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Bush Announces Coalition to Aid Asia (No UN?)
NewsMax Wires ^ | 12/29/04 | AP

Posted on 12/29/2004 1:48:11 PM PST by kattracks

CRAWFORD, Texas – President Bush announced Wednesday the United States, India, Australia and Japan had formed an international coalition to coordinate worldwide relief and reconstruction efforts for the Asian region ravaged by a deadly earthquake and tsunamis.

``We will prevail over this destruction,'' Bush said from his ranch in his first comments on the disaster Sunday that so far has killed more than 76,000. Bush said the catastrophe had ``brought loss and grief to the world that is beyond our comprehension,'' and he pledged a multifaceted response from the United States that goes far beyond the $35 million initially pledged.

In the short term, the help will include damage assessment teams and U.S. military manpower, such as a Marine expeditionary force followed by long-term rebuilding assistance. He said he'd also examine a suggestion from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to consider putting a moratorium on the debt of hard-hit Somalia and Indonesia.

``We'll look at all requests,'' said Bush, who talked by phone Wednesday morning with leaders from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

``We're still in the stage of immediate help. But slowly but surely, the size of the problem will become known, particularly when it comes to rebuilding infrastructure and community to help these affected parts of the world get back up on their feet.''

Meantime, the International Monetary Fund said it would work with governments affected by the disaster to provide reconstruction and financial assistance. But details have not been worked out, with governments more focused now on dealing with the immediate humanitarian crisis, officials of the financial institution said.

'The World Will Cope'

The president called on Americans to donate cash to relief organizations to augment the response and said he expected several other nations to join the coalition started by the four countries.

``The United States will continue to stand with the affected governments as they care for the victims,'' he said. ``We will stand with them as they start to rebuild their communities. And together the world will cope with their loss.''

Bush said he talked to the leaders in the affected region and was working to target initial relief efforts to the things those leaders most need, pending damage assessments.

Worldwide Warning

He expressed concern the Asian region wasn't prepared with a warning system that foretold the massive tsunamis and threw his support behind creation of a worldwide system. ``It makes sense for the world to come together to develop a warning system to help all nations,'' he said.

The president also has asked Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Interior Secretary Gale Norton to investigate whether the United States was adequately prepared for tsunamis that might strike the U.S. coast. The U.S. Geological Survey at Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at Commerce are the two agencies addressing that issue.

'Ill-Informed' U.N. Bureaucrat

The president also pointedly dismissed a United Nation official's suggestion that rich nations such as the United States have been ``stingy'' in relief efforts. ``I felt like the person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed,'' Bush said.

U.S. Agency for International Development chief Andrew Natsios told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the $35 million aid package had drained his organization's emergency relief fund, forcing it to ask Congress or the White House for more money.

``We just spent it,'' Natsios said. ``We'll be talking to the [White House] budget office.''

At Least 12 Americans Dead, Hundreds Missing

The State Department said Tuesday that 12 Americans had died in the disaster: seven in Sri Lanka and five in Thailand. Hundreds of Americans remain missing.

Bush said U.S. officials were working hard to locate many more Americans who remain unaccounted for and to provide assistance to those who were injured or displaced in the region.

``Our prayers go out to those who have lost so much to this series of disasters,'' he said.

The State Department, meanwhile, encouraged all American citizens traveling in any part of the countries hit by the earthquake to telephone family members to let them know they were doing.

If the travelers need help they should get in touch with U.S. diplomatic posts, the department said in a statement.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush43; humanitarianrelief; sumatraquake; usaid
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1 posted on 12/29/2004 1:48:12 PM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks

So, who needs the useless and "criminal" United Nations!!!


2 posted on 12/29/2004 1:52:22 PM PST by JLAGRAYFOX
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To: kattracks

Is this a move to finally tell the U.N. to 'stuff it' and BTW, GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY?'

Hope so!


3 posted on 12/29/2004 1:55:02 PM PST by Bigh4u2
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To: kattracks

They could cut down on the coverage of this. Yes it is a disaster and we pray for the people, the President donated so no need to cover this story 24 hours a day.

There is other news,they don't need to show the same pictures over and over.

Our President and our Country showed compassion.


4 posted on 12/29/2004 1:56:35 PM PST by stopem
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To: kattracks

I like W more every day....


5 posted on 12/29/2004 1:58:36 PM PST by eureka! (It will not be safe to vote Democrat for a long, long, time...)
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To: Bigh4u2
"Is this a move to finally tell the U.N. to 'stuff it' and BTW, GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY?' "

Looks like a step towards it. ;)

6 posted on 12/29/2004 2:05:46 PM PST by G.Mason (A war mongering, UN hating, military industrial complex loving, Al Qaeda incinerating American.)
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To: kattracks

Looks like this will be SOP for Bush, he will create international coalitions to get things done while quietly removing the UN from the picture.


