Tsunami Relief: The Real Story

Powerline ^ | 1/1/05 | Powerline/Hindrocket

[chiller]

Their primary concern seems to be for their worker camps. When does the rest of American wake up and demand the U.N. shut down?

[spodefly]

BTTT

[CaptainAwesome2]

It continues to amaze me that people give any credibility to the UN. The UN is loving watching the numbers of donations add up because they are figuring out how they can get new houses, cars, boats, etc. out of this deal.

[G.Mason]

Though I am prejudiced, should we have expected more?

President Bush didn't, hence the coalition. ;)

[Cicero]

Just going to New Year's brunch, but BTT. This story needs to get out through all the blogs.

[Bommer]

When does the rest of American wake up and demand the U.N. shut down?

We have over and over again! Its the State Department and Bush himself that want to keep the UN alive!

[dts32041]

The UN is to tsunami relief as the American red cross was to 9-11 relief.

[okie01]

Ping.

[zoosha]

The more the spotlight illuminates the U.N. the greater the disgust for it that will be forthcoming from the American people. Note that the $350millions the U.S. will donate will not be finding its way into U.N. hands. Thank goodness for that.

How about the story regarding the Sri Lankans not allowing a medical team made up of Israeli personnel not being allowed into the country to help the dying citizens of that country. It must be very difficult to be a Muslin.

[Publius6961]

Tomorrow, we will have eight full airplanes arriving. I discussed today with Washington whether we can draw on some assets on their side, after consultations with the Indonesian Government, to set up ...

Why do I want to know where those "airplanes" came from? Are we talking 141s? single-engine pipers? what? Who's providing them?
I don't trust this leech as far as I can throw the U.N. building.

Can anyone name a SINGLE instance where the U.N. delivered any kind of relief efficiently and corruption-free? Since its creation? Just one?

Anybody?

[Prospero]

Now, if you had told me a week ago that an American Marine expeditionary force would be in Banda Aceh on New Years Day, my first reaction would have been that the President had decided upon a bold and unexpected strike in the War on Terror, jumping ahead on the timeline of that effort's multi-generational strategy. I might have thought it was a bold and necessary move, and I would have believed you if you had said they had located and captured Osama Bin Laden there. The Miracle of Banda Aceh

[Iowa Granny]

bump for tracking

[kitkat]

***Note that the $350millions the U.S. will donate will not be finding its way into U.N. hands. Thank goodness for that. ***

In a story yesterday, Annan counted that $350 million as part of what the UN has collected. Do you know something more about this? I'm not saying you're wrong; I just want more information.

[MikeHu]

Sounds like a job in there for the revered Jesse Jackson -- as special envoy to the UN.

Clinton or Carter would have appointed him by now.

[chiller]

A brilliant move, too, is this coalition. It's a tweak in the nose of the U.N. It speaks volumes; puts them on notice that we're watching them very closely, and obviously don't trust the POS organization.

[killjoy]

I agree completely. On some of my other posts, for which I have gotten crucified, I have said that the US has the world's worst PR. The US apparently does not care about this. This would be so easy to change but we don't. For example, what would happen if the first relief flight into Thailand had Michael Jordan on board? Yes, it would have created a temporary media circus, but would have done wonders getting the word out that we are there and helping. It wouldn't have to be Jordan. Any big name hollywood star would do. Even Arnold. The boost in PR we would get would easily dwarf the trouble it would take to do it.

[Mr. Mojo]

Its the State Department and Bush himself that want to keep the UN alive!

And every President since the UN's inception. .....and nearly every congresscritter.

Too much interia, unfortunately.

[DodgeRam]

Does anyone have an up to date list on which nation is giving what? Curious to see how much Islamic nations are giving.

[Miss Marple]

I don't know about that, either. When I listened to the press conference, it seemed to me that Powell said the UN would get SOME of the money, but that is my impression.

I hope we give them about $1.98, and the rest we administer through the military and USAID.

[G.Mason]

"A brilliant move, too, is this coalition. It's a tweak in the nose of the U.N. It speaks volumes; puts them on notice that we're watching them very closely, and obviously don't trust the POS organization."

Aye! ;)