Posted on 02/10/2005 12:40:34 PM PST by srm913
Bush pledges another US$600m in tsunami aid
PRESIDENT George W. Bush has pledged a massive US$600 million (S$991 million) boost in United States financial aid to countries affected by December's tsunami.
This would take the total of Washington's relief package from US$350 million to US$950 million and make it the largest single donor nation.
The increased funds will be earmarked principally for reconstruction efforts in the worst affected countries, among them Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
President Bush, who made the announcement on Wednesday, said: 'We will use these resources to provide assistance and to work with the affected nations on rebuilding vital infrastructure.'
The boost in relief aid was described by Mr Andrew Natsios, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, as the most generous and the most extensive in American history.
Mr Bush was chastised in December for his initial offer of only US$15 million in tsunami relief.
The sum was subsequently incrementally increased to US$35 million and then to US$350 million when the full magnitude of the catastrophe became apparent.
The latest pledge will catapult the US to the top of the list of donors, ahead of Australia with its US$810 million and Germany with US$660 million.
kinda generous with our money.
Is the US stingy? Nope.
But this reeks of overkill to me. 350 mil was just fine. This is too much, considering the private donations and what other countries are also putting up.
I hate to seem unsympathetic, and I am sure someone will get mad at me for saying this, but do we have to foot the bill for the entire friggin' world all the time?
Overkill yes and a lot of it will probably never get to those in need. The amount of fraud in this effort will be massive, but underreported IMO.
Getting called 'stingy' costs a whole lot less than $950 million. Still, look at the money trail. An extra $600 million for southeast Asia. An 18% increase in the state department budget. Ove 10% increase in foreign aid. Over $350 million for the Palestinians. Can we all say 'legacy building'? Or perhaps 'legacy buying' is a more accurate term.
He pledged it.......
Let him reach in his pocket and pay it.
Time Out! How about Darfur?
The Tsunami relief thing has run its course. I want the Saudis and other oil-soaked muslims to pick up the remainder of tsunami relief.
We should be spending our money on those starving at the hands of muslims.
Enough already !!
I think this country has done more than its fair share. Their government has the money/tools to do the job with what has been given.
The chicoms have a lock on darfur. They're in there getting the oil. No one will go in without their sayso.
What a jackass Bush is. He has no right to pledge my money. If I want to pledge it, I'll do it myself.
Considering the aid is being sent to the countries (who don't seem to be doing a very good job of getting it to the people), I say we stop being so generous!
It reminds me of 9-11. How much money can one family use? If I am correct, I thought I remember a ridiculous sum of money going to one of the countries that had hardly any losses to "repair fishing nets"??
I TOTALLY disagree with increased funds.Don't we have some budget issues we are trying to resolve. Dems probably won't complain seeing that they like to fund the worlds ails . I think we as a nation have already done our share and so have individual Americans.
I don't care what anyone says. We have already done enough. We don't have to rebuild these countries that are mostly muslim, and the gave the finger to the U.S. after the disaster happened.
I think we should stop. There is enough from this country especially with the private donations raised.
At least this will ease their situation a bit, now that they have to buy A380s to get rid of the shrimp tarrifs...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1326549/posts
TOO much.
I'm not mad at you,
I agree WITH you!
Why is it always up to us to rescue the world when some natural or man-made disaster comes along?
Why does Uncle Sam feel so free to shove his hand in MY pocket every time he thinks it's justified?
To add insult to injury, it's often the same people who would happily see us DEAD... or at least injured!
I don't know about everybody else, but I'm not sure how much more blood he can GET from this turnip, and if I have to watch somebody we've help spit on us one more time, I just don't know WHAT I'm going to do!
Damn George, I think we have sent enough, especially now since we dont who is in charge of disbursement and those people will never thank us anyway.
You are dead on! It is as if we are "shamed" by not contributing more. As other posters have pointed out about the private charity efforts this is about dispersment now and not throwing more cash in.
Deduct this amount from our UN dues.
You're onto something.
We are all for helping, but apparently much of the aid is not getting to the people. The UN apparently doing its normal job of "coordination"!
Compassion fatigue and wallet rot will do that to you.
Then there are the compassion grifters.
I like Bush, but some things I've been hearing lately are bothering me. I heard that he wants illegals to receive Social Security and this extra money going for more relief is simply stupid.
My first thought...
Will the appreciate more help like they did before and tell us to get our military out by the end of March?
The President is quite generous with the taxpayers' money.
This is despicable. $600 million to rebuild resorts, casinos, pedophile brothels, mosques and madrassas. You tax dollars at work.
"If I want to pledge it, I'll do it myself."
Exactly.
Hey W: We love you out here but how 'bout puttin' that money in the Social Security lock box?
No, we don't.
But Bush thinks we do, because he's going for The Legacy Thing.
And it's not his money he's pissing away, so what the hell does he care? He's a Big Government politician to begin with; this is as natural as breathing for someone who doesn't care about any limits on Big Stupid Government.
I am a republican, but Bush is a drunken sailor on shore leave when it come to spending money.
damn!! 350 mil for some mud huts?? damn!! give the hidldabeast $750.00 and she will build you a sand castle...$1250.00...she will get nekkid and show pic of bill nekked!!!!!! course they won't be together, but that is beside the point.
Well, as long as we don't spend it on protecting our borders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAMN!
no doubt
"Its not the governments money...."
Bush is right...this money ...all 950 mill...will be turned over to the UN to administer.
Its the UN's money, baby.
Exactly. Not only do we give away that much money to foreign countries, that is a drop in the bucket compared to what we give away here through entitlement programs, welfare programs, grants and such. GovBenefits.gov is a government website devoted solely to helping you find what free money you might be eligible for from the taxpayers' wallet. One source says that we give away 350 billion dollars a year just through grants to any joe who wants one. Crap, crap, crap. It's enought to drive a person crazy. How 'bout we take some of that money and fix the borders, the tax code AND social security in on fell swoop?
Enough is enough. Why aren't we pushing the likes of the spoiled brat arabs to poney up?
And we're NOT including private donations OR other countries' $billions in aid.
What's Dubya got on the table for stemming illegal immigration, and reinforcing Mexican Border Patrol and Security?
$0.02
If Bubba Clinton were doing this same exact thing, FR would be FREAKIN' OUT!
Boy and just in time for tax season. Where to I send my $3 party contribution?
This is BS the govt is stealing from me and giving to someone else when the money could be much better spent in this country....Charity is not to be forced on anyone. If Presidente Bush wants to send more aid, grab a couple million illegals from here and ship them over there and let them rebuild the country...
Ditto!
This place would be in full meltdown mode, for sure. But GOP Presidents can do no wrong in the eyes of many around here -- "it's 'strategery', don't you know. Bush is playing chess, everyone else is playing checkers." ....pathetic brainwashed robotoids.
Check this out yet, btw?
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