Are we stingy?
President Bush finally roused himself yesterday from his vacation in Crawford, Tex., to telephone his sympathy to the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and to speak publicly about the devastation of Sunday's tsunamis in Asia. He also hurried to put as much distance as possible between himself and America's initial measly aid offer of $15 million, and he took issue with an earlier statement by the United Nations' emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, who had called the overall aid efforts by rich Western nations "stingy." "The person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed," the president said.
Well it looks like Egeland has done for the aid efforts a great deal of service. The United States have increased it's aid package ten fold to $350 million. After initial spinning the bushes have realise that they've got to ante- up. Their public relations campaign was not working. Some people are even calling for the cancellation of his innaguaral parties. They contend that he should instead donate the $40-50 million slated for the parties to the relief efforts in Asia. I doubt he will agree to do that. But either way Egeland should be proud of his comments.
This will be my last posting for the year 2004. In that case I will like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy and Prosperous new year and many more to come.