Waiting for real aid [Mark Steyn]

Jewish World Review ^ | Dec. 27, 2005 / 26 Kislev, 5766 | By Mark Steyn

[Forgiven_Sinner]

One year ago a tsunami walloped a huge swathe of the world from Indonesia all the way to Africa. Some 300,000 people were swept to their deaths, from the grandson of the king of Thailand and the daughter and granddaughter of film director Richard Attenborough to Njoroge, a Nairobi car mechanic, who picked the wrong day for his first visit to the beautiful East African coast and died a statistical fluke, his country's solitary fatality from the disaster. Across the Western world, TV viewers reached into their wallets, chipped in the best part of $5 billion, and left it in the hands of the United Nations and the "nongovernmental organizations," the world's self-proclaimed moral consciences. You'll recall that,

[Forgiven_Sinner]

An article that is more thoughtful than humourous; yet still incisive.

The money quote, IMO is: "The NGOs skedaddled out of Iraq after the U.N. headquarters was bombed in summer 2003 — and it made absolutely no difference. "

[Jeff Chandler]

Mark Steyn is P.J. O'Rourke off drugs.

[IndyInVa]

I donated what, for me, was a considerable sum to tsunami relief. Should I feel ripped off? Was there any actual relief occurring in the midst of all the corruption? I realize that Mark Steyn (whose writing I love) would not have a very interesting article if he tried to present a balanced picture of the situation. I'd like to know what percentage of relief donations actually found their way to those most affected.

BTW, Giving loans to boatbuilders and not giving loans to fishermen to buy boats sounds pretty stupid, BUT, if all the money was used for loans (instead of just giving the boats to the fishermen) then can I have my donation back, with interest?

[norton]

"Mark Steyn is P.J. O'Rourke off drugs."

Bet'cha someone picks that one for a tag line.

[Jeff Chandler]

Bet'cha someone picks that one for a tag line.

Cold medicine makes me creative.

[Klickitat]

Steyn ping

[mylife]

So who ought to be the experts? Well, how about Jan Egeland and his U.N. staff? These guys get full-time salaries to think about nothing but international disaster relief, and yet the best they can do when disaster strikes is stand in front of a camera in New York and announce they're sending someone to the region for an "assessment" of the "situation," just as soon as the U.S. Air Force emergency team have flown in and restored room service to the five-star hotel.

Steyn Gets it.

I particularly love his dig at Bono/Bongo , A man who is furthering his own career on the backs of the suffering

[Chickensoup]

Is there still a Steyn ping list and how do I get on it?

[goldstategop]

Accountability for the money already spent. You won't hear that from liberals frothing at the mouth the U.S Government still hasn't spent enough on Katrina. We gave generously this past year to help the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster and we're not allowed to ask if the money made a real difference.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[mylife]

Ping Pokey78 to get on the steyn list

[OldArmy52]

Hey! I object to this unwarranted U.N. bashing!

After all, remember how the U.N. almost single handedly and overnight, stopped the genocide in Sudan?

Remember?

No?

Wasn't?

Didn't?

Ah...well, ah....

[Chickensoup]

Is there still a Steyn ping list and how do I get on it?
Ping Pokey78 to get on the steyn list
+
+
+
+
Pinging, I am pinging.

[DB]

If you gave you money to the UN "relief fund" then much of your money never made it to the victims.

I gave to the Salvation Army. Much, much better utilization.

[CGVet58]

bttt

[decal]

"Next time it might be easier just to eliminate the middle man and have Bongo and Sting and Sir Bob Geldof and Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney hold an all-star fundraising gala for the Indonesian Customs Inspectors' Retirement Fund."

I dunno - if I were an Indonesian Customs Inspector, I couldn't ever see myself retiring.

Rich stupid people give me $$ just because I ask them to; who would wanna retire from THAT?

[Fledermaus]

One report said of what the UN did spend almost 31% went to "overhead".

You really want to give money to a bloated, corrupt, immoral bureaucracy ran by tinhorn dictator loving snobs and thugs?

[AmericanChef]

Note there is no Katrina-type outrage foisted upon the UN. Surprise, surprise.

[JasonC]

Correct. A thousand times as many people killed, much greater damage, recovery far more screwed up. All the grave concern over the greater impact of disasters on the least wealthy are seen for what they are, opportunistic politics and moral self aggrandizement, not genuine anything.

[RichInOC]

"You're doin' one heck of a job, Eggy...."