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?
the french are donating $140k worth of slightly used condoms. don't know if they wiped the feces off of them or not...
They've actually improved on their contribution to the WW II war effort.
Initial numbers or not, we are breaking out the checkbooks for these poor people, and you *know* that we will never be appreciated for it.
Even better, it how much will/do the countries in the Middle East (the much vaulted 'fellow Muslim countries') give their Muslim brother in the sticken area. I know, I know, I heard they have promised zillions and zillons of dollars...but,I mean, how much will Saudi, Syria, Algeria, Eqypt, et. al. actually have ponied up when it's over?
I'm sure the people getting aid will appreciate it and that's all I care about.
How eager would one be to make a private donation if everyone realized how many Islamics are in that part of the world? How much aid will fall into the wrong hands?
Thanks, that's what I thought.
"If, actually, the foreign assistance of many countries now is 0.1 or 0.2 percent of the gross national income, I think that is stingy, really," he said. "I don't think that is very generous."
which isn't aimed at the U.S. specifically, and refers to annual spending, not this particular event.
Actually, it's the U.S. that's calling the U.S. stingy. From a report by the Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress) from April:
"The 0.2 percent of U.S. gross national product represented by foreign aid obligations the past two years, however, is among the smallest amounts in the last half-century. The United States is the largest international economic aid donor in dollar terms but is the smallest contributor among the major donor governments when calculated as a percent of gross national income."
It was undiplomatic to talk about nations being "stingy" and the timing was horrible, but nothing he said was incorrect.
Here's an idea! How about the Arab oil tyrants lower oil prices in a humanitarian gesture so that we can send more military aid at a lesser cost?? Even advanced military vessels still need oil! And how about letting the damaged areas buy cheaper oil so that they can focus their budget on saving people and rebuilding??
I'm sorry, what the heck am I thinking? That'll never happen, and the UN and the media will NEVER call for it.
French are probably sending croissants.
LOL!
Yeah, where they surrendered ASAP and then showed up at the surrender table with their hands out, after MINIMAL EFFORT!
I heard the EU is giving 1.4$ Million. How many countries is that?
Apparently 1.35 million dollars.
The EU has pledged to give 41 million dollars, but I don't think any of the current numbers are very relevant. It's still very early to evaluate the costs in human life, so when it comes to damaged property and needed goods you can imagine it will take months to compute the final tab.
You mean 30 millions, not 300, I suppose. Or do you compute both "official" funds and private donations ?
don't know how many countries included. Some may abstain.
Guess that 's better than nothing.
I'm also computing the millions and millions it costs to operate a 12-ship naval task force in foreign seas. You'd be surprised just how ridiculously expensive that is.
Really though, I think the only nation who can save these poor people is France. They need to send specialists in immediately to instruct the general population in how to surrender to a tsunami.
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