10 million? Geez, I expect Oprah to donate more than that! Sorry, it just sounds like chicken feed. According to one web site Australia (gov't) gave US$810 to sunami relief. OK, this isn't the sunami, but a little over 1% of what they gave there??
Well so far the Red Cross has raised $21 million. $10 million is pretty substantial compared to that. And it is far more than anyone else outside this country has offered.
We're have about 15 times the population of Australia. Our GDP is about 20 times that of Australia. So that "chicken feed" is about the equivelent of the US donating $200 million overseas. Hardly chicken feed.
Be gracious and say thank you.
The $10 million (actually $7.5 million in US dollars) is an initial donation. Australia has made it clear that if there is anything at all that we can provide, the US only has to ask. So far, the US hasn't asked for anything, so the Australian government decided to make an immediate donation to the American Red Cross - that's the $(AUS)10 million.
We've also offered to send 22 experts who will assess the situation in light of our capabilities - that is, these people are experts in disaster relief, but more importantly they know exactly what resources are available in Australia. Once they are on the ground, they will be in a position to see what is needed that we may be able to provide, and to tell US authorities that we have these capabilities available - and then if the US wants them to arrange for them to be taken to the US as quickly as possible.
Basically, it's up to the US to tell us what they want from us. If the US asked for another hundred million dollars, it'd be on the way within hour. We want to send people there who can liase with US authorities and tell them what we can do - but it's ultimately up to the US to decide what they need.
As for the $10 million figure, while ultimately Australia pledged somewhere in the vicinity of $1 billion to tsunami relief, this was done gradually - the initial donation in that case was around $10 or $20 million (I can't remember the exact amount off hand), and it grew gradually as it became more clear what was needed - this is only an initial donation. Whether it increases will depend partly on whether the US government tells us that money is going to be useful. I think it is more likely the US will want equipment and, perhaps, personnel.
Well, I for one would like to thank any country who is willing to help.
Thank you Australia!
Thank you Great Britain!