Let me respond that it was not my intention to denigrate any countries efforts. (Well, except for perhaps Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, that seem more willing to provide weapons for terrorists than to aid the needy.) But the numbers of course keep changing as new announcements are made.

Cactoblasta wrote on 1/5/05 that:

That's no longer true. Yesterday the Australian government pledged AUS$1 billion (about 750 million US) to the cause. It's a real shame that Australia wasn't in your little list, considering the amount of aid and direct asssistance that the Australian police and navy are contributing.

The original article was written on 1/3/05 and my subsequent post on 1/4/05, based on information available on the net. The same is true for the for the Canadian efforts. It was a timing issue only.

My title was somewhat satirical, perhaps sarcastic. But I do think that the point is valid. Western nations have been demonified in the Third World. That includes Canada, Australia and the UK. All of us have been victims of terrorist attacks and have lost lives. Yet we step up to the plate time and again to help "save the world."

President Bush donated $10,000 yesterday. I can't help but wonder if some of that money will go to feed the family of someone who has burnt him in effigy.

Nicely summed up Larry. Thank you.

BTW, I donated recently as well. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately ), I've never been burned in effigy. Hmmm, there's always tomorrow.

Sorry Larry, I should have picked this up, I suppose sometimes we all get a bit thin skinned, I do appreciate what you are saying and do love the sarcasism intended, and agree, thanks.

[The US military, which costs hundreds of billions per year, is the only existing infrastructure that can actually deliver all this international aid to the people who need it on a moment's notice.}

Draginol, why don't you get your head out of your arse for once, many countries have this infrastructure, some of whom where mobilised and in Asia way before the US, as for Canada, why must you denegrate others, the US is the largest Economy in the world, Canada is no where near this, most countries are doing everthing they can to help, not just the US or Australia (where I come from), many with very limited resources, to make commens like those above just shows your arrogance toward others. Also the efforts of all including the US are all to be applauded, I do not think that anyone should be denegrating other because of their limited cababilities, especially when you have countries such as Timor giving aid, from coffers which are very limited and still recovering from their own problems.

Giving aid is not a competition, and all give what they can, including Israel, even if no one wanted it, I suppose some just can't help putting down others less able or fortunate.

[The $350 million the US pledged is chicken feed compared to the BILLIONS spent to provide what is essentially the world's fire department/rescue team force. And it's frustrating to see some guy in say Denmark or diplomat in Norway complain that the US doesn't spend enough when it ignores the amount of real money being spent annually. ]

However its alright for some one from the US is it?

[UBoB: 1) What Canada may do in the future has no bearing of what they've done so far. and 2) Did you read it carefully? They're sending 200 guys. That's less than half my high school class was.]

As for crirising Canada's slowness to act is a bit rich, when you consider that the US did not exactly leap forward either, why we don't know, and it may be due to something as simple as the fact that it was christmas and it took time to get Mr Bush's team together, or whatever, in the end it does not matter because they still came through, and thats all that counts.

Get off your high horse and remove your rose coloured glasses, and learn to realise the US is not the centre of the world, just part of it, and be thankful that you have a great economy, instead of granstanding all over the place, as you do, all you do is reinforce the perceptions people have of your country and its citizens.

See what happens when you compare the amount given/commited to the amount of people living in the spesific country.
Norway has donated/commited aprox $150 millions, and we are aprox 4,3 million people here. ANd in US ?

Draginol, why don't you get your head out of your arse for once, many countries have this infrastructure, some of whom where mobilised and in Asia way before the US, as for Canada, why must you denegrate others, the US is the largest Economy in the world, Canada is no where near this, most countries are doing everthing they can to help, not just the US or Australia (where I come from), many with very limited resources, to make commens like those above just shows your arrogance toward others. Also the efforts of all including the US are all to be applauded, I do not think that anyone should be denegrating other because of their limited cababilities, especially when you have countries such as Timor giving aid, from coffers which are very limited and still recovering from their own problems.

Which countries have this international military infrastructure? As someone pointed out, Canada plans to send a whopping 200 people over there real soon now. Canada has 1/10th the population of the US. So if the US had sent say 2000 people that would have been acceptable to you no doubt?

Canada is contributing - financially. And that is good. They are a generous coutnry. 

What we Americans get sick of is people like you who crap on the US for not doing enough and then when it's pointed out that it is doing far more than anyone else we get "quit denigrating other countries".

Speaking of heads up the arses: Please name another country with an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean.  From a purely nuts and bolts point of view, being able to DELIVER supplies is a bigger deal right now than coughing up cash.  If you've been monitoring this situation at all you would know that.  It's not like there's a postal system in these places. The roads are largely gone in the most devastated areas (or completely gone in others). There's no way to actually physically get to many of the people who need the aid.

That's why the fact that the US has the helicopters and transport planes and recon planes and more in the area is a big deal.  It is great that Canada has ponied up a lot of money. But when people say "Well the US government only ponied up X amount in cash" they're either being moronically anti-American or they're just completely ignorant of the vast costs involved in actually delivering this aid. 

