WASHINGTON — The offers of foreign aid keep pouring in: helicopters from Canada, cash from Japan, tents and military aircraft from France — even oil from Venezuela, a political foe. At least 25 countries have offered humanitarian assistance to the United States to recover from Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

But despite the increasingly desperate situation on the ground, the Bush administration has sent mixed signals about whether it will take these global well-wishers up on their offers.

President Bush indicated yesterday morning that the United States HAD NOT REQUESTED FOREIGN HELP AND DIDN’T NEED IT. (emphasis mine)

“I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven’t asked for it,” Bush told ABC’s ”Good Morning America.” “I do suspect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country is going to rise up and take care of it. You know, we love help, but we’re going to take care of our own business, as well.”

Hours later, however, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken with the White House and decided that ”we will accept all offers of foreign assistance. Anything that can be of help to alleviate the difficult situation, the tragic situation of the people of the area affected by Hurricane Katrina will be accepted.”

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“Beware the man who has read one book.”

(President Bush should spend some time reading Greek philosophers. He may then understand the significance of what he’s saying.)