11, we feel your support now. And it is a real comfort - a reminder that humanity at its best is far more forceful and powerful than any storm.

Eight weeks into my new job as U.S. Ambassador, I have been inspired by the warmth and friendship of the Canadian people as I've traveled your great country. While much emphasis often is placed on a few issues in which we differ, I have found a deep appreciation and respect for each other and a desire to reach common ground.

Now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of aid, offers of support and kind gestures of sympathy coming from every quarter across the country.

Prime Minister Martin and Deputy Prime Minister McLellan immediately offered any help when and where we need it including critical supplies from the National Emergency Stockpile System.

General Hillier offered the assistance of Canadian military forces and three Canadian ships have sailed from Halifax loaded with supplies, generators, helicopters, medical and search teams, and water purification systems.

An elite emergency rescue team from Vancouver has already been deployed and is on the ground near New Orleans working side by side with Louisiana state troopers.

Canada's premiers as well as numerous mayors and other officials have offered help as well - everything from teams of electrical personnel and equipment to paramedics, police, firefighters and medical materials, food, clothing - even offers to house the homeless.

Likewise, Canada's business community is there for us making a tangible difference in the hardest hit areas. Katrina was still battering our shores when Air Canada was implementing its plan to offer transport help. Air Canada was the first foreign carrier to arrive in New Orleans and quickly began its mission of mercy, transporting stranded flood victims to safety.

From the pharmaceutical industry and lumber producers, to Canadian citizens whose generous financial contributions are pouring in, to the many Canadian Red Cross workers who make it their life's work to ease the lives of those in suffering - the United States is profoundly humbled and grateful.

I also want to express my appreciation to Canadians of all faiths. No matter the denomination or religious affiliation, all are playing their important part in this massive relief effort. I believe in the power of prayer and I thank those who are remembering the victims of Hurricane Katrina and praying for the safety and success of all those now involved in rescue and clean-up efforts.

Last week the governor of Mississippi made a statement that has stayed with me. He said, "Disasters like this bring out the best in most people and the worst in some."

Thank you Canada for giving us your very best - your treasure, your talent and your time.

You were there for us in the wake of 9-11.

You're here for us now.

With your continued support, and God's grace, the United States will overcome both the sorrow and the challenges we face.

And we will remember and always honor you who helped us get there.

From another article.

Canadians arrive days before US Army

A Canadian search and rescue team travelled 2,200 miles and was in a ruined neighbourhood of New Orleans five days before the US military arrived on the scene, it emerged today.

The team of 50 rescue specialists from Vancouver arrived in St Bernard Parish, a New Orleans suburb devastated by the floods, last Wednesday, just as American authorities started to drop supplies from the air. The US Army arrived the following Monday.

"Fabulous, fabulous guys," said the Louisiana state senator, Walter Boasso. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people. We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere."

The secret of their success? "They chartered a plane and flew down," said Mr Boasso. "Why does it take them seven days to get the Army in?"

 

[redriver]

Wilkins is the perfect ambassador for bush to screw Canada. He comes out with these buttery releases while at the same time tells us that it doesn't matter if the US is breaking trade agreements with Canada, "let's negotiate". Friggin hypocrite.
I take any appreciation from that asshole as an insult to our intelligence. I am glad that Canada will always be there to help the US, even while the US is screwing us. It's just who we are, we don't hold petty grudges like the US does, and we're fair traders, unlike the US.
Wilkins, in his very short time in office, has proven that he is an asshole and was obviously picked by bush to do one thing, rip off Canadians.
I know that the average American sees through all their government's political lies and deceiving tactics, and their appreciation of Canada as a good neighbour is gratefully accepted. Even some republicans are starting to realise how corrupt and diseased their government is.

 

[Econ101]

Wilkins is the perfect ambassador for bush to screw Canada. He comes out with these buttery releases while at the same time tells us that it doesn't matter if the US is breaking trade agreements with Canada, "let's negotiate". Friggin hypocrite.
I take any appreciation from that asshole as an insult to our intelligence. I am glad that Canada will always be there to help the US, even while the US is screwing us. It's just who we are, we don't hold petty grudges like the US does, and we're fair traders, unlike the US.
Wilkins, in his very short time in office, has proven that he is an asshole and was obviously picked by bush to do one thing, rip off Canadians.
I know that the average American sees through all their government's political lies and deceiving tactics, and their appreciation of Canada as a good neighbour is gratefully accepted. Even some republicans are starting to realise how corrupt and diseased their government is.

Amen.

P.S.-- I have always loved that Acadian music and culture. There was a lot more to the devastation of Katrina than New Orleans.

 

[rkaiser]

Well said redriver. I, for one, appreciate your passion and honesty. Don't always agree 100% with your statements, but you have hit this one right on the head.

 

[Les]

The ALBERTA gov. is sending 5 million to the bush/ clinton fund.My bro inlaw is taking 3 weeks holidays from work and heading down with the red cross,As he did with 9/11.

 

[fedup2]

Ya know redriver, someone should follow you around with a newspaper and put it under you wherever you stop. You are the whinniest @ss little pup that I've ever heard!

Its about LIVES! Someone like you will always use any tragedy to get on their soapbox & spew their political garbage. No different than here.

The fact that Canada acted when it did undoubtly saved lives! Plain and simple! You were thanked for that. Accept it like a man and don't throw it back in our faces. You have plenty of other opportunities to spew your garbage without soiling the acts of your countrymen.

To the rest of you Canadians, Thank you!

 

[smalltime]

Thank you Canada. **** you redriver.

 

[Bill]

Ya know redriver, someone should follow you around with a newspaper and put it under you wherever you stop. You are the whinniest @ss little pup that I've ever heard!

