did anyone hear that the $35 million is to be a loan?

[laruemtt]

if so, can you give a link? i wouldn't be at all surprised if it is........

[cheezus]

1. everything we spend money on is a loan

that's the only way to keep from having to raise taxes

or something like that

[Fleshdancer]

2. I think 20 million of it is considered a "line of credit"

The link was posted around here somewhere last night from Yahoo news. I'll fish around for it.

[Fleshdancer]

5. Here's a link:

Responding to the devastation, the U.S. Agency for International Development added $20 million to $15 million in promised assistance.

The announcement was made after director Anthony S. Natsios met with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage.

Describing the $20 million as a "line of credit," Ereli said "we have identified an additional $20 million that we will be working to make available" to countries struck by the worst natural disaster in four decades.

"This is in response to what we're seeing out there, what we understand the needs to be, what we think can be usefully used at the present time," Ereli said.


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/28/national1454EST0571.DTL

[bpilgrim]

6. State Department Daily Briefing - December 28, 2004

QUESTION: Adam, can you just -- the $20 million, exactly what is the status of that? Is that to be disbursed fairly soon or is it just --

MR. ERELI: Like the $11 million, it will be -- the 11 million additional, it will be disbursed to our missions and to local NGOs and other organizations as the need arises. The way to think of it is as a line of credit, frankly, that here is money available to be drawn upon to get equipment, to develop capacity, to provide supplies and relief to the people in need, as those needs are identified and as the institutions are identified that are capable of making use of the money. So think of it as a line of credit to be drawn down upon, as opposed to just a pot of money to be thrown out there.

source...
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-4181-PHPSESSID-ee45540e2177f775903f06d75bfadc13.html

peace

[Orangepeel]

14. that doesn't sound like a loan to me...

one the speaker explains what he/she means by "line of credit" it sounds more like a "halliburton gift card" than it does a real line of credit. First, they can call it a loan all they want, but I don't see how they'd get it back. Second, based on the description, I think the speaker used a very poor choice of words to explain that the aid can only be used for certain things from certain suppliers (not that that's a good thing).

[bpilgrim]

17. 'line of credit' certainly sounds like a loan to me

but who can really parse what these thugs are saying :crazy:

i suspect by the end of the day it will be firmed up... probably just some read meat for their base :shrug:

peace

[Orangepeel]

19. I don't know. who can tell?

Although a line of credit, like a home equity line of credit, IS a loan, to me, it reads like "store credit" when they explain it.

[Tinoire]

16. Original State Department link to your quote

Don't want this one getting lost, yanked by that Freeper site etc...! :)

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2004/40083.htm

Daily Press Briefing
Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
December 28, 2004

(snip)


QUESTION: Adam, can you just -- the $20 million, exactly what is the status of that? Is that to be disbursed fairly soon or is it just --


MR. ERELI: Like the $11 million, it will be -- the 11 million additional, it will be disbursed to our missions and to local NGOs and other organizations as the need arises. The way to think of it is as a line of credit, frankly, that here is money available to be drawn upon to get equipment, to develop capacity, to provide supplies and relief to the people in need, as those needs are identified and as the institutions are identified that are capable of making use of the money. So think of it as a line of credit to be drawn down upon, as opposed to just a pot of money to be thrown out there.


QUESTION: Is it cash, credits and goods, or all three, or what?

MR. ERELI: I believe it's credit. It's basically money available to pay bills.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2004/40083.htm

[bpilgrim]

18. excellent!

thank you Tinoire, you're the best :toast:

sorry for the rethug source, the domain name did catch my eye but i was rushing as usual ;->

peace

[PATRICK]

3. Any offshore oil rigs

open for salvage? Is Haliburtion geared for rescue work. How much will be spent on teams of consultants or Bush buddy giveaways before a single crust of bread or pill reaches a dying mouth? Cynicism is never an issue with Bush, it is just honest conjecture.

[Tinoire]

4. I just happened to have looked for that 10 minutes ago to refute some

outrageous bunk I saw elsewhere.

Here you go:

Bush to make "brief" tsunami statement, $20 million is a "loan", not aid

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of Americans remain missing two days after devastating tsunamis struck Asia, but the State Department says a large number have been located and are safe. Responding to the disaster, the U.S. Agency for International Development added $20 million to the already promised $15 million.

The State Department said Tuesday that 12 Americans had died, seven in Sri Lanka and five in Thailand.

Bush administration officials sought to allay concerns about the missing Americans, saying it might simply be a matter of not getting in touch with U.S. authorities in Asia....

Describing the $20 million as a "line of credit," Ereli said, "We have identified an additional $20 million that we will be working to make available" to countries struck by the worst natural disaster in four decades.....

On Wednesday, President Bush is to make a brief statement at his Texas ranch about the Asian disaster following a regularly scheduled National Security Council meeting during which he will be updated on relief and recovery efforts, said White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy.

(snip)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2876487

On edit: Here is the actual link for that article. Yahoo has already yanked that story (the one used in the original thread) and replaced it with a kinder, gentler one:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=366121

[laruemtt]

7. thanks, guys. i knew i wasn't hearing things -

at least in this regard. :crazy:

[Tinoire]

10. Our pleasure- Isn't DU great for this type of stuff? n/t

:)

[oscar111]

11. 105 Trillion is US wealth

says fed reserve site.. /l5.htm

so the 20 million has to be paid back to us... a loan.

see how they avoid the word loan,,, in a dozen ways.

Only 10 originally sent, is a gift.

Lots of "as needed" said.. so the 20 will go slowly it seems

[madrchsod]

8. pay day loan...

george was watching the tv the other day and saw all the commercials for the pay day loan and check for cash places and the light went off in his head-that`s what we will do! he can charge over 700% in interest and harass people for the rest of their miserable lives.

[Tinoire]

9. Jesus. How macabre. How fighting. n/t

[amber dog democrat]

12. If this is true,

thanks but no thanks . Why don't we cut down some trees and haul away some minererls while we at it ? Anyone know if there is any oil ?

[sam sarrha]

13. the 20 million LOAN is..same as 3 days/8 hours of Occupation cost in Iraq

F'n Moron gets away with his insanity every time he opens his mouth..

we spent 380 billion TAX DOLLARS killing 100,000 people in Iraq and cant save some of the 100,000 homeless poor people in the worlds greatest disaster.

Bu$h was really born again.. he is a spawn of Satan.

F'n Moron

[laruemtt]

15. i really, really, really, REALLY

want to scream! i swear i don't know what i'd do if you guys weren't here to come to for a good dose of sanity. i'd surely be even more of a basket case than i already am :freak: