That's the first thing I thought when I heard this.

It's economy of scale. Being able to purchase and ship massive quantities of a particular item is much more efficient and uses less resources, not just monetary, than trying to co-ordinate tens of thousands of individual efforts.

Ever watch a food pantry try to manage its inventory after a food drive?

10,000 cans of Tuna and 400 jars of peanut butter. Makes it difficult to create/distribute essential needs packages when you don't know what you are geting and the qt's of items varies.

Yes, the US is so large and has so many resources that it is hard to imagine a natural disaster that we would be unable to cope with without foreign help. Exception - maybe some specialized resources, like body-locating dogs.

Interesting to think about - suppose there was a really, really big earthquake in the center of LA. Something substantially bigger than Northridge (6.7). Like a 8.0+ one (the ten largest measured earthquakes in history are all 8.5 and up). Something that devastates millions of homes and triggers a full-scale response by the government. What response could we manage? How many National Guard and Army troops could we get into the area within the first 10 days or so? How many field hospitals could we set up in that time? How many injured could we airlift to hospitals all around the country? I think it would be pretty damn impressive. But even so, I think that for the first few days, even the first week, there wouldn't be much outside help. In Los Angeles, just like in Haiti, the child trapped deep under a collapsed building would most likely die there before heavy equipment could arrive.

Also interesting to think about - the 2008 earthquake in China (8.0) killed appx 69,000 people and some 10,000-20,000 are still missing.

Helping in Haiti is a complete and total waste of time. Clinton sent the military there back in 1993 or 94 and in retrospect it was a total waste of effort and money.

Haiti needs it's population quelled, we should let mother nature take care of business.

If yellowstone ever erupts 90% of the US population will be dead within weeks.

Just a wee bit harsh, aren't you Bill? You think they deserve this?

Ian

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1263581763.jpg

Chinese and Brazilian cargo planes landed yesterday. I'm sure other countries have sent aid also.

The US is the biggest, most powerful country on the planet - and we have military sea-borne logistics capability that is far beyond whoever is in 2nd place (Brits.?). We have Navy carriers and Marines with air lift and sea-lift capability scattered all over, including the innovative Ro-Ro ships (search on that). We have military installations in hundreds of countries (of varying size and capabilities).

So, of course, we are 1st responders all over the globe.

And yes, other countries help us or offer to help when something happens.

do you think the remaining 10% could repel the invaders?

I guess that would mean the US would contract to a more sustainable size, and that would be good right?.... Right?

Fine with me.

didnt some cow herding tribe in africa send us some cows after 911? for them that is like millions...i could be full of crap..dunno.

i think it is the Masai tribe. 14 cows as a gift to america to help us after 9/11...huge!

Afghanistan sent us a goat. It was chronicled on South Park.