Its about LIVES! Someone like you will always use any tragedy to get on their soapbox & spew their political garbage. No different than here.

The fact that Canada acted when it did undoubtly saved lives! Plain and simple! You were thanked for that. Accept it like a man and don't throw it back in our faces. You have plenty of other opportunities to spew your garbage without soiling the acts of your countrymen.

To the rest of you Canadians, Thank you!

Your thanks is appreciated fedup2. We don't send aid because it is expected but because it is obviously needed and the US will do the same for us.

I merely posted as an FYI and do not concur with some of the above posts. Business is business and humanitarian aid should be kept apart.

I did find the second part of my post above most interesting as it is hard to believe that Canadians were there 5 days before the US military though its not for me to question why?

 

[redriver]

Ya know redriver, someone should follow you around with a newspaper and put it under you wherever you stop. You are the whinniest @ss little pup that I've ever heard!

Its about LIVES! Someone like you will always use any tragedy to get on their soapbox & spew their political garbage. No different than here.

The fact that Canada acted when it did undoubtly saved lives! Plain and simple! You were thanked for that. Accept it like a man and don't throw it back in our faces. You have plenty of other opportunities to spew your garbage without soiling the acts of your countrymen.

To the rest of you Canadians, Thank you!

Thanks from Joe-american is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated. But if Wilkins offered his hand in "appreciation", I'd spit on it and tell him to go f**k himself. I don't need someone thanking me knowing that as soon as I turn my back he'll stick a knife in it.

 

[Les]

red river good to see you to show such compasion....nooooooot
you are embarrising to the whole of canada..

It did erk me a little when a few days ago one of the americans on here said that when a country needs help they always help em but when the usa needs help no one is there to help them out. I guess he was misinformed..or maybe he is redrivers bro.

 

[redriver]

Les form Alberta. Did you even read my post? Do you even know who Wilkins is? Probably not, which would explain your dumb reply.

 

[RobertMac]

I did find the second part of my post above most interesting as it is hard to believe that Canadians were there 5 days before the US military though its not for me to question why?

Posse Comitatus Act...It prevents the federal government from using military resources without first being asked by the local government...in the case of New Orleans...the Governor of Louisiana. She is responsible for the 5 day delay and still obstructs recovery efforts for petty political reasons. AL and MS governors signed the necessary paper work for federal aid before the Katrina even hit the coast. Have you seen pictures of the Mississippi coast?????????? Why is the same story as New Orleans not being told there? :???: :? :???:

redriver, how can YOU be insulted????????? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[TimH]

I did find the second part of my post above most interesting as it is hard to believe that Canadians were there 5 days before the US military though its not for me to question why?

Posse Comitatus Act...It prevents the federal government from using military resources without first being asked by the local government...in the case of New Orleans...the Governor of Louisiana. She is responsible for the 5 day delay and still obstructs recovery efforts for petty political reasons. AL and MS governors signed the necessary paper work for federal aid before the Katrina even hit the coast. Have you seen pictures of the Mississippi coast?????????? Why is the same story as New Orleans not being told there? :???: :? :???:

redriver, how can YOU be insulted????????? :lol: :lol: :lol:

RobertMac, I'll stop short of asking you to forgive redriver's ignorance...as it is unforgiveable.....BUT.... you would not believe the SPIN that the CDN media is putting on this Katrina thing. They never mention anything about the Act that you just quoted(which,BTW, was a wise move by it's authors) they ony try to paint the Bush administration as being somehow to blame.
One popular national network morning news program even went so far as to "stage"(IMO) a report from a looted store in New Orleans. It looked something like this....The camera pans across an obviously looted store, displays tipped over, smashed items on the floor(including the cash register). Basicly everything is either upside down or broken.As the camera pans, the reporter is going on about how it is so plain to see that the "good" people who looted this store were only after food and water!!( at this point ,if you look closely, you can see a destroyed and EMPTY cigarette display case). And then ,believe it or not, the camera pans to the reporter, standing in front of a rather large display case full of bottles of of liquor........ all the bottles are standing upright and the shelves are completely full of them!!!!! All the while she(the reporter) is going on and on about how these people looted this store just for food and water,never touched the booze!!!! Unbelievable!!! This was either staged, or the store was looted by AA members!!!!! ..... Ya right!!!
Anyway, this is the kind of junk journalism that redriver and other mindless liberals like "it" are exposed to,for the most part, and choose to believe because they are too brain-dead to smell the bullsh!t!!
I hope this puts it into perspective a little.

 

[Les]

redriver no i dont know who wilkins is but i dont need to know who he is to know the way you conduct your self on here makes it embarasing to live in the same country as you do.

 

[Kato]

I for one don't quite believe we do live in the same country redriver lives in. I'm suspecting he's just Nebrusker with a new Hat.

redriver.. a quiz to see if you're really from Manitoba.

1. What's Sylvia's last name? Hint.. blonde, TV.

2. How much does an average social ticket cost?

3. Where is the BDI?

4. Who owns the Salsbury House?

5. What happened to the guy picking plums in his yard a couple of weeks ago?

6. Here's a southeast Manitoba question. Where did people from Steinbach go to drink beer?

7. What did Nick and Number One Son sell?

Only if you can answer these questions will I believe you are from Manitoba. I bet TimH can answer them... 8) Except maybe the one about Steinbach, you'd have to live in southeastern Manitoba to know that one.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Good quiz ,Kato. I called my daughter that lived in Virden for 4 years and she got most of the answers. Except the one about the plums and the last one. But she grew up in Sask and was a transplanted Manitoban for a few years.

Notice Redrivel hasn't responded. :cowboy:

 

[Kato]

I noticed he hasn't either. I'm going to post this quiz by itself and see if he notices. :wink: