US Role in Tsunami Relief Efforts

[toasty]

I was listening to a debate on the news this morning about what the role of the US ought to be in assisting the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in SE Asia, and thought I'd throw it out there for comment.

To get things started, I'll throw out a couple of the positions that were taken (not my own):

Some folks were of the opinion that the US had become the world's blank checkbook -- that we have enough problems here at home to be worrying about the rest of the world. the general gist of it was, "why should we pay to rebuild another country before we rebuild our own?"

Some folks thought atht the $35 mill we've pledged was too little. Having already spent $800 billion on the war, $35M was basically chump change.

Others viewed it as an opportunity for the US to get back in the good graces of the world by helping out in the relief effort -- a good PR move, if you will.

Thoughts?

[fishingnut]

you give what you can, and you take what your given..we should always help out people who need it no matter where they are from.

[runningman]

why isn't places like saudi arabia and Iran giving money to these people?? I hate how it always falls on the USA hands.. Does anybody know if canada is helping?

[fishingnut]

i think the saudi sent like $10 mil, canada sent some money but they haven't sent any people yet

[runningman]

<------- Not!!

that's weird usually we are the first ones in there.. new PM i'm not to sure about yet..

[fishingnut]

you hate winter but you live in canada?? :?

[runningman]

ya i was born here.. and still here.. probably will stay here.. doesn't mean i can't complain about it..

[thesightless]

Re: US Role in Tsunami Relief Efforts

things like this upset me. especially all those AIDS protesters during the republican convention. too stupid to realize that USA gives well above what every other country is giving, not to mention bill gates dropped a billion out his own pocket. go protest to a country that doesnt give shit.

[cosmo]

Re: US Role in Tsunami Relief Efforts

I was listening to a debate on the news this morning about what the role of the US ought to be in assisting the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in SE Asia, and thought I'd throw it out there for comment.

To get things started, I'll throw out a couple of the positions that were taken (not my own):

Some folks were of the opinion that the US had become the world's blank checkbook -- that we have enough problems here at home to be worrying about the rest of the world. the general gist of it was, "why should we pay to rebuild another country before we rebuild our own?"

Some folks thought atht the $35 mill we've pledged was too little. Having already spent $800 billion on the war, $35M was basically chump change.

Others viewed it as an opportunity for the US to get back in the good graces of the world by helping out in the relief effort -- a good PR move, if you will.

Thoughts?

First off, we have not spent anywhere close to 800 billion on the war so far. Where did you get that figure? Regarding the 35M, I think it's fair so far. At first, all donations were small to begin with, being that the damage was extremely underestimated. Once the leaders of the world saw that it was worse than they imagined, the donations obviously grew. This is how much the world is donating btw:

US: $35M, plus 12 US Navy vessels and 5,000 sailors
Japan: $30M
Australia: $26M, plus five military transports and 50 specialists
Austria: $1.36M
Belgium: One military transport to deliver UNICEF aid
Britain: 370K (pounds), $100K, plus $481K of materials to Sri Lanka
Denmark: 45 tonnes of supplies, $1.82M
EU: "Ready to release" 30M Euro, 3M Euro already released.
France: 100K Euros ($140,000)
Finland: 500K Euro.
Germany: 2M Euro.
Greece: 17 doctors and staff.
Italy: 2 helicopters and crew.
Netherlands: 2M Euros.
Poland: $336K
Spain: 1M Euros pledged, 19 volunteers
Sweden: Two communications specialists and some tents and radios.

And no toasty, no matter what we do, so long as Bush is in the white house, he could bring every single country out of poverty, and they would still despise him.

[toasty]

Re: US Role in Tsunami Relief Efforts

First off, we have not spent anywhere close to 800 billion on the war so far. Where did you get that figure?

Not sure. I was just repeating the position someone was taking. I'm home from work ill today, so I gotta blame that on the Nyquil brain fog. My bad.

[White_Hindu]

I think every country should donate more. The question should be is it plausible to donate more relief?

[Yao]

Wrong info, EU is not 'ready to release 30m', it's donating 30m.

Some of the european countries surprise me with the low amount they give, including mine, though they do work through the EU. That figure could've been way higher...or at least more material help.

[mixu]

Personally, I think the US does do a good job regarding aid... as Bush said yesterday, "In the year 2004, our government provided $2.4bn in food and cash and humanitarian relief ... that's 40% of all the relief aid given in the world last year."

How much aid does this crisis need? As much as anyone can give - it's going to take billions...

Iraq will cost the US upwards of $200 billion by the time they pull out, whenever that may be.

I don't know specifically what the AIDS protestors at the Republican Convention were protesting about but personally, I don't think aid should be given with religious morality. This was the first article Google brought up as I'm short on time, but as it's from the LA Times and details the arguments it's good enough for starters...

https://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SafeSex/Archive/Thanks/Q159649.html

And if Bush brought every single country out of poverty he'd be president of the millennium and he wouldn't be despised... but he ain't gonna do that.

BTW the figures are changing and confusing but it appears the UK has committed $29 million to the disaster. And other similarly wealthy countries should do the same.

I would urge all of you to give something if you haven't, however small, and be thankful you are alive.

https://www.ifrc.org

[DaStottman]

Compared to other countries, the U.S. certainly needs to donate more, despite the war in Iraq. A few million is change compared to the billions spent on the war. While the money being given by each country does seem small, one needs to realize that there are a lot of individuals giving money through organizations like the Red Cross, so there is more money going through than it appears.

[fishingnut]

the us sent 12 boats and 5,000 men, who pays for that, or is it taken out of the $35 mil.