Yes, I do absolutely thank folks for their services.

And yes, you two are lonesome.

Trigger was a horse. Stay safe.


Edited for my liberal forum friends: What are YOU doing to help?

[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 03-29-2020).]

quote Originally posted by MidEngineManiac:

This is from February 7. It's the first two paragraphs of a press release from the U.S. Department of State, which is "secretary'd" by Michael "Mike" Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, who was nominated for that post by President Trump, and who reports directly to President Trump.

quote This week the State Department has facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to the Chinese people, including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials. These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people. Today, the United States government is announcing it is prepared to spend up to $100 million in existing funds to assist China and other impacted countries, both directly and through multilateral organizations, to contain and combat the novel coronavirus. This commitment – along with the hundreds of millions generously donated by the American private sector – demonstrates strong U.S. leadership in response to the outbreak.

"The United States Announces Assistance To Combat the Novel Coronavirus"
https://www.state.gov/the-u...e-novel-coronavirus/


This is the banner that "banner's" a newly published column about this, in Mother Jones, online:

quote The US Sent Tons of Medical Supplies to China Even as Senators Warned of Virus Threat Here. Now the Trump administration is begging other countries to send us masks and respirators.

Fernanda Echavarri for Mother Jones; March 29, 2020.
https://www.motherjones.com...f-virus-threat-here/


Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump are in the "same boat" here--on this one specific thing. Of having provided almost 20 tons of urgently needed medical equipment to China, earlier this year, to help China cope with the emerging coronavirus problem.

Was it a mistake? Something that Trudeau and Trump should not have done?

I say "No." The mistake, I think--at least on the part of President Trump--was not doing more to stand up the U.S. preparations for the virus at the same time--early in February-- that his State Department was flowing those almost 18 tons of medical supplies to China.


This is another newly published report in Politico, online:

"Trump team failed to follow [the National Security Council's] 'pandemic playbook'"

quote The 69-page document, finished in 2016, provided a step by step list of priorities – which were then ignored by the administration.

Dan Diamond and Nahal Toosi for Politico; March 25, 2020.
https://www.politico.com/ne...urity-council-149285

[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 03-29-2020).]

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 03-30-2020).]