Wire story updated: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 needed.
Bush also said he was concerned the Asian region wasn't prepared with a warning system that foretold the massive tsunamis and that he supported creation of a worldwide warning system. ``It makes sense for the world to come together to develop a warnings system to help all nations,'' he said.
The president also pointedly dismissed a United Nation official's suggestion that rich nations like 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. "
Thwack ! LOL. Today, President Bush, after dressing down that UN jerk, announced that he had, in effect, circumvented the UN by putting together his own "Disaster Relief Coalition" with Japan, Australia and India.
Isn't it ironic that every insignificant reporter and insipid bureaucrat everywhere feel free to condemn the US at will.... We either do too much or we don't do enough, we're arrogant or imperialistic. Some even say we think we're the world's policeman. Well, if we aren't, then how come every time the world dials 911, it rings in the good ol U.S.A. ?
Ousted CalPERS president convinced governor helped bounce him
AP, 12/29/04, Jim Wasserman
SACRAMENTO -- Sean Harrigan, ousted as president of the $182.8 billion California Public Employees Retirement System, said in an interview Wednesday that he's still convinced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Walt Disney Co. and Safeway Inc., played significant roles in his departure.
"I was totally convinced in early December and late November, and I'm totally convinced today, the Chamber of Commerce and Steve Burd and Michael Eisner and the Schwarzenegger administration played a key role in making sure I wasn't re-elected by the state personnel board to the CalPERS board," Harrigan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press Wednesday from Spokane, Wash.
"It was the only place they could take me out," he said.
Of Harrigan's comments, Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said "it's too bad the holiday season hasn't done away with Mr. Harrigan's paranoia."
Good question? How come the ER number rings in the USA? One thing that did bother me recently tho was with ALL the outright, in your face, CORRUPTION by Arafat, WHY did the US just give them another 20 million? Arafat had BILLIONS stashed away. Why can't these Arabs use THAT money that they didn't deserve in the first place?