Posted on 12/30/2004 4:03:13 PM PST by Brilliant
POSTED: 8:32 am EST December 30, 2004
NEW YORK -- A Queens congressman who represents one of the largest South Asian communities in the United States accused the Bush administration of being "asleep at the wheel" in its initial response of sending $35 million for victims of the earthquake and tsunami that claimed more than 75,000 lives.
Rep. Joseph Crowley, a Democrat, said Wednesday that the Bush administration was slow in making a full assessment of the disaster, which he characterized as one of "biblical proportions."
"I think the administration is asleep at the wheel," he said. "I am frustrated right now because anyone can tell this is a massive disaster."
Crowley said he wanted "to be grateful" for the money President Bush already has sent.
"But when you look at what we are spending in other areas of the world, especially in Iraq today, $35 million is a drop in the bucket given the enormity of the loss of life here," Crowley said at a meeting of leaders of the South Asian community in Jackson Heights, Queens, to discuss raising money and collecting supplies to send to the ravaged areas.
Crowley said he planned to fight to get additional earthquake funding into the supplemental budget for the Iraq war, which Congress is due to begin considering.
Subhash Kapadia, of the Jackson Heights Merchants' Association, met with Crowley and said he also was disappointed in the U.S. government's response.
"They are not doing enough," said Kapadia, a native of Bombay, India, who came to the United States 32 years ago. "They send money everywhere in the world. Why not help our country?"
Kapadia, an American citizen and owner of an electronics store, said he and other merchants in Jackson Heights have organized a campaign to raise at least $35,000 to send to south India.
But Siv Das, president of the Jackson Heights Merchants' Association, which represents more than 100 stores, said he doesn't blame Bush.
"Bush is good," Das said. "He is helping enough. We need to work together to help our people."
The community in Jackson Heights comprises some 40,000 residents from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan and is among the largest South Asian communities in the United States, Crowley aide Gregg Sheiowitz said.
Bush announced Wednesday that the United States, India, Australia and Japan have formed a coalition to coordinate relief and reconstruction of the 3,000 miles of Indian Ocean rim hit by Sunday's earthquake and the tsunami it unleashed.
He pledged a multifaceted response that goes far beyond the initial U.S. pledge of $35 million, including U.S. military manpower and damage surveillance teams.
He said it was important to build an early warning system for tsunamis worldwide, and he directed his interior and commerce secretaries to check if the U.S. West Coast is adequately protected.
"Clearly, there wasn't a proper warning system in place for that part of the world," he said. "And it seems like to me it makes sense for the world to come together to develop a warning system that will help all nations."
The tsunami death toll across 12 countries soared to near 77,000 on Wednesday, and the Red Cross predicted it could pass 100,000.
The left is overreaching again.....watch this stuff backfire.
I see that the congress-idiot in question didn't have a word to say about Kofi Annan's absence and delayed response due to a previously scheduled ski weekend.
I wish some reporter would look into how this money is being spent NOW. I mean, has all of that $35 mil been spent already? I would guess no. So it doesn't matter when the money is contributed as long as there's enough in the coffers to handle the bills as they come in. Plus, the US is dropping millions in food relief, and I jsut heard Pfizer (in a PR mood, but I'm sure it's welcome) is dropping $10 mil in money and $25 mil in medical supplies.
Insensitive to Hindus and moronically clichéd. Bravo, sir! I salute you.
As soon as they figure out how the skim the most money with the least scrutiny, they will be on full bore.
The UN make thievery is an art form
This is just as reprehensible as wishing 9/11 had happened before Clinton left office so he could improve his legacy. This guy acts as if we should have air dropped suitcases full of cash on the beaches.
LOL. Good one.
Nuts. They are all nuts.
Kind of ironic considering India says they do not need any help.
LMAO!
Hmmmm? I wonder ? Since all these left wing Bush/America haters think we're just not doing OUR part,, I wonder when they will start their own special demRATS give to disaster org and put THEIR $$$$$ where their mouth is ?
Pray for W and Our Troops
"Nuts. They are all nuts."
If we could only get the Rats to hold their breath for 6 minutes, this planet would be such a better place!!
The disaster is a severe one, however this is one of the reasons UN was created for to handle. The congress-fool is just hot-air. As far as I am concerned it's like Grandma used to say, "Two tears in the bucket, MF it." Where was the UN for America after 9/11 and hurricane IVAN? Anything bad that happens to these demo-commies/third world countries like (France/Germany) it is our President's fault. I myself have no American guilt for any of those mouth-popping fools. NSNR.
Yeah we SEND a lot of JOBS to your native country you schmuck. Try DELL, Citigroup, IBM and countless thousands of call center operators, programmers and accountants. Try telling this idiot that India has REFUSED any aid out of pride, as should Indonesia (but it wont). These nations have plenty of cash, but (like Thailand) they will most likely divert any of your donated cash to wealthy tourist interests.
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