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?
