U.S. Aid To S.E. Asia "Stingy" - Updated!This little tidbit noted by Atrios should catch on the conservative talk radio today. (It's called "WHO Radio" in Central Iowa)
From the Washington Times:
The Bush administration yesterday pledged $15 million to Asian nations hit by a tsunami that has killed more than 22,500 people, although the United Nations' humanitarian-aid chief called the donation "stingy."
Now what would prompt someone to call such a donation "stingy"?
From MSNBC:
The war on terror will take center stage at next month’s second inauguration for Bush in Washington, D.C.
...The estimated budget for the event is $30-40 million, but that will not cover security costs.
UPDATE ONE: The Washington Times report quoted above is a complete lie. It seems that the Washington Times and the WSJ have gone out of their way to use an international crisis to malign the ever-hated United Nations.
The Gadflyer has a post detailing how two outlets outright fabricating a story echoes through the media outlets - and outrages Blog For Iowa posters....
Somewhat surprisingly, the WSJ points out the notion of using a natural disaster to further a political cause:
People prone to hysteria often become further unhinged in the face of a great disaster, and that may explain these remarkable comments on the tsunami disaster. Still, these comments by the movement's leadership may serve as a case study of how such imaginings work their way into public discussion of the environment.
The author of this comment then proceeds to write about how the Kyoto Protocol is holding back South Asian nations from creating a Tsuanmi warning system similar to the one used by Pacific Rim nations.
I swear - you can't make this stuff up.
UPDATE TWO:
It seems that shame is an important motivator. From today's Washington Post:
The Bush administration more than doubled its financial commitment yesterday to provide relief to nations suffering from the Indian Ocean tsunami, amid complaints that the vacationing President Bush has been insensitive to a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.
As the death toll surpassed 50,000 with no sign of abating, the U.S. Agency for International Development added $20 million to an earlier pledge of $15 million to provide relief, and the Pentagon dispatched an aircraft carrier and other military assets to the region. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, in morning television appearances, chafed at a top U.N. aid official's comment on Monday that wealthy countries were being stingy with aid. "The United States is not stingy," Powell said on CNN.
Of course, one must take note of what happens when this administraton is shamed into a course of action - blame Bill Clinton!!
Earlier yesterday, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said [Bush] was confident he could monitor events effectively without returning to Washington or making public statements in Crawford, where he spent part of the day clearing brush and bicycling. Explaining the about-face, a White House official said: "[Bush] wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.' "
Many Bush aides believe Clinton was too quick to head for the cameras to hold forth on tragedies with his trademark empathy. "Actions speak louder than words," a top Bush aide said, describing [Bush]'s view of his appropriate role.
As I noted earlier - you can't make this stuff up.
UPDATE THREE: An mportant note on this story. There are several groups out there providing relief aid to those stricken by the tsunami now. Here are a couple that I know of immediately (not an exhaustive list, by any means. Note: More links added 12/29):
Lutheran World Relief
United Methodist Committee On Relief
American Red Cross
... and for a good overview of other charities rasing money and providing relief efforts:
Bread For The World
If there are other organizations operating relief efforts that you support, please post them below.
