The 35 million was just a starting figure.
What many on this thread do not realize, is how much of a governmental commitment has already been made by the US.
Here is a good article that sums up most of it:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041230-120535-1771r.htm
Basically, the US has already been using military and national assets to assist.
An excerpt from the article:
Begin
Mr. Bush pointed out that the initial package of $35 million in aid does not reflect the cost of sending U.S. military assets to the scene of the disaster.
"It takes money, by the way, to move an expeditionary force into the region," he said. "We're dispatching a Marine expeditionary unit, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, and the maritime pre-position squadron from Guam to the area to help with relief efforts."
In another example of U.S. military forces helping out, the Pentagon's National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said yesterday it is using its spy satellites to gather such information as damage assessments of roads, bridges, ports and airfields. The information is used to guide U.S. agencies handling disaster relief on where to send workers and life-support supplies.
End
As you can see, the initial $35 million is just a small sidbar to the total support the United States is already providing. And according to what I just read the US is up to $350 million plus all the other support.
Also, I would like to add, that this is not a competition. Rather it is a time when all countries send what they can be it money or other resources. Keeping score is for sports and not for events such as this.
God Bless those affected by this tragedy.
Sushi
What many on this thread do not realize, is how much of a governmental commitment has already been made by the US.
Here is a good article that sums up most of it:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041230-120535-1771r.htm
Basically, the US has already been using military and national assets to assist.
An excerpt from the article:
Begin
Mr. Bush pointed out that the initial package of $35 million in aid does not reflect the cost of sending U.S. military assets to the scene of the disaster.
"It takes money, by the way, to move an expeditionary force into the region," he said. "We're dispatching a Marine expeditionary unit, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, and the maritime pre-position squadron from Guam to the area to help with relief efforts."
In another example of U.S. military forces helping out, the Pentagon's National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said yesterday it is using its spy satellites to gather such information as damage assessments of roads, bridges, ports and airfields. The information is used to guide U.S. agencies handling disaster relief on where to send workers and life-support supplies.
End
As you can see, the initial $35 million is just a small sidbar to the total support the United States is already providing. And according to what I just read the US is up to $350 million plus all the other support.
Also, I would like to add, that this is not a competition. Rather it is a time when all countries send what they can be it money or other resources. Keeping score is for sports and not for events such as this.
God Bless those affected by this tragedy.
Sushi