200 guys traveling in a cargo plane can only go as far as there are working airports.  The most prized resource right now in terms of saving lives is the helicopter. Lots of them. The second most prized resource for saving lives would be supply drop planes.  Guess which country is the only one with these in any sort of quantity in the region? Guess how much those missions cost per sortie.

larry kuperman: 'My title was somewhat satirical, perhaps sarcastic.' Riiiiiiiiiiight, I believe you If this is what passes for satire these days then no wonder National Lampoon and Spy magazine went mammaries skyward.

I notice Gideon 'Bonus Cheque' Macleish and Messy 'We are in a holy war with Muslims' Buu are using this 'I was just joking' copout too. A more honorable response would be to acknowledge that you made a stupid comment. BTW, Israel has refused to send help to Indonesia (you know, the worlds biggest Muslim country) so don't start calling out other countries on the religion card. India is refusing outside help, preferring to take care of their own business, so I think your thesis is somewhat flawed.

Please name another country with an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean

France has sent a helicopter carrier.

The UK is discussing sending a carrier from the Gulf.


Paul.

[What we Americans get sick of is people like you who crap on the US for not doing enough and then when it's pointed out that it is doing far more than anyone else we get "quit denigrating other countries".]

Firstly, I have not once critised the US in any in its efforts towards helping in this situation, I have critised your comments as being unfair in the extrem and arrogant, you seem to think that you critise whomever you like and yet cannot accept any critism yourself. As for being aware of the state of things as a result of the Tsunarmi, I have been following this disaster closely, and am aware of the troubles they have with communication and delievery of aid due to the poor state of roads and other infrastructure as a result of the earthquake and tsunarmi.

I would also like to add that most do what they can some do more, don't critise others if you don't want to accept critism of yourself. Personally I have seen a lot of critism from the media in many countries of the efforts of people working to help in these situations, and would say that it is both unhelpful and unfair to dish this out when all they are there for is a good story.

In closing there are many issues I have with US forign policy, however one of them is not and has never been in their humanitarin efforts, rather I appluad these, and get angry when some sanctmonious reporter decides that this or that country has not done enough, nor do they understand what needs to be done before any effort can be announced. So if you wish to get upset with me, at least critise me for what I have done.

As for sending a carrier I think that's great, we in Australia do not need to as these are our neighbours, so our proximity allows us to get thier in a much faster response time, Indonesia is just to the North West of Australia. I am also very aware of the costs involved in mobilising this sought of operation which is why I againg have not chosen to critise anyone's efforts, and I am also aware of the fact that the most important equipment in this situation is helicopters and Drop planes, and I am also aware that the two countries which have supplied these in any sizeable amount are the US and Australia, these are short term needs though, as once other ground forces manage to rebuild communication and infracture normal transport can be used, so Draggy your argument forgets this small point, and therefore negates your agrument on the 200 Canadians. Also Cash is the most important long term issue as once all the immediate work has been done there will be the rebuilding process, this will take some time and many Billions of Dollars. So next time you decide to go for one of your rants put a little more thought into it my freind.

I think a lotof countries in the western world are giving a lot, and I applaude each of our efforts. Norway is giving 181 millions, Britain 96 millions, Australia 1,200 millions, Germany 688 millions, 181 millions, Spain 68 millions... The Canadian Government has said it will match the amount given by the Canadian people; so far Canadians have given 68 millions, so the government will also give as much. Bless the US for giving 350 millions, but if you compare that amount with the size of each country's respective economies and with their amount of people, it's a bit more representative of how much money is coming out of our respective pockets.
By no means do I wish to diminish the American effort, but this post sounded a bit biggot so the facts needed to be put straight and in perspective.
I think everybody is doing a great effort, I am proud to be a human today.

Please understand what all goes into an operation like this. The main thing which always goes un noticed is the crews which lose sleep, doesn't get chances to eat for days at a time. Even while I was in the Navy the crews morale is shaddered by things they do, see, hear, miss, love and hate. I feel that the people need to start making more of an effort to praise the little people who making this happen, and pray for the well being of all of the crews of our fleets and their families which are doing without so others can do with. I also think that the fact is those areas in need diserve the best and that is why we have aided them in this Operation. I also hope tht those crews get home to the families and loved ones as soon a possible.

Please understand what all goes into an operation like this. The main thing which always goes un noticed is the crews which lose sleep, doesn't get chances to eat for days at a time. Even while I was in the Navy the crews morale is shaddered by things they do, see, hear, miss, love and hate. I feel that the people need to start making more of an effort to praise the little people who making this happen, and pray for the well being of all of the crews of our fleets and their families which are doing without so others can do with. I also think that the fact is those areas in need diserve the best and that is why we have aided them in this Operation. I also hope tht those crews get home to the families and loved ones as soon a possible.