| Author | Message | ||
     notehead Supporter Username: Notehead Post Number: 1837 Registered: 5-2001  |
What the f*** does giving aid have to do with the Oil for Food scandal?!! If this country wants to help the victims of this tragedy, that doesn't mean we have to write a check to Kofi Annan. That kind of remark in the face of this tragedy is disgusting. Those criticizing the President, on the other hand, should be aware that foreign assistance for development and emergency relief rose from $10 billion in President Clinton's last year to $24 billion under President Bush in 2003. And our total aid package for this catastrophe is expected to come to over a billion dollars. Nevertheless, as CNN reports, none of the world's richest countries donate even 1 percent of its gross national product. Norway is highest, at 0.92 percent; the United States is LAST, at 0.14 percent. That is simply unacceptable. | ||
| Face Citizen Username: Face Post Number: 472 Registered: 5-2001  |
Do not forget to add into those nation donation figures private donations, (especially those steming from Christian based charities.) | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1022 Registered: 9-2003  |
I agree with jkatz, while I'm bugged that Bush hasn't said squat (hence my crack about him and the brush, which is true so far as I can see). I have no issue with the money the U.S. is offering thus far. Money from any source is a good thing at times like these. The company I work for has a thing set up where a related foundation will match whatever I donate, dollar for dollar. Just shaddup and send money. | ||
| Guy Citizen Username: Vandalay Post Number: 441 Registered: 8-2004 |
Amazon has collected over 1.3 million for the Red Cross so far. http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PX3BEL97U9A4I/104-5453108-561914 0 For all the complaining about the US , so the govt has sent 35 million plus two naval units. France has pledged 177,000 (that is thousands). In addition the US military has provided the following: U.S. Military Support to Tsunami Relief Efforts U.S. Pacific Command is sending a forward command element (FCE) to Utapao, Thailand, to establish the command, control and communication structure for Joint Task Force 536 (JTF 536). Thailand's decision to allow use of this Thai military facility is welcomed. The U.S. intends to use, with Thailand's cooperation, this military facility as a regional support center for emergency and medical personnel providing assistance throughout the region as well as a staging area for U.S. military and rescue aircraft, forensic experts, and other relief assistance. The FCE and follow-on JTF will coordinate U.S. military relief efforts in the region. The FCE and JTF will work with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, host nations and humanitarian relief agencies to identify requirements and coordinate relief efforts. The focus of the mission will be to prevent further loss of life and human suffering by expeditiously applying resources to the overall relief effort. The FCE team is comprised mainly of personnel from the III Marine Expeditionary Force. Additional personnel will be deployed from other locations in the Pacific command area of responsibility. U.S. military relief efforts include: U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft in Yokota, Japan, loaded with relief supplies are expected to deploy to Utapao, Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. U.S. Navy deployed P-3 aircraft from Kadena, Japan, to operate in the vicinity of Thailand with Utapao, Royal Thai Air Force Base, serving as a hub for operations. Other forces enroute to the region that could be committed to relief efforts, if necessary, include USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, including USS Shoup, USS Shiloh, USS Benfold, and USNS Ranier and USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, including USS Duluth, USS Milius, USS Rushmore, USS Thach, USS Pasadena and USCG Munro. U.S. Air Force will deploy KC-135 aircraft from Japan and Guam to provide assistance as directed. U.S. military exercises often include training for humanitarian assistance. This humanitarian assistance training helps ensure the U.S. military is able to rapidly respond as directed to support relief efforts. The Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command will continue to review resources available and direct forces as necessary to provide authorized humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to affected nations in the region. CAPTAIN AMERICA to the rescue once again. Here is a link to where you can donate: http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/tsunami/ngolist.html | ||
| tulip Citizen Username: Braveheart Post Number: 1816 Registered: 3-2004 |
35 million for Asia, 35 million for the inauguration and parties. Yup, great help!!! ...and what's the Army and the Air Force going to do? They need medical help, not the military. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4830 Registered: 4-1998  |
Eventual US aid will likely top $1 billion. http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/28/stingy.americans.ap/index.html | ||
| Marc Citizen Username: Bautisma Post Number: 227 Registered: 9-2003 |
Tulip, How much did you personally contribute to the relief effor? | ||
| jjkatz Citizen Username: Jjkatz Post Number: 495 Registered: 12-2003  |
The military can help with riot/looting control, cleanup, rebuilding of infrastructure, all kinds of things. | ||
| Bobkat Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7121 Registered: 5-2001 |
Actually, both Thailand and Indonesia have fairly well developed medical systems. I don't think Doctors are the main issue, although I am sure there are over 100 on the ships being dispatched, most of whom would be happy to go ashore if needed. What they need much more is drugs and water purification equiptment. And soon food. By itself the USS Bonhomme Richard carries over 40 Sea King helicopters (not to mention nearly 2,000 Marines) that will be of great help in distributing supplies. | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 117 Registered: 10-2004 |
