This has nothing to do with politics (at least it shouldn't and I can't see where it does). When have the U.S. forces been involved in that country as pertains to the current government and disastisfaction of their government? Really, I think that has nothing to do with aid. We are not sending military into that country to overtake the government. Look at the past 20 years of humanitarian aid the military has provided to other countries. Our military goes on humantarian missions all the time - I did myself when I was in the military. They are not allowed to get involved in any internal conflict or strife while there for humanitarian reasons. Soldiers go to supervise and hand out food and supplies, engineers go to build schools and community centers and run electricity and water, the air force delivers the supplies. I think this is a case of your paranoia over-ruling good sense Dragan (probably justified from your prior experience with unwanted assitance aka interference from other countries). But this is a national disaster - they need the aid. Also, I wouldn't put it past the populace to take advantage of U.S. troops onsite to spur trouble even though the U.S. troops would be unable to intervene.

Look at 2006 alone:

http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/July/20060712172520berehellek0.4737207.html

Now, if the U.S. was talking about deploying troops for other purposes then I would agree. That hasn't happened though and this was designated strictly humantarian aid, nothing else.


>>So the fault lies not in their government for not accepting the aid but in our government for offering it? I do not know of any conditions on our side for the aid... however their government did specify conditions.
>
>I've never been a junta, so I can only guess. Maybe offering aid on one side of the mouth, delivered by navy (ergo members of armed forces), while calling the same government a dictatorship on all other sides isn't seen as unconditional offer. Maybe a little ease on the criticism during the crisis would have helped.
>
>Imagine a man lying on the ground, being told he's scum for hours before falling, then getting a hand offered while the shower of remarks doesn't stop. I can easily see the guy wanting to stand up on his own and turn his back to the voice.