Text 7128, 81 rader
Skriven 2005-01-07 13:55:00 av LEE LOFASO (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av GARY BRASWELL
Ärende: Tsunami Disaster Reli 2/2
=================================
>>> Continued from previous message

>GB>How do we know if the Japanese will even pony it all up? Even the UN
>GB>stated don't get too exited, often nations go back on their pledges.
>GB>We have the example of the 1st Gulf War for that.

>LL>"I'd rather see competitive compassion than no compassion." - U.N.
>LL>humanitarian chief Jan Egeland, who previously called wealthy nations
>LL>such as the U.S. "stingy" for not pledging enough aid.

GB>Well, I am sure you heard who said what I quote above.

Sure.  On all the networks.  :)

>LL>Here are some updated numbers -

>LL>Australia leads the pack, with $810 million pledged.
>LL>Germany is a close second, with $674 million pledged.
>LL>The U.S. lags behind, with $350 million pledged.
>LL>The total amount pledged by the world is $3.6 billion.

>LL>A bit over a year ago, there was a massive earthquake in Iran, which
>LL>killed over 26,000 people.  Donors promised Iran more than $1 billion
>LL>in aid.  How much of that $1 billion in pledges was received by Iran?
>LL>According to Iranian officials, only some $17.5 million.

GB>There you go, so much for pledges.

According to Secretary of State Colin Powell, we will fulfill our
pledged amount.  And if more is needed, we will do our part.

>GB>Heck, some of these countries hit ran out into the streets en masse to
>GB>celebrate us getting hit in 9/11.

>LL>Except for Iraq, what countries might those be?  I know of none.
>LL>In fact, people around the world, from every country, expressed their
>LL>condolences, and offered help.  Even Yasser Arafat donated some of his
>LL>own blood in order to help those who were suffering.

GB>Indonesia. Scenes were shown of other nation's peoples coming out into the
GB>streets in celebration too.

So what?  A handful of kids, paid off by terror groups to "dance in
the streets" in front of media cameras, does not mean all (or even most)
Indonesians were happy about seeing innocent people murdered.

GB>While governments can say one thing, the people can be of another persuasion
GB>And in fact today, the main radical muslim group in Indonesia stated it woul
GB>not shoot US forces doing humanitarian work.

Getting that radical Muslim group free publicity and 15 minutes of fame
on all the networks.

>GB>I wonder how they would have felt if we emptied our homes celebrating
>GB>their people getting annihilated by an act of God. There are
>GB>concerns that some of these radical groups may decide to take
>GB>advantage of US forces being there t shoot them.

>LL>We have an obligation to help those in need.  Even if a handful of
>LL>nutcases try to disrupt those efforts.

GB>So far it looks ok.

We are doing our part.  But we can, and should, do more.

>GB>I'd say we are doing pretty good.

>LL>We can, and should, do better.

GB>Seems like we are as our aid efforts are growing all the time.

No matter how much is done, it will never be enough.  All we
can really do is be a leader by helping as much as we possibly
can, and encourage other countries to do the same.

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * This tagline stolen by Silly Little Mail Reader!
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
 * Origin: Try Our Web Based QWK: DOCSPLACE.ORG (1:123/140)