Posted on 12/30/2004 3:50:44 PM PST by Brilliant
WASHINGTON -- President Bush launched an aggressive defense Wednesday of his administration's response to the southern Asian tsunami disaster, calling critics "ill-informed" and predicting U.S. aid ultimately would surpass the $35 million in initial cash assistance.
"We're a very generous, kindhearted nation," said Bush, vacationing on his ranch near Crawford, Texas. "What you're beginning to see is a typical response from America."
Bush said the tsunami had "brought loss and grief to the world that is beyond our comprehension," and pledged that the United States would "stand with the affected governments as they care for the victims."
Bush's remarks coincided with additional assurances from administration officials in Washington that the U.S. response would include a substantial deployment of ships and military personnel.
The announcements marked an apparent shift in public relations strategy as White House officials sought to rehabilitate the administration's image amid criticism that the United States was not offering enough assistance and that Bush personally was slow to respond.
U.S. officials initially pledged $15 million. But the administration upped that to $35 million on Tuesday, after a United Nations official was quoted calling the United Staes and other wealthy nations "stingy" when it comes to aid.
Wednesday's appearance by the president was his first since the tsunami struck Sunday. Bush spoke out a day after a White House spokesman deflected repeated questions about why the vacationing president, devoting much of his time to bicycling and clearing brush, had not been more assertive in the wake of such a massive tragedy.
Allies and critics of Bush said Wednesday that the administration had bungled its response to the tragedy, missing a chance to display good will at a time that the United States is facing opposition abroad to the war in Iraq. Much of that opposition comes from the Muslim world, and several of the countries affected by the tsunami have large Muslim populations.
"This was a golden opportunity for President Bush to speak to the victims of the tsunami and the Muslim world by showing care and compassion," said David Phillips, a former senior adviser to the State Department under Bush and President Clinton and now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Instead the U.S. is on the defensive, trying to explain its approach."
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a leading proponent of increasing foreign aid, said the administration had erred in its early response by citing the $15 million figure.
"I don't know that I would have put out the initial figure, since looking at this, you know that it's going to go up substantially," Brownback, an administration ally, said in an interview.
Brownback attributed the mistake to uncertainty within the administration as Secretary of State Colin L. Powell prepares to leave and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, nominated to succeed Powell, readies to replace him. Also, many officials are on vacation.
"There's just not the level of communication you would normally have on something like this," Brownback said.
Brownback called on the administration Wednesday to send a high-ranking emissary to the region to show solidarity. He declined to say who, but did not disagree that Vice President Dick Cheney might be the right choice.
Administration officials on Wednesday seemed intent on demonstrating their commitment. Bush announced that the United States had formed a "core group" of nations -- with India, Japan and Australia -- to coordinate disaster relief. He said he had expressed condolences in telephone calls to the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia.
It was not immediately clear how the core group would work with the United Nations and other international organizations that typically coordinate relief efforts.
At the same time, Pentagon officials laid out plans for what appears to be an unusually large military response to the disaster.
The Pentagon will send a Navy aircraft carrier strike group to the Indonesian coast and a Marine expeditionary strike group to the Bay of Bengal. The size of the task force, which one official at U.S. Pacific Command said totaled approximately 20,000 U.S. military personnel, dwarfs that of previous U.S. military efforts to aid disaster victims.
"In my memory, this is the largest disaster relief effort the U.S. military has undertaken," said Maj. Guillermo Canedo, a spokesman for Pacific Command, which has military authority over the affected region.
By comparison, the Pentagon this month sent a task force of 900 Marines based in Okinawa to aid victims of typhoons and mudslides in the Philippines.
The task force also brings with it seven Marine cargo ships that can each produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water daily. An eighth cargo ship has a 500-bed floating hospital.
Bush said the cost of the military response is not necessarily included in the overall total being cited by critics.
Bush and State Department officials were adamant that the U.S. response has been appropriate.
The president noted that the United States has provided $2.4 billion in aid during 2004 -- about 40 percent of all foreign aid given in the world. Andrew Natsios, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, credited Bush with increasing aid levels.
"So we have been generous for a long time," Natsios said. "We're the leaders. We have been. We will continue to be."
Asked why it took the government four days to mount an aggressive response, Natsios insisted that the reaction was swift and immediate when the tsunami struck on Sunday.
Wallsten reported from Washington and Chen from Crawford, Texas. Times staff writers Mark Mazzetti and Paul Richter in Washington and Maggie Farley at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Brilliant, I think you can bet on it.
It will not matter what he does, it will be wrong.
GEE----- see all the psudo-chiefs barking orders like they had any clout. Why don't the libs realize"THEY LOST" and stay under their rock so our President can do his job.
The earthquake and subsequent tidal wave are a direct result of John Kerry not being elected President. (barf!)
Why is that even conservatives want to pile on the President?
If President Bush had announced we would spend 100 million the Dems would have said its too much. The figure didnt matter only the opportunity to complain.
Because they're all a bunch of gutless pu$$ies hyperventilating over the NYT and al Qatie Couric saying mean things about them, so they're running for the tall grass so fast they're stumbling over their own feet. It's the Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond's birthday party incident all over again. Even after they plainly saw that showing weakness got them nothing more than a rapid escalation in the attacks, they apparently haven't learned a thing from that whole episode.
It's almost as if they are gleeful that the tsunami hit and damage was done so that they could have something to blame Bush for, yet again. Just when I think they can't get any worse, they do.
How many of these nations helped us in Iraq or after 9/11? That should be the criteria for aid.
The USA should NEVER respond to ignorant leftist pukes.
Proving yet again that the left didn't learn a goddamn thing from the election. They just can't hide their hatred for the president and, frankly, for America. I predict a GOP gain of at least two more senate seats in the off year election if they continue their attacks, which is almost guaranteed.
Yep yep yeppers. Spot on. Let them keep going - thinking they will have traction. They will have none.
these are evil people. but its all good that they keep flapping their yaps because every day more and more people are turn away in absolute disgust at what these people have become.
MSM And the rest of the loony left never fail to show just how out of touch they are with reality and facts.
I hope they keep showing everyone what brainless, hatefull twits they are for the next 4 years. The more Democrat politicians that jump on the bandwagon the better.
Note they don't say a word about the complete LACK of action from the Useless Nations. The UN doesn't even have an emergency disaster deployment plan! That absolutely disgusting considering all the money the UN gets and steals.
Afraid I'm fed up. Whatever politeness I had left is over since Reps don't get it.
Senator Brownback would you shut up.
It's a media driven controversy to pump up ratings and the Libs are jumping on because it gives them opportunity to take digs at Bush. Just shut up. Is that clear enough?
The administration has not erred. The only error is opening up your mouth to give them more steam on a hyped story. You gain nothing of consequence. The only people you ought to give a damn about are those that elect you that were just called stingy. Those you should care about are those that elected this President by majority. The NYT's didn't get you elected and they would kick you to the curb if they had the opportunity no matter how you kiss up.
So, please, just Shut up.
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