Tsunami Relief: The Real Story

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

[chiller]

Tsunami Relief: The Real Story

Several months ago, we linked to a new blog by a group of career Foreign Service officers, called Diplomad. Diplomad provides sharp, knowledgeable commentary. It turns out that one of the site's contributors is stationed in one of the countries hit by the tsunami (I don't think he's said which one). His regard for the U.N. disaster relief effort is, shall we say, muted:

Well, we're heading into Day 7 of the Asian quake/tsunami crisis. And the UN relief effort? Nowhere to be seen except at some meetings and on CNN and BBC as talking heads. In this corner of the Far Abroad, it's Yanks and Aussies doing the hard, sweaty work of saving lives. Check out this interview (on the UN's official website) with SecGen Annan and Under SecGen Egeland shows,

Mr. Egeland: Our main problems now are in northern Sumatra and Aceh. <...> In Aceh, today 50 trucks of relief supplies are arriving. <...> 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 what we call an “air-freight handling centre” in Aceh.

Tomorrow, we will have to set up a camp for relief workers – 90 of them – which is fully self-contained, with kitchen, food, lodging, everything, because they have nowhere to stay and we don't want them to be an additional burden on the people there.

I provided this to some USAID colleagues working in Indonesia and their heads nearly exploded. The first paragraph is quite simply a lie. The UN is taking credit for things that hard-working, street savvy USAID folks have done. It was USAID working with their amazing network of local contacts who scrounged up trucks, drivers, and fuel; organized the convoy and sent it off to deliver critical supplies. A UN “air-freight handling centre” in Aceh? Bull! It's the Aussies and the Yanks who are running the air ops into Aceh. We have people working and sleeping on the tarmac in Aceh, surrounded by bugs, mud, stench and death, who every day bring in the US and Aussie C-130s and the US choppers; unload, load, send them off. We have no fancy aid workers' retreat -- notice the priorities of the UN? People are dying and what's the first thing the UN wants to do? Set up "a camp for relief workers" one that would be "fully self-contained, with kitchen, food, lodging, everything."

The UN is a sham.

There's lots more; check it out, and return to Diplomad for ongoing coverage. It will be interesting to see what happens when the U.N. people actually show up.

[RBroadfoot]

I think that's unfair to the American Red Cross.

The ARC wasn't totally useless in 9/11.

[ArmedNReady]

"Curious to see how much Islamic nations are giving."

So far the Arab nations have donated $500,000,000......to Al Qaeda.

They will, however, be sending 10,000 suicide bomber vests to Indonesia.

[okie01]

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.

My background is in the Advertising/PR industry. And I agree with you in every respect...save one.

As a nation, we're rotten at PR. The Clinton administration was the best practicioner, by far -- though he was more interested in promoting his person than the country. And the Bush administration is, if anything, even worse than the norm.

Michael Jordan (or whoever) accompanying the first shipment of aid would've drawn a media circus and the requisite attention, no doubt.

But to have attempted to put a PR veneer on our efforts would have been unnecessarily costly -- in time and coordination. PR events take time to plan, set up, manipulate and exploit.

And, in my view, even as an ad/PR guy, that's counter-productive to what the mission should be. With all due respect, it's a time for action, not promotion.

[JustAnotherSavage]

Evidently, Mexico has kicked in a bit:



They sent $100,000.:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050101/ap_on_re_as/tsunami_aid_list_2

[kitkat]

***That's another lie the UN and media are perpetrating : the core group does not exist to compliment the non-existant UN relief effort, as has been implied. The UN relief effort, when they get it off the ground, will simply be one of many parts of the core group.***

Thanks, cake_crumb. Also, I found the following on the White House site:

>>>Secretary Powell has already spoken with many of his counterparts in the region, and with officials from the United Nations, and other governments that are helping with the response. Together, we are leading an international coalition to help with immediate humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and long-term construction efforts. India, Japan and Australia have already pledged to help us coordinate these relief efforts, and I'm confident many more nations will join this core group in short order. >>>

My take is that our Prez is indeed acting without the U.N., but is being very tactful about it. His repeated mention of a "core group" would seem to bear this out.

[Publius6961]

Cursorily glancing, a lot of Persian Gulf states are giving quite a lot.

Apparently a bit of hyperbole, from an arab apologist.

One thing to keep in mind is the wealth of the Arab Gulf States is greatly exaggerated. Per capita the US is three times richer than Saudi Arabia, for example.
One third of 325 million$ is $108 million plus change. How does this square with your silly characterization that a lot of Persian Gulf states are giving quite a lot...? $10 million is "quite a lot"?

[Publius6961]

Parading Michael Jordan around would like like a cheap publicity trick.

That doesn't matter much to an overage adolescent with a fixation and hunger for mommy's attention.

[Wolverine]

It wouldn't have to be Jordan.

 

Yeah...It could be Michael Jackson...LOL

[ArmedNReady]

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."


Keep your friends close so they can help bury your enemies.

[cake_crumb]

All country that contributed should be asking Mexico when they're going to pledge. I'm sick of that corrupt little hellhole always taking and never helping out.

[neutrino]

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

Let the UN take the credit...and all the bills. We keep our money, they get to stand around and talk...and that's should keep everyone happy.

[chiller]

W is not about to hand a career-saving, life-saving bonanza to Kofi and/or the U.N, imho. Whereas, Colin Powel posed with Kofi...they have a different view of U.S./U.N. relations.

I don't believe W appreciated Jan Egeland's "stingy" comments, and I bet he was flat out pissed off about suggestions that our tax structure hurts the U.N.'s efforts. The gall of that slime....I risk being banned if I continue.

[Ciexyz]

Wow.

[Publius6961]

Korea was a disaster relief effort only by the most painful stretch of the imagination. Keep trying, though.
And embarrassingly, as you pointed out, the U.S. did the heavy lifting... and dying. Far out of proportion to its population and wealth.

[Recall]

Then why can't those millionaires and billionaires straighten out that country?

[cake_crumb]

"My take is that our Prez is indeed acting without the U.N., but is being very tactful about it. His repeated mention of a 'core group' would seem to bear this out."

Exactly. He's been slapping them around for 4 years. With one TEMPORARY exception, pre-Iraq Security Council circus, which was offset by the massive blood-for-oil vouchers scandals, the UN has always come off on the short end.

He's giving them a chance to save face this time.

[silverleaf]

tsunami aid ping

[cake_crumb]

"I don't believe W appreciated Jan Egeland's 'stingy' comments, and I bet he was flat out pissed off about suggestions that our tax structure hurts the U.N.'s efforts. The gall of that slime....I risk being banned if I continue."

Well put, heheheheh. IMO, he was very adroit in making it known the US acted because people need help NOW, while FORCING the UN to stop the usual debating society routine if they wanted to avert another PR disaster.

[Publius6961]

The ARC wasn't totally useless in 9/11.

Nobody's perfect.
I can say that the ARC will never ever get another red cent from me. And my charitable contributions have doubled since then...

[killjoy]

But to have attempted to put a PR veneer on our efforts would have been unnecessarily costly -- in time and coordination. PR events take time to plan, set up, manipulate and exploit.

True, although there is a balance. My example was just that. There are many other things than can be done and given your background, I am sure you know much more than me. I really wish this Administration had even 10% of the previous Administration's gift for spin. It would make the efforts of the US around the world much easier.