Free Huminatarian Aid? Nah, let's play poltics.

" 'The Cuban physicians are accustomed to working in difficult third-world conditions without the resources and supplies most of us are accustomed to. Since they are just an hour away, it is a shame that they have not been allowed to join our committed medical corps already.' "

"On Tuesday, August 30, Cuba first offered U.S. authorities hurricane relief in the form of 1100 disaster-trained bilingual physicians, each equipped with 52-pound pound backpacks of medical supplies, including rehydration therapy, insulin, anti-hypertensives, and medications for systemic and topical infections.

On Saturday, September 3, Cuba increased the offer to 1586 doctors, ready for immediate deployment and prepared to stay as long as necessary to help wherever needed. A Cuban spokesperson said that as of today there has been no official response from the U.S. government.

Cuban disaster relief experience spans 45 years, mainly in hurricanes faced by the Caribbean island and in coping with disasters confronted by other developing countries. Another nearly 25,000 Cuban health professionals provide longer-term health care services in 68 countries, under government-to-government agreements.
"

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack asserted last week that the Cuban medical brigade would probably not be needed since there has been a “robust response from the American medical community.”

White House spokesman Scott McClellan scorned the Cuban proposal last Thursday when asked if the president would consider accepting the Cuban help.

“When it comes to Cuba,” said McClellan, “we have one message for Fidel Castro: He needs to offer the people of Cuba their freedom.”

Sauchay and the other Cuban physicians don’t seem to be taking the hint their services may not be wanted.

This is just so, so sad. Pathetic, really.

Are you kidding? C'mon, those communist nazis are way worse than dehydration, disease, and diabetic shock!

It would be in the best interest of the United States to accept humanitarian aid from 1. Cuba 2. Venezuela (if it is offered).

Now, let's get all Machiavellian for just a moment.

All of your reasons are surpassed by the issue of National pride. How would we look if we took help from those lesser people? ...Poorer, third-world countries . . .

If that weren't true, then government wouldn't place such a priority on "symbolic acts" and "token gestures."

Image is power in our contemporary age. The goal of branding strategies is to ultimately sell nothing but an idea, a way of life, encompassed in a logo. Content is passe and often must be fought for. If we bow low enough to accept help from the anti-brands, then the empty ideals we're selling will be worthless and people will start buying someone else's empty ideals.

I do not think that the offer of humanitarian aid is 'symbolic' or 'token.' There are pressing political and/or economic reasons for the offers. What those reasons are--why aid is being offered--is, at this point, beyond my understanding.

Don't blame the block on Cuba on the current administration.

Why would the US want Medical Assistance from a country trapped in 1952? Seriously, it doesnt even make common sense, a 4th grader could see the flaw in the logic.

"
Cuba has invested a lot in health care. There are 444 polyclinics spread all over the country, besides 27 hospitals. Every Cuban has access to free medical care virtually at his or her doorstep. Patients who are unable to go to a hospital or a clinic are attended to at home by qualified doctors.

Cuba's medical expertise is being put to good use by many developing countries. There are 23,413 Cuban doctors and health technicians working in 66 countries. Castro calls it "humane missions of solidarity". Cuba has 450 doctors in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. "The industrialised countries cannot send even 50 doctors to Haiti, for they have finance capital but lack human capital," Castro said.

The biotechnology revolution is another success story. Cuba is the largest exporter of medicine to Latin America. The country is doing business in biotechnology with more than 50 countries, including India and helping to set up factories in many of these countries. The Cubans prefer to call it "South to South" technology transfer. Cuban researchers have been granted more than 100 patents, 26 of them in the U.S. It has developed the world's first meningitis-B vaccine. Cuban researchers have developed a vaccine that stimulates the immune system against lung cancer cells."

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2202/stories/20050128000306100.htm

Why would the US want Medical Assistance from a country trapped in 1952? Seriously, it doesnt even make common sense, a 4th grader could see the flaw in the logic.