[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.

[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

[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.

[DodgeRam]

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

[KittyKares]

It sounds like the U.N. staff just wants a paid vacation in Indonesia.

[solitas]

Have limbaugh, o'reilly, fox news, etc. been emailed about this? I'm sure they'd have a field day with it.

[BigDaddyTX]

BTT

[OldFriend]

The locals are refusing to drive the relief trucks unless they are paid extortionate wages.

Seemingly they care not a whit for their countrymen.

Pathetic.

[cake_crumb]

That creep Egeland actualy SAID that?? I missed that answer somehow...now I have to go dig up a transcript to see what else I missed.

That is incredible. The author is right, he was lying through his teeth. The UN has done nothing, NOTHING, except to plan a meeting to talk about planning a plan to eventually work with teh disaster victims (ommission of teh word "help" intentional)

USAID and the Aussies are doing an excellent, well organized (under the circumstances) job, as are private charities and locals organizing their own relief efforts.

Japan sent a diplomatic assessment team to Aceh to talk with locals. The Indonesian government is so useless that tons of supplies are just sitting there. I read an article on MSNBC where one ocal man, trying to help and getting NO help from his government appealed to a Japanese diplomat at Aceh for body bags because all he gets from the government is red tape. The diplomat was dragged off by his embarrassed escorts, but he promised the body bags and I don't doubt Japan will have them there long before the Indonesian government can get off it's collective duff.

As for the UN, as far as I know they're still having meetings to discuss discussing a plan. They're all talk and money milking, no action.

As the president kept stressing, it's IMMEDIATE needs that must be taken care of, long term plans can wait.

[Publius6961]

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.

Suspicions confirmed. That little UN weasel/leech is spouting BS in veiled language making it look like the UN is doing something.

It's doing something, all right. Taking credit for what the Americans and Aussies are doing!

When did you first get that UN Air Force, Coffee? Do the relief planes have the UN logo? Can you get your fellow crooks to return all that stolen Oil for Food money so you can get some planes?

[Slyfox]

The UN is taking credit for things that hard-working, street savvy USAID folks have done.

From just listening to the MSM accounts of Kofi Anan, it sounds like he is orchestrating the enrire rescue event.

[tuckrdout]

Seems the child sex capitol of the world is doing well today:

http://www.beachpatong.com/

The UN has to have time to set up their bribery and pay-off systems in the area. It takes time to get the relief supplies on the black market.