I am always one of the first to bash the "international community" and as such do also think it is important to acknowledge the many who have stepped up to help our country.  Some interesting things to note below… 

The four biggest donors – Middle Eastern countries.  Look at how much Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE gave.  WOW! 

Also notable, Sri Lanka, not a rich country by any means and certainly with no money to spare after the tsunami gave $25,000.00.

Venezuela, a country with who we have recently had some pretty big spats with over their dictatorial leader – $1 million. 

Australia, always a very, very good friend of ours made their donation ($7.6 million) last week the day after the hurricane – the first international donor I read about and before any solicitations were made.  They just jumped in and gave the money. 

State Department releases international list of Katrina donors, aid

Offers of aid and assistance from countries around the world in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina continued to pour in Tuesday to the U.S. State Department.

So far, 94 countries and international organizations have offered aid, according to a State Department spokesman. Here is its partial list of nations from which the United States has received support:

• Afghanistan: $100,000
• Armenia: $100,000
• Australia: $7.6 million
• Azerbaijan: $500,000
• Bahamas: $50,000
• Bahrain: $5 million
• Bangladesh: $1 million
• Belgium: Medical/logistics teams to Red Cross
• Canada: 2 helicopters, 32-person rescue team, Air Canada evacuation flights, medical supplies
• China: $5.1 million cash and relief supplies
• Djibouti: $50,000
• Finland: 3 logisticians to Red Cross
• France: Tents, tarps, Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), water treatment supplies
• Gabon: $500,000
• Georgia: $50,000
• Germany: MREs and high speed pumps
• Greece: Cruise ships, private offer of an International Committee of the Red Cross Web-based tracing system
• India: $5 million
• Israel: Tents, first aid kits, baby formula
• Italy: Generators, water pumps/purifiers, tents, medical supplies
• Japan: $1 million cash, generators, tents, blankets, bottled water
• Kuwait: $400 million in oil, $100 million cash
• Maldives: $25,000 cash
• Mexico: Bedding, MREs, baby care items, personal hygiene kits
• NATO: Coordinating European assistance offers
• Norway: $1.54 million in relief supplies
• Organization of American States: $25,000 cash
• Qatar: $100 million cash
• Republic of Korea: $30 million cash and in-kind donations
• Saudi Arabia: $255 million from Aramco
• Singapore: 3 helicopters
• Sri Lanka: $25,000 cash
• Taiwan: $2 million cash, medical supplies
• Thailand: Large amounts of food
• United Arab Emirates: $100 million cash
• United Kingdom: MREs
• U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team and logistics support
• U.N. World Health Organization: Public health officers and logisticians
• Venezuela: Up to $1 million to Red Cross