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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
 
sushi said:
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

I agree, it's not a competition - but I still think we in the UK can give a little more. I dont see what's stopping the UK government from coming out and saying 'Here's £250million'.

Let's not forget we spent £800 million on the millennium dome, which is now sitting empty and costing thousands of pounds a day to maintain..

£250m is a lot of money, but it could do a whole lotta help.

lastly - I wonder why the UK hasn't been included in the US/AUS/IND thingie..that definitely surprised me after the iraq thing..

/asif
 
sushi said:
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.
I'm glad we've stepped up, but I have to wonder how much will actually get there.

We tend to pledge plenty, but sometimes the money doesn't go to where it should, if it is even sent at all. See this link posted in another thread by skunk. And we can complain all we want about people calling us stingy, but we have to wonder how much we would have given if we weren't criticized in the first place. I realize the death count was smaller in the beginning, and every little bit helps, but the governments' response (not just the U.S.'s BTW) left a lot of us wanting. Especially considering how much of our tax money is spent on *ahem* other things. As taxpayers we have the right... neigh, the responsibility... to complain when governments misspend our money.

Though, it is like when M$ donates. I'm sure the victims could care less where the money comes from, as long as there is enough to help. Unfortunately, there probably isn't enough money in the world to replace all that was lost. But I'm sure whatever is given, large or small, is appreciated.
 
wdlove said:
Can't we agree that everything humanly possible is being done for the victims as expeditiously as possible. :eek:

Well no, I can't honestly agree with that.
 
Japan has one-upped the US. They've pledged $500 million. As much as I really don't like this being a contest (I'd just like each country to donate according to their size and how much they can feasibly give), if this is what has to happen, so be it. The US spends virtually no money on aid, compared to our immense wealth (less than 1% of annual budget is spent on aid), and has spent the least per capita of any country on relief for this tragedy (~$1.16 per capita). Tiny Qatar, admittedly very rich from oil, etc. has spent over $16 per capita. The media has finally started to realize that the US doesn't do nearly enough to help poorer countries, and has hit them hard over this. Even when they do pledge huge amounts, it often doesn't materialize.
 
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