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U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 08:13:42 PM EST
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Update: The New York Times also blasts Bush, noting he has "finally roused himself from his vacation" to call the leaders of the affected countries. The Times criticizes Bush for trying to distance himself from the measly $15 million offer, says U.N. relief aid chief Jan Egeland was right on target in calling the U.S. stingy and that Colin Powell should be embarassed:

Mr. Egeland was right on target. We hope Secretary of State Colin Powell was privately embarrassed when, two days into a catastrophic disaster that hit 12 of the world's poorer countries and will cost billions of dollars to meliorate, he held a press conference to say that America, the world's richest nation, would contribute $15 million. That's less than half of what Republicans plan to spend on the Bush inaugural festivities.

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Original Post:

From an editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

The stingy U.S./An appalling performance

As the Bush administration is wont to say, actions speak louder than words, and America's actions in recent days have painted the United States as a rich, self-absorbed and uncaring nation that had to be shamed into anything approaching appropriate concern about this catastrophe. The Bush administration's handling of this crisis has been inept beyond belief.

Bush emerged from his holiday activities of bike riding and clearing brush today to announce more aid for the Tsunami victims. Reuters provides this account.

The death toll is now at 80,000 and expected to top 100,000. Millions of people in the Indian Ocean area are scavenging for food.

Foreigners rescued in the Tsunami are filled with praise for the Thai people. This is consistent with a half dozen first hand survivor stories we've seen on tv.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan cut short his vacation to return to New York to aid in the relief efforts.

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    U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 05:11:53 PM EST
    Hi All... The response of the left to use even a horrid human tragedy to play politics is expected... but still disgusting. First, the obvious problem is that the left views the world, and even America, trough a socialist lens, which is to say, everything comes from the STATE. The left does not understand democracy, and individual freedom, and especially the US constitution. The American response is NOT the state. We are a free people, and our response is PRIVATE. Americans maintain a government that is limited, and serves limited interests of the American citizenry. All other powers are left to the states and the people. The left doesn't understand this. To them, the state is ALWAYS the answer... and that is a true sickness. They have missed the actual American response... that of a free people. Truth be known, it is very questionable that our government be in the charity business at all... perhaps best left to the private sector almost exclusively. A VERY quick tally of the top 20 or so PRIVATE donation channels has the American response at over 140 MILLION in aid as of yesterday. And that's just the top 20! American Private charity is always massive... exceeding 200 BILLION a year at home and abroad. Only socialists would automatically look to Bush for cash as the centerpiece of American response (oh, and journalists) both missing the point of a free nation of individuals. But of the monies promised on our behalf by the federal government... The $35M immediately given was the sum total of all available (liquid) funds from our international relief agency... So Bush emptied that bucket while the UN Secratary General was still skiing in Wyoming... the normal process is now to provide funds through legislation... which is happening NOW, and takes time. Other things happening NOW. Bush has sent a full aircraft carrier group to the area, with equipment to get water and food to unreachable areas. (People can't eat dollar bills) Meanwhile, amidst Bush and the American people actually doing something, left attacks Bush, still in full partisan political mode, while ignoring the UN SG Annan while he continued his American ski vacation for three full days following the tradgedy. And meanwhile Bush has PLEDGED $350M (not donated as yet... because he is not a dictator, and can not direct such funds strictly through the executive branch... it's that checks and balances thing). The American response will be in the Billions easily. Meanwhile, the left is still in politics mode... oblivious to what is happening, and how it happens. And totally unclear about what it means to be a free individual in a free and non socialist nation. {Ed. SMS, you are limited to four comments a day on TalkLeft. All comments in excess of this will be deleted (your correction is not counted as one, so with that, you get five today).

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 05:12:30 PM EST
    Oh, and people, learn to differntiate between a PLEDGE for funds, and an actual DISBERSEMENT of funds. "Canada pledged this..." "Spain pledged that..." Gimmmie a break. The US "pledge" is 350M now (and will grow). Actual funds already made available: $35M.Apples to apples, people. Compare pledges, or actual funds, but do not mix. [SMS, you are limited to four comments a day on TalkLeft. All comments in excess of this will be deleted (your correction is not counted as one, so with that, you get five today.)]

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 11:17:03 AM EST
    Well put, SMS! I find it interesting that all the leftist Bush-Bashers have shut up since the US pledged an additional $300 million. I could not agree with you more about the enormous amount of money that is coming from the US private sector. Those evil corporations that the left hate are the ones that will be donating more money than most other independent nations combined! Of course, the media will not report about how helpful the private sector will be. And, of course, the leftists will not be satified until the US gives every last penny to the "general welfare of the world", and until we are all left bleeding and starving the in the streets. Long live the USA and how great we are for our contributions to the Tsunami Disaster Relief!

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 05:38:54 PM EST
    The leftist Bush bashers?! Bull! Bush apologistsneed to tell the truth on this one! Bush bashed himself. He looked stupid and was embarrased into removing his head from his @$$ long ebough to take note that somethings are more important that going after the man who tried to kill his daddy.

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 07:10:31 PM EST
    Well this whole donation thing is becoming a game of which country can give the most. Ok, it's very positive we help the people in Asia. And I do support it that we give a lot. But it's very strange how the world suddenly focuses on one disaster and neglects all other things going on in Africa. Because this disaster happened fast and costed so many lives it had a great impact on whole the world, so it's just not cool when you dont donate any money. I hope for the future we also donate more for other countries which have their own 'quiet' tragedies. But as long the media will not bring it up I think that's too much asked for the 1st world countries. peace out

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 04, 2005 at 03:53:53 PM EST
    Bush sucks ass and HE DOES NOT REPRESENT 50% of AMERICANS.

    Re: U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 05, 2005 at 09:05:14 PM EST
    Message to Dagney T. Go easy baby - they might find you out. Our creator's publicist, Alan Greenspan is paving the way for our form of Aristocracy to take over the planet - But don't BLOW it girl - stay undercover. Or should I say "sty undercover"

    U.S. Papers Blast Bush's Response to Tsunami | 7 comments (7 topical)