Posted on 12/28/2004 7:13:09 AM PST by Pyro7480
U.S. Vows to Do More to Help Asia Victims
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
Secretary of State Colin Powell bristled Tuesday at a United Nations official's suggestion the United States has been "stingy," saying the administration expects to follow its initial $15 million Asian earthquake aid package with billions more dollars.
"The United States has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world," Powell said when asked about the comments Monday by Jan Egeland, the U.N. humanitarian aid chief.
Initially, the U.S. government pledged $15 million and dispatched disaster specialists to help the Asian nations devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunamis that claimed tens of thousands of lives.
On Monday, President Bush sent letters of condolence and Powell called the disaster an "international tragedy" as he laid out the initial American aid efforts.
Appearing Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," the secretary said that at least 11 Americans have died in the disaster and hundreds remain unaccounted for.
Powell chafed at statements that Egeland made at a Monday news conference, at which the humanitarian aid chief exhorted "rich" nations to do more.
"We were more generous when we were less rich, many of the rich countries," Egeland said. "And it is beyond me, why are we so stingy, really ... Even Christmas time should remind many Western countries at least how rich we have become."
Asked about this on ABC, Powell said, "We will do more. I wish that comment hadn't been made."
"We'll make an assessment as the days go by, to see what more is needed of us," he said. "It will take us awhile to make a careful assessment of what is needed ... to see what the specific needs are and then we will respond to those needs."
In an interview on NBC"s "Today" show Tuesday, Powell said that "clearly, the United States will be a major contributor to this international effort. And, yes, it will run into the billions of dollars."
From his ranch in Crawford, Texas on Monday, Bush had sent letters of condolence to the leaders of the seven countries wracked by the disaster.
"This is a terrible tragedy," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said. "There is a significant loss of life. And our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are suffering."
Powell made condolence telephone calls and offered American assistance to the foreign ministers of Thailand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
American ambassadors released $100,000 each to India, Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and Powell said $4 million would be given to the Red Cross.
U.S. government specialists in disaster relief were sent to Thailand and Indonesia, and others will be spread out through the region. Supplies of shelter, food and water cans kept in reserve in the Philippines and in Dubai will be distributed, according to Ed Fox, assistant administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Millions of people who were displaced will need shelter, food and clothing, Fox added. The $15 million U.S. contribution was an initial one, he said, issued while surveys were conducted.
The Australian government pledged $7.6 million in immediate aid.
A spokesman at U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii said Monday that in addition to three Navy P-3 Orion surveillance planes sent to Thailand, the military also is loading five or six Air Force C-130 cargo planes with tents, clothing, food and other humanitarian goods for delivery to Thailand.
Pacific Command also is assembling small assessment teams that will be dispatched to three countries in the region to assess how U.S. military resources can best be applied in those countries.
Pacific Command spokesman Lt. Col. William Bigelow said he was not authorized to identify the three countries, but other government officials said they were Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.
And James D. Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, said bank teams were discussing potential assistance with the governments of the countries that suffered losses.
On Sunday, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Rodrigo de Rato, said the Fund "stands ready to do its part to assist these nations with appropriate support in their time of need."
The U.S. Navy said it sent three P-3 surveillance aircraft from Kadena air base on the Japanese island of Okinawa to Utaphao, Thailand, to conduct survey operations, and possibly aid in search-and-rescue efforts.
The Navy said it had no reports of damage to any of its ships or bases in the region.
Not to mention having room and board as well as his libturd larva educated in the finest prep schools, on the US TAXPAYER!
F the UN , F Powell.
All true.
But if Powell actually said BILLIONS.....he is genuflecting to them.......I say good riddance to Powell, and can't wait till he's gone!
I believe we should help, but it is really getting tiring of hearing the UN complain and moan about US.<<<<
What I'm tired of is Colin Powell "bristling", then giving in to the U. N.'s every whim . . .I'm glad he's leaving this administration.
.......I say good riddance to Powell, and can't wait till he's gone!<<
Beat me to it!
agreed!
LOL!!!!
We always used to say it politely as: "Take an astronautical intercourse on a rotating perforated pastry." In Other words: "Take a flying F*ck on a rolling donut."
The very nations suffering under this disaster laughed in our faces on 9-11. Many of their citizens danced in their streets.
I am sorry for them, and I will pray for them, and I am even willing to help them, because that is the Christian response.
The Islamic response is to dance in the streets with jubilation.
Yeah - you sure would like to see something like:
Powell added: "How about if I just come over there and kick your ass."
Only when the UN or EU steps up to stop the genocide in Africa should the United States pay them lip service. We're a great people, the UN is filled with cowards, terrorists and socialists. We are we even associating ourselves with this worthless bunch?
He needs to be Zell Miller-fied. Powell is too calm IMHO.
When the hell are we going to learn the UN is a totally USLESS organization and we need to get the HELL OUT OF IT ..US hating bastards they are.I will personally donate my time to go over there and tear that building down .
..typically liberal's spin.
The INITIAL response...blah blah blah....
These idiots will always try to spin ANYTHING.
Doogle
grab a seat
Doogle
The U.S. is up to $35 million now which I don't have a problem with since this was so devastating. However, I suspect the U.N.'s tiff is that not enough of that money is going to them to get skimmed and instead going directly to the Red Cross and the countries involved.
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