Obama Pledges $100 Million in Aid for Haiti Earthquake

[tekisui]

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Washington - President Obama, signaling "one of the largest relief efforts in history" for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, said today that he has ordered an immediate investment of $100 million in U.S. aid.

"This investment will grow over the coming year," said the president, standing with several Cabinet members and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whom Obama said he has ordered to make the disaster in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince the No. 1 priority of all their agencies.

U.S. armed forces are on the way to Haiti, the president said, citing several Coast Guard cutters already deployed, elements of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and a Marine Expeditionary Force en route.

Obama made his second public statement on the Haiti crisis in two days from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, where he was joined today by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael G. Mullen, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

"The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating," Obama said, promising not only the "power" of the U.S. military for a massive relief effort, but also "the compassion" of the American people.

more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-obama-haiti15-2010jan15,0,3821860.story

[kenny blankenship]

1. "will grow over the coming year" That's going to have to grow A LOT

well, just so long as it does grow...

[tekisui]

2. I am sure it will. This is just the immediate donation.

[FormerDittoHead]

3. Seriously. Isn't this about what we spend in Iraq & Afghanistan EVERY TWO HOURS??? n/t

[tekisui]

4. Yes, but this is just the beginning.

And, money is coming in from all over the world.

[kenny blankenship]

6. This must not be including what we'll spend through the military

[FormerDittoHead]

7. Must be so. The 'gas' alone to send those carriers down is a LOT. n/t

[closeupready]

5. Whatever they need.

Gobama.