The Stingy US: An Appalling Performance

[Jon8503]

Published on Thursday, December 30, 2004 by the Star-Tribune / Minneapolis

Editorial


"The United States is not stingy," Secretary of State Colin Powell bristled in response to criticism of a paltry $15 million initial U.S. contribution to tsunami-relief efforts. Bulletin for Powell: That's not the way many Americans and most the rest of the world see it.

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.

There's a broader context here that bears consideration. Two days before Christmas, the media reported that unprecedented U.S. deficits -- caused substantially by the Iraq war, which most of the world hates, and by Bush's tax cuts for wealthy Americans -- had led the Bush administration to cut substantially its previously agreed contributions to world food programs. By going back on its commitments, the Bush administration forced numerous aid agencies to suspend ongoing programs in many impoverished nations -- including, ironically as it would turn out, Indonesia.

Then a day after Christmas came the undersea earthquake and resulting tsunami waves that very likely will end up taking well more than 100,000 lives while putting millions at risk of disease and destroying both their livelihoods and homes. From the very first hours it was apparent this was going to be an almost unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Yet Bush remained at his Texas ranch where, aides said, he spent time cutting brush and bicycle riding. He uttered not a single public word about what had happened in Asia.

On Monday, the United States announced an initial $5 million in aid, mostly through the Red Cross, to which it said it most likely would add an additional $10 million at some point. Bush still was nowhere to be seen.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1230-01.htm

[NMDemDist2]

1. good article and glad it's in a fairly mainstream paper to boot

prezeldent is a nimrod at best

[Nimrod]

8. Hey!

<In my best Eric Cartman impression>

:)

[NMDemDist2]

9. ooops!! My BAD

:spank:

[Gloria]

2. Good piece...but it would have been better--and more complete--

if it had included the snide comments by the spokesperson about "feeling your pain"....and mentioned how a real former President was out doing the job in London even before Bush's HANDLERS had a clue...

[idiosyncratic]

3. Excellent editorial. I hope there are many more like it across the country

n/t

[gnofg]

4. How true

Bush isa very small man. He stands for nothing but himself and greed. He is Narcissus and he certainly is not Goldmund

[dannynyc]

5. How Christian . . .

and, how like a Christian - "God has endowed me to *.*, and fuck everyone else."

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skittles]

7. LOL

how can you defend that incompetent piece of shit? I bet the bastard is pissed he had to interrupt his vacation and get dressed to say he's sorry over 100,000 were wiped out. Not that he would care - he's wiped out that many innocent civilians in Iraq already. Now, off you go to kill an animanl for entertainment.

[NMDemDist2]

10. dressed up?? try "sobered up" ROFL n/t