Second Thoughts On Going It Alone

The Boston Globe reports that on Wednesday the State Department said we did not need international help (subscribe/trial) with the "first phase of rescuing survivors and restoring order," but might consider external aid for post-Katrina reconstruction. Thursday morning, on Good Morning America, the President said that "this country is going to rise up and take care of [Hurricane Katrina aftermath]." But sometime later Thursday, the State Department reversed course: ''We will accept all offers of foreign assistance. Anything that can be of help to alleviate the difficult situation, the tragic situation of the people of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted."

At least 25 countries have offered aid, including Australia, Germany, Holland, South Korea and Venezuala. Canada "is in the process of packing a ship with a helicopter, water purifying equipment, and electric generators that could sail for the Gulf of Mexico at a moment's notice."

The scope of the devastation is staggering -- the area covered by federal disaster declarations is almost the size of the United Kingdom, 90,000 square miles. The Senate passed an emergency aid bill Thursday night; the House is slated to act Friday.

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Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Politics