Truly NIGGARDLY: The US Response to the Indian Ocean Disaster



U.S. Pledges $35 Million in Relief Aid; 1/4200 Amount Spent in Iraq


Humanitarian groups have launched what is believed to be the largest relief effort in the world's history. Billions of dollars will be needed in the coming weeks.

While the Bush administration has pledged to play a major role in the relief effort, it is already coming under criticism for its handling of the crisis.

On Monday, the Bush administration pledged an initial $15 million for the effort. After a top UN official described the donation as "stingy", the US pledged another $20 million bringing the total offering to $35 million.

To put the figure in perspective, President Bush plans to spend between $30 and $40 million for his upcoming inauguration celebration.

And the amount pledged to victims of the tsunami is dwarfed by the Bush administration's war effort in Iraq.

The U.S. has spent an average of $9.5 million every hour on the war and occupation of Iraq. With a current price tag of $147 billion, the U.S. has spent n average of about $228 million a day in Iraq. In other words, the U.S. spends what it promised on the tsunami relief effort in less than four hours in Iraq.

Bush Still Hasn't Publicly Spoken About Tsunami Tragedy

Meanwhile the Washington Post reports that President Bush is also being criticized for failing to address the devastation caused by the tsunami.

Bush has been vacationing at his ranch in Texas and - unlike German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - has decided not to cut his vacation short. Bush has not even spoken publicly yet about the tragedy.

The Post reports some foreign policy specialists accused the president of communicating a lack of urgency about an event that will loom as large in the collective memories of several countries as the Sept. 11 attacks do in the United States. Leslie Gelb of the Council on Foreign Relations said, "When that many human beings die -- at the hands of terrorists or nature -- you've got to show that this matters to you, that you care."

Middle East analyst Juan Cole writes that Bush has lost a unique opportunity to reach out to the Muslim world by showing compassion in a time of tragedy. Indonesia, one of the nations hardest hit, is the most populous Muslim country in the world. Cole writes "If Bush were a statesman he would have flown to Jakarta and announced his solidarity with the Muslims of Indonesia."

The White House has announced that Bush will conduct a National Security Council meeting today by teleconference to discuss several issues, including the tsunami. One White House official attempted to explain Bush's silence by saying: "The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.'" But another official described Bush's silence as "kind of freaky."

U.S. Pledges $35 Million in Relief Aid; 1/4200 Amount Spent in Iraq
Humanitarian groups have launched what is believed to be the largest relief effort in the world's history. Billions of dollars will be needed in the coming weeks.

While the Bush administration has pledged to play a major role in the relief effort, it is already coming under criticism for its handling of the crisis.

On Monday, the Bush administration pledged an initial $15 million for the effort. After a top UN official described the donation as "stingy", the US pledged another $20 million bringing the total offering to $35 million.

To put the figure in perspective, President Bush plans to spend between $30 and $40 million for his upcoming inauguration celebration.

And the amount pledged to victims of the tsunami is dwarfed by the Bush administration's war effort in Iraq.

The U.S. has spent an average of $9.5 million every hour on the war and occupation of Iraq. With a current price tag of $147 billion, the U.S. has spent n average of about $228 million a day in Iraq. In other words, the U.S. spends what it promised on the tsunami relief effort in less than four hours in Iraq.

Bush Still Hasn't Publicly Spoken About Tsunami Tragedy
Meanwhile the Washington Post reports that President Bush is also being criticized for failing to address the devastation caused by the tsunami.

Bush has been vacationing at his ranch in Texas and - unlike German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - has decided not to cut his vacation short. Bush has not even spoken publicly yet about the tragedy.

The Post reports some foreign policy specialists accused the president of communicating a lack of urgency about an event that will loom as large in the collective memories of several countries as the Sept. 11 attacks do in the United States. Leslie Gelb of the Council on Foreign Relations said, "When that many human beings die -- at the hands of terrorists or nature -- you've got to show that this matters to you, that you care."

Middle East analyst Juan Cole writes that Bush has lost a unique opportunity to reach out to the Muslim world by showing compassion in a time of tragedy. Indonesia, one of the nations hardest hit, is the most populous Muslim country in the world. Cole writes "If Bush were a statesman he would have flown to Jakarta and announced his solidarity with the Muslims of Indonesia."

The White House has announced that Bush will conduct a National Security Council meeting today by teleconference to discuss several issues, including the tsunami. One White House official attempted to explain Bush's silence by saying: "The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.'" But another official described Bush's silence as "kind of freaky."

Clinton Calls On Coordinated Response For Relief Effort
While Bush has been silent, former President Bill Clinton took to the airwaves of the BBC and called on the world community to coordinate the relief effort. He said, "It is really important that somebody take the lead in this. I think one of the problems is when everybody takes responsibility it's almost like no one's responsibility."

U.S. Navy Base One of Few Areas In Indian Ocean Warned
Calls are increasing for the international community to develop an early warning system for the Indian Ocean region to respond to developing tsunamis. Unlike earthquakes, tsunamis can largely be predicted. Within minutes of the tsunami forming on Sunday, U.S. officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii began tracking the waves. But the scientists claimed they had no one to contact in the Indian Ocean region about the possible danger.

One exception was the British-owned island of Diego Garcia that houses a major US Naval base. The Independent of London reports that U.S. officials in Hawaii did warn Diego Garcia about the possible tsunami and the island suffered no major damage.

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