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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Fri Dec 31, 2004 5:06 pm U.S. Boosts Tsunami Aid to $350M |
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| Quote: |
U.S. Boosts Tsunami Aid to $350M
Friday, December 31, 2004
CRAWFORD, Texas � The United States is pledging $350 million to help tsunami (search) victims, a tenfold increase over its first wave of aid, President Bush announced Friday.
Click here for more information on how you can help tsunami victims.
"Initial findings of American assessment teams on the ground indicate that the need for financial and other assistance will steadily increase in the days and weeks ahead," Bush said in a statement released in Crawford, Texas, where he is staying at his ranch.
"Our contributions will continue to be revised as the full effects of this terrible tragedy become clearer," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this epic disaster."
Bush also is sending Secretary of State Colin Powell (search) to Indian Ocean coastal areas ravaged by the earthquake and tsunami to assess what more the United States needs to do. The president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (search), who has had experience in assessing damage from natural disasters, will travel with him.
The newly announced aid came after some critics claimed that the initial U.S. contribution of $35 million was meager considering the vast wealth of the nation.
France has promised $57 million, Britain has pledged $95 million, Sweden is sending $75.5 million and Spain is offering $68 million, although that pledge is partly in loans.
Powell, in New York for a meeting Friday with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, indicated that the United States could pledge even more money. He said the United States had always been ready to give more as needs became clear.
"We had to wait and see what those needs were," Powell told reporters. "I am not sure 350 is the end number. It is the number we have settled on for now."
Powell also praised the generosity of private donors in the United States and said he hoped the world would follow their example.
"I want to encourage all the nations of the world to reach deep and to make as significant contribution as they are able to because this is an unprecedented disaster. It is unprecedented in my career, and I have been through a number of humanitarian crises in the last 20 years, so I hope that the world will be generous in this regard," he said.
Bush said disaster response officials are on the ground and the United States has established a support center in Thailand that is in operation. More than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft have been made available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies, he said.
"Many of those aircraft are on the scene," Bush said.
The president said the United States has dispatched the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, a maritime squadron from Guam and an amphibious ship carrying a Marine expeditionary unit. "They will soon be in position to support relief efforts to include the generation of clean water," he said.
On Friday, the president spoke by phone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin about the relief and recovery efforts and was briefed by Powell and National Security Council officials on the efforts under way.
White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy, who read the president's statement to reporters on the phone, did not disclose details of where the additional U.S. aid was being found in government coffers. Duffy said, however, that the administration was talking with congressional officials about replenishing funds being used to back the tsunami aid pledge.
A congressional delegation headed by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, a former U.S. foreign service officer, is scheduled to visit Thailand and Sri Lanka next week.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who often travels to blighted areas, said Thursday he plans to visit India to try to help victims of tsunamis that have left millions of people at risk of disease.
"I feel like I've been hit in the stomach," Frist, R-Tenn., said in an e-mail to friends and supporters. "It is like 9/11 but so different. There is no one to blame."
Andrew Natsios, chief of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said his staff arrived in the stricken areas on Monday, and he stressed the importance of assessing needs and organizing.
"This is a very complex operation," Natsios said Friday on CBS' "The Early Show." "If it's not managed properly, we can actually slow down the relief effort."
Canada was added Friday to a coalition of countries and organizations planning relief efforts. Others are the United Nations, the United States, Japan, India and Australia.
The U.S. death toll rose to 15, with eight dead in Thailand and seven in Sri Lanka. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said some 600 Americans who were listed as missing have been found, but several thousand had not been located four days after the disaster struck.
In Sri Lanka, Boucher said, Americans have been showing up at U.S. consular offices wearing bathing suits, with no money and no clothes.
With the global death toll continuing to rise, European governments discussed holding an international donors conference Jan. 7.
Boucher said the United States would participate in any such gathering, but he did not give details.
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sabertooth1217
UPN Boycotter
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 11484
Location: Texas
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| Fri Dec 31, 2004 5:19 pm |
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I got an email that said the death toll was up to 110,000 now.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:42 am |
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Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million 
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:31 pm |
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It's not a contest  .
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:42 pm |
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Pfft, ok Mr. France-has-given-more-than-us-who-was-joking-about-that-yesterday
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:34 pm |
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Why couldn't Dirt be in South Asia when the tsunami hit? Sad...
Im glad everyone is offering aid. Sadly morons*points to people like Dirt and others on the site* are turning this into a contest.
"Oh! we can beat the US in offering aid!" How pathetic....
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:46 pm |
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It was an inside joke which Kevin didn't really understand unfortunatly. But go ahead, pass judgement on something you don't know anything about.
But I am truely delighted that you wish to see me dead.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:40 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | It was an inside joke which Kevin didn't really understand unfortunatly. But go ahead, pass judgement on something you don't know anything about.
But I am truely delighted that you wish to see me dead. |
I don't think he was serious there, but he CAN pass judgement on a statement that you say. If it's an "inside joke," then state what it means and there won't be any misunderstanding, or just don't say it.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:45 pm |
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Sure you can pass judgement on everything, you can say the jews deserved what they got back in world war II, that Bin Laden really isn't a bad person but it isn't always right to judge things when you don't know what's it about. And if I'd go explaining to all of you what it mean, that would kill the inside joke wouldn't it?
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:45 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Sure you can pass judgement on everything, you can say the jews deserved what they got back in world war II, that Bin Laden really isn't a bad person but it isn't always right to judge things when you don't know what's it about. And if I'd go explaining to all of you what it mean, that would kill the inside joke wouldn't it? |
Oh...my...gosh. This a COMPLETELY different situation from those! Ay-ay-ay.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:04 pm |
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| republican_man wrote: | | ...or just don't say it. |
Well, maybe you just shouldn't have said that then...
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:09 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | republican_man wrote: | | ...or just don't say it. |
Well, maybe you just shouldn't have said that then... |
What? Oh, whatever...Nothing can get through to you, it seems.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:47 pm |
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Please, back on topic. No death threats, or calling people morons, either,
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:45 pm |
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| IntrepidIsMe wrote: | | Please, back on topic. No death threats, or calling people morons, either, |
Happy me, I didn't do either  But yes, you're right. Back on topic. $350 million.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Sam Kenobi
Not a Duke
Joined: 13 Jun 2003
Posts: 10373
Location: The 'Verse
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| Sat Jan 01, 2005 11:23 pm |
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Money is fine, but does anyone know of a relief program that one could actually join to do something physical, like load planes with food, or actually go over for disaster relief?
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Sun Jan 02, 2005 3:27 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million |
Yes, I was very pleased with Japan's governmentr when I heard. This only reinforces my respect for them as a new world leader.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:18 pm |
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| Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | | Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million |
Yes, I was very pleased with Japan's governmentr when I heard. This only reinforces my respect for them as a new world leader. |
A. It's not a contest, alright? Like Founder said.
B. I don't really see them as a world leader, and I don't respect them too, too much. They've done this and helped us in Iraq. I see little more.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Sam Kenobi
Not a Duke
Joined: 13 Jun 2003
Posts: 10373
Location: The 'Verse
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| Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:20 pm |
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Why are you so offended with someone liking Japan, RM?
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:22 pm |
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| Triam_Paris wrote: | | Why are you so offended with someone liking Japan, RM? |
Oh, no, I'm not. I'm sorry. And I don't dislike Japan...I should have refrased it strictly that I don't see them as a world leader, and should not have evolved beyond that. Although they are higher than most other countries, I don't see them as a real world leader yet--YET. This could show that they are starting to do that.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:31 am |
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Well, they're Asia's leader, at least. If you don't count China. But as John Stewart says, at this point nobody can count China.
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Dirt
Exercise Boy
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 2086
Location: a tree
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:43 am |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | | Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | | Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million |
Yes, I was very pleased with Japan's governmentr when I heard. This only reinforces my respect for them as a new world leader. |
A. It's not a contest, alright? Like Founder said.
B. I don't really see them as a world leader, and I don't respect them too, too much. They've done this and helped us in Iraq. I see little more. |
Your perspective of what is respectful or not is based on the similar things they do as the US, or how much they help them? Talk about a one sided view on the world,
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:06 pm |
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| Dirt wrote: | | Republican_Man wrote: | | Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | | Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million |
Yes, I was very pleased with Japan's governmentr when I heard. This only reinforces my respect for them as a new world leader. |
A. It's not a contest, alright? Like Founder said.
B. I don't really see them as a world leader, and I don't respect them too, too much. They've done this and helped us in Iraq. I see little more. |
Your perspective of what is respectful or not is based on the similar things they do as the US, or how much they help them? Talk about a one sided view on the world, |
First of all, again, STOP DOING THE 's!! They are POINTLESS and simply IRRITATING! Second of all, I meant respect them as a world leader. They are a world leader in Asia, I'll give you that, but I hardly respect them AS A WORLD LEADER. They have done little (I respect France much less, though. I have no respect at all for that country) to be a world leader.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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IntrepidIsMe
Pimp Handed
Joined: 14 Jun 2002
Posts: 13057
Location: New York
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:42 pm |
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He can post all the smilies he wants (just as long as it doesn't turn into spam). They are there for use, and there's no rules against them. Some people may think your capitalization is annoying, but there's nothing in the rules about that either.
So please, it's nothing to worry yourself over.
-------signature-------
"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."
-Wuthering Heights
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:45 pm |
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| IntrepidIsMe wrote: | He can post all the smilies he wants (just as long as it doesn't turn into