aim at foot pull trigger, repeat

BERLIN - A German military plane carrying 15 tons of military rations
for survivors of Hurricane Katrina was sent back by U.S. authorities,
officials said Saturday.

The plane was turned away Thursday because it did not have the required
authorization, a German government spokesman said.

The spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, declined
to comment on a report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel that
U.S. authorities refused the delivery on the grounds that the NATO
military rations could carry mad cow disease.

The spokesman said U.S. authorities had since given approval for future
aid flights, but it was unclear whether the German military would try
again to deliver the rations.

Since Hurricane Katrina struck the United States, many international
donors have complained of frustration that bureaucratic entanglements
have hindered shipments to the United States.

A U.S. Embassy official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not
quoted by name, blamed the German flight's rejection on temporary
technical and logistical problems that have accompanied recovery
operations in the devastated region.

German military planes have flown several loads of rations to the Gulf
Coast. Berlin is also sending teams equipped with high-capacity pumps
to help clear floodwaters.

Meanwhile, our secretaryof state was stting in her office admiring her
new Ferragamos while humming tunes from Spamalot.



On 10 Sep 2005 12:23:12 -0700, wrote:

BERLIN - A German military plane carrying 15 tons of military rations
for survivors of Hurricane Katrina was sent back by U.S. authorities,
officials said Saturday.

The plane was turned away Thursday because it did not have the required
authorization, a German government spokesman said.

The spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, declined
to comment on a report in the German news magazine Der Spiegel that
U.S. authorities refused the delivery on the grounds that the NATO
military rations could carry mad cow disease.

The spokesman said U.S. authorities had since given approval for future
aid flights, but it was unclear whether the German military would try
again to deliver the rations.

Since Hurricane Katrina struck the United States, many international
donors have complained of frustration that bureaucratic entanglements
have hindered shipments to the United States.

A U.S. Embassy official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not
quoted by name, blamed the German flight's rejection on temporary
technical and logistical problems that have accompanied recovery
operations in the devastated region.

German military planes have flown several loads of rations to the Gulf
Coast. Berlin is also sending teams equipped with high-capacity pumps
to help clear floodwaters.