UK MREs for Katrina effort not even used

[evangilder]

WTF?!?!

The United States on Friday offered needy countries more than 330,000 packaged meals donated by Britain to feed Hurricane Katrina victims but rejected due to a U.S. ban on British beef.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the "Meals Ready to Eat," or MREs, had been held in a warehouse in Little Rock, Arkansas, for more than a month after U.S. Agriculture Department officials said they could not be distributed in the United States because they contained British beef products.

"We are certainly, for our part, looking to dispose of these MREs that were offered in the spirit of friendship and charity. We are looking to dispose of them in the same way," Ereli told a State Department briefing.

The United States bans the import of products containing British beef because of fears of mad cow disease, a chronic, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle.

An additional 33,000 MREs from Germany, Russia, Spain and France had also not been distributed to hurricane victims because of U.S. legal restrictions, Ereli said without elaborating.

More than 100 nations offered assistance to the United States after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and other U.S. Gulf Coast communities on August 29.

The U.S. relief effort to help victims of the hurricane was criticized as too slow and inefficient and bogged down by bureaucracy and in-fighting among government departments.

Early on, there was a need for about 500,000 readily packaged meals and the State Department asked its embassies worldwide to seek food donations. Britain was among the first countries to offer MREs.

The State Department said it did not want to appear ungrateful for the British donation and that it was working hard to pass on the meals to another country in need.

"We obviously want to find needy populations and get them these supplies as soon as possible, because if you need them, you need them now. So we're eager to resolve this soon," said Ereli, adding he did not know what the expiration dates were on the food packages.

So it's okay if they make someone else sick? That's just messed up! I would assume that the meals have been checked before going into use for troops in the UK, but the US State Department is saying that they aren't safe for US citizens, but it's okay for everyone else.

[Gnomey]

It is really wrong, but I think it is to do with US bans of UK beef since the BSE crisis and its links to vCJD. Still if they are safe for our troops surely they are safe for American citizens??

[evangilder]

That's what I was trying to say. It is ridiculous that they were rejected to start with. But to offer them to another country seems even worse.

[plan_D]

Britain hasn't had the BSE problem in years. That's ing ...your government is a f*ck up, Eric. I thought it was only France that had put a trade embargo on British beef ...but, hey look, the U.S government is just as bad as the French one.

Oh no ...we're all getting CJD ... dumbasses.

[evangilder]

Well, I think it is safe to say that everything to do with Katrina and the government was a real cluster-f*ck. I think it was a terrible waste to let them just sit in a warehouse when people were hungry. Typical bureaucratic nonsense.

[plan_D]

That and I can't believe they actually still have an embargo on our beef. Where's the U.S government been living ...under a rock?

[evangilder]

High on a hill. They have been living there so long, they don't know what's going on in the rest of the world. There are a few politicians that are okay, but most of them are just worthless seat cushion polishers.

[Nonskimmer]

The US has only recently lifted a ban on Canadian beef as well.

[Erich]

yes our system is a total muck and has been that wasy since viet nam. Reagan tried but did not have full support.

my question is this. MRE's have more than a meat portion and if there was anything suspect it should of been dumped and the rest sent to the needy. food is food for crying out loud. this does not surprise me in the least, and the stupid Hurrican season still is threatening not over till Novembers end. The schemes for a new N.Orleans is a massive joke and the media has been fooled to think that is was the only spot on God's earth hit by Katrina and Rita. Lets face it Les's area and surrounds has had a big fat 0 of coverage and is one hurting unit. I could smack media personell in the side of the head over this one........

well I am expecting more screw-ups in the near future

[Glider]

The bit I liked is that the US Goverment said that no one went hungry as a result of this decision.
I suspect there are a lot of people who were left without food and water for days who would disagree with that statement.

[Erich]

Glider again it is whom the spokesperson may be. Under false impressions I am sure but the result at least in Louisiana was the total neglagence of one New Orelans mayor and one Louisiana govenor

what can I say ? Bozo's come to mind/incompetent fools

[evangilder]

Yep, incompetence of the highest order.

[Gnomey]

Originally Posted by evangilder

Yep, incompetence of the highest order.

If not higher than the highest order. It was pathetic the response.

[Erich]

again at what level. From my higher up friends, aid was sent, a plan was to be enforced that was already there in case of an extreme emergency. the higher eschelons gave Louisiana as example, time to rise as a shining star to see if they could pull their pants up higher than their knees. NOPE ! the maggots refused and coped funds for themselves letting their people rot in filth, and crying that is was Bush's fault, allowing poverty pimps to rule instead

[plan_D]

Canada's beef scare was more recent than Britain's yet the U.S still bans British beef, but not Canadian. It should have lifted the British ban long ago. And I suspect those chumps that didn't distribute the MRE's will be expecting thanks from the countries they do send 'em to, eventually ... I think it's pretty clear what the U.S government thinks of British help.