7 posted on 12/29/2004 2:08:26 PM PST by Brett66 (W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1 W1)
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To: kattracks

Man, I LIKE this! Good one, 43!


8 posted on 12/29/2004 2:09:57 PM PST by thegreatbeast (Quid lucrum istic mihi est?)
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To: eureka!
"Our President and Our Country showed compassion."

"I like W more every day...."

It sure is easy to show compassion when you're using other people's money. Why doesn't Bush and the members of Congress donate their own money instead of stealing it from the taxpayers as an act of charity?

9 posted on 12/29/2004 2:11:21 PM PST by Beemnseven
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To: Bigh4u2; G.Mason
I think that nasty remark from the UN leech may have had something to do with this. And maybe President Bush wants to be certain that the millions from the US go to the people in need, rather than the thieves at the UN.
10 posted on 12/29/2004 2:12:07 PM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Funny... we're sooo 'stingy' with our contributions. Lets see where our 'friends' the French are in the area of contribution:

http://timblair.net/weblog.php?id=P95

AUSTRALIA SPENDS BIG
Various contributions to the tsunami aid effort. All figures in Australian dollars:

Australia: $35 million

New South Wales: $2 million

Western Australia: $2 million

Queensland: $1.5 million

Victoria: $1.5 million

Australian Capital Territory: $500,000

South Australia: $500,000

France: $177,000

11 posted on 12/29/2004 2:18:37 PM PST by visagoth (If you think education is expensive - try ignorance)
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To: Bigh4u2

I wish I could post pictures. The Screw the UN one, would be perfect.


12 posted on 12/29/2004 2:21:18 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: Beemnseven

Bush and the members of Congress pay taxes. It 'IS' their money they are donating.


13 posted on 12/29/2004 2:27:13 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: kattracks
President Bush announced Wednesday the United States, India, Australia and Japan had formed an international coalition to coordinate worldwide relief and reconstruction efforts for the Asian region ravaged by a deadly earthquake and tsunamis.

Bypassing the UN with relief efforts.

I had hoped to see this...

What a leader!

14 posted on 12/29/2004 2:31:25 PM PST by mcar
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To: kattracks

Well, the UN means that 8-12% of the funds/material/property that passes through their hands goes to "internal UN" purposes. The UN program leaders have to replace the rebenue they lost when they stopped the Food-For-Oil income. The UN may be run by third worlders but they are not competitive on price because of the, well, graft/skims/kickbacks and set asides to be sold in the local market.


15 posted on 12/29/2004 2:31:29 PM PST by Tacis (Kerry - You Can't Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Lazy, Lying, Elitist Scumbag!)
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To: kattracks
"I think that nasty remark from the UN leech may have had something to do with this. And maybe President Bush wants to be certain that the millions from the US go to the people in need, rather than the thieves at the UN."

No doubt.

President Bush tried to tell the UN several years ago that they risked becoming irrelevant.

Now A colalition of nations, outside of UN auspices, for purposes of aiding (which will eventually be in the billions of dollars) those counties severly hit?

Yeah ... I think President Bush is side stepping the UN in a very blatent and planned way.

16 posted on 12/29/2004 2:32:14 PM PST by G.Mason (A war mongering, UN hating, military industrial complex loving, Al Qaeda incinerating American.)
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To: Beemnseven

Spare me.

I would rather see the money go from our country directly to where it is needed rather than send it to the U.N.

You know yourself that the money is going to be spent, why
not make sure it does where it is supposed to?


17 posted on 12/29/2004 2:35:55 PM PST by atruelady
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To: pbrown
Just for you. ;)


18 posted on 12/29/2004 2:36:18 PM PST by G.Mason (A war mongering, UN hating, military industrial complex loving, Al Qaeda incinerating American.)
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To: kattracks
This is excellent news. President Bush went with a coalition into Iraq and now another coalition to help the countries devastated by the tsunami.

By choosing to go with coalitions of the willing and allowing the UN scandals to get more exposure and asking for transparency and accountability from the UN -- Kofi and the gang will be seriously discredited and weakened this year.

19 posted on 12/29/2004 2:36:19 PM PST by Sunsong
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To: G.Mason
President Bush tried to tell the UN several years ago that they risked becoming irrelevant.
20 posted on 12/29/2004 2:37:56 PM PST by Phrostie
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