Miscommunication, Or Mad Cow Fears?

As relief efforts continue for those devastated by Hurricane Katrina, it's surprising to hear that any aid offered to the victims and survivors would be turned away -- but exactly that happened last Thursday when a German military plane was refused entry into US air space.

The Associated Press reports the aircraft, carrying 15 tons of military rations, was sent back by authorities because it did not have proper authorization, according to a German government spokesman. However, there were musings in the German news magazine Der Spiegel that the aircraft was turned back because US authorities feared that the NATO military rations onboard might have carried mad cow disease.

While the German spokesman stated the US has since granted approval for future relief flights, it was unclear whether any more planes would be arriving from Germany. Several planes from that country had already flown in rations to the Gulf Coast before Thursday's incident.

In addition to this incident, many international donors and foreign authorities have reportedly been frustrated by bureaucratic snafus that have hampered delivery of much needed supplies to the hurricane victims.

According to an unnamed US Embassy official, the German plane may have been wrongly turned away due to continuing logistical issues and miscommunication at the scene of the rescue effort.

FMI: www.fema.gov