Posted on 12/29/2004 8:30:40 AM PST by publius1
I have a houseful of libs--my wife's family--and the question came up. Does anyone know what the French, Germans, or any of the Europeans are giving to help the victims?
Well, they said as soon as they get the "Tsunami for food program" established at the UN they'll get going.
From another thread... France: $136,000
France is giving $136,000.
The US is giving $35M at last count and Colin Powell was on one of the morning shows the other day and said he expected the number to total of American giving to be in the billions before it's all over.
We've also sent 12 ships from the Pacific Fleet to the area to help. We've also sent forensic scientists to the area to help identify victims. We are paying their air travel, salary, housing, etc.
That is why they call us stingy. The poin the finger at us, and not themselves.
It costs millions just to move a 12-ship task force.
Answer....Less than US.
My husband and I were just wondering how much it would cost to move 12 ships in the Pacific Fleet and estimated it had to be extremely expensive.
The Aussies really ponied-up. They gave something like 20M(this # could be wrong, but it is way up there). And they only have a population on 19million.
The French are sending cheese and the Germans are sending beer.
"EUROPEAN UNION: Ready to release up to 30 million euros ($41 million) on top of 3 million euros already allocated to IFRC."
Anyway, it's better to wait until this disaster is over and then start arguing about aid.
I saw on the news this morning that france was giving a whole $136,000. Apparently they don't do aid, they do loans and don't see any return on this one. I guess those poor people will have to get the bulk of thier aid from us greedy Americans.
Dude, you need to move!
Francs << $US
Well, just fuel costs add up into the millions. Not to mention various oils and other fluids to power and maintain the huge engines. Think about running a million cars, and you're getting around the complexity of mobilizing and dispatching 12 military vessels. Even nuclear-powered vessels require many forms of operating fluids. Your car has oil, gas, transmission fluid, coolant, etc. Think how many various things a destroyer needs to run.
Also, the moment those vessels are deployed, everyone aboard them is paid overseas wages. Doesn't actually go to the victims, but the government could've chosen to sit back and let the crews play volleyball at Pearl Harbor instead.
It was on a chart on FoxNewsChannel.
Just remember that those who point a finger at you have three pointing back at themselves.
A thread posted on Sunday (I believe) stated that the entire EU was going to send off the whopping amount of $4 million dollars.
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