The military can provide transportation, shelter, medical personnel and supplies, water purification systems and more AND has ready the personnel and equipment to get them to the area quickly. They also are trained and equipped for providing relief services. I'm sure their help will be substantial. Send money to whoever can help. (full disclosure: anti-Bush, non-militaristic, proud aunt of an Air Force officer who has participated in a number of relief missions) | ||
| Kenney Citizen Username: Kenney Post Number: 555 Registered: 11-2003 |
You people need help. | ||
| tulip Citizen Username: Braveheart Post Number: 1817 Registered: 3-2004 |
Marc; I believe tax revolts are something out of the 18th century. How about you? Marc: Here's a little civics lesson, OK? We in the US pay taxes to our government. In turn our government represents us in matters national and international. That includes contributing in our name to those countries suffering from natural disasters, imn keeping with the spirit of the Judeo-Christian Ethic, with which our founding ancestors set down the terms, conditions, and character of our sovereign nation. Additionally, having the infrastructure of an effective government sets in operation a clean, effective, thorough and accountable system whereby my good will toward these suffering nations in magnified manifold with the good will of my compatriots so that an effective contribution, that is traceable and visible, is made to these nations. In a true cost-benefit assessment, the cumbersome nature of the bureaucracy of this government is compensated by the very size} and availability of expert advice facilitated by the combined wealth of all contributors to this nation. I'll tell you what. If you don't get this, read Hobbes' Social Contract written in the eighteenth century, about the very nature of governments, and why civilization has them. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4404 Registered: 5-2001  |
The title of this thread is despicable. Where is all this self hatred coming from? Anyway, any kid studying foreign policy knows that the US contribution to foreign aid is low vs our gdp, for two main reasons: 1. Our contribution % of gdp is, fortunately, still bigger than most nations combined in many cases. 2. US has traditionally led the world in private funding, since we have a huge and generous population able to afford it. This accounts for the balance act between our gov't contributing less tax dollars from our rich and POOR alike to foreign countries, and it has the luxury for our wealthy private sectors and citizens to take up the slack, which is usually more than generous. Something for the bitter ones to at least try and be proud of our country for. Sheesh. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 545 Registered: 5-2004  |
Of all of this, my only problem is with the amount of time Bush took to make a statement. Perhaps they were working out how much they could give, or what form the package would take. But he should have said something earlier. That said, When we announced 15 million, I was ok with that. When we said an aditional 20 million, I was ok with that. I think our reaction as a nation has been just fine. Biut since this is ALL POLITICS, I will say this. Individual contributions are meaningless from a strategic standpoint. The world does not see that citizens of the US donated, say $3 billion. The only see that the US government pledged $35 million. As far as helping people, I think it's fantastic that everyone is pitching in (myself included). But you can't claim that it's ok for our government to contrinute less (not that I think they did), simply because we as individuals will contribute large amounts. And when it comes time to total up everything (inclouding private contributions), I still don't think the US will have the largest contribution as a percent of GDP. And you know what? That's ok. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4405 Registered: 5-2001 |
Now, turn all that self hating energy into doing good. So far, I have pledged $100 to the Red Cross, and I made a simultaneous $100 donation to America's Second Harvest, because we can't forget about our own poor and unfortunate. Again, stop the hate and bitterness, open your wallets. | ||
| tulip Citizen Username: Braveheart Post Number: 1818 Registered: 3-2004 |
Oh, no, mem, why be bitter about 100,000+ people dying horrible deaths because of not receiving a warning, because no one could supply an early warning system to societies surrounding the Indian Ocean. Hey, have a great new year, mem, please. Celebrate. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 546 Registered: 5-2004 |
tulip, are you kidding? Now it's our fault that we didn't set up an early warning system for Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean? There's a difference betwen being sympathetic and being bitter. You can feel anguish for the people who are affected, and not feel the need to place blame. This was a natural disaster. is there anything bad that happens in the world that is NOT our administration's fault? | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4406 Registered: 5-2001 |
Our gdp is huge. So obviously, it's incorrect to use percentages for comparison. Also, when we have so many rich citizens and businesses, why use tax dollars paid by our poor people to give to other poor people in foreign countries if we don't have to? A proper case of the rich giving to the poor here. | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 194 Registered: 7-2003 |
Jeez, Tulip, go easy! Disasters happen. That's why they call them disasters. There was no early warning system. And 20-20 hindsight does no good. Do we have such an early warning system on either coast of the U.S.? Our national response has been adequate to the task. Trying to turn this into a political football is not helpful. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4407 Registered: 5-2001 |
It's repulsive. |
