Maybe they should sell commemorative license plates

Posted on December 29, 2004 by Gene

Rather than rant about President Bush’s lackluster response to the tragedy in Asia (wouldn’t want to interrupt that all-important brush clearing), I’d like to just point out two interesting statistics.

• Total potential cost of the disaster: $13 billion
• Cost of one month of U.S. operations in Iraq: $5 billion

• Relief funds earmarked for Southeast Asia: $35 million
• Cost of the upcoming inaugural: $40 million (not including taxpayer-funded security costs)
• Cost of one day’s U.S. operations in Iraq: $167 million

In the midst of this, I should also point out:

[$35 million] is more than Britain, Germany and France combined. Japan is the second highest international donor, giving $US30million.

France has so far pledged just $170,000 [about $135,000 US], plus a plane with 100 medical personnel and relief workers on board.

So when will these European holier-than-thous pony up the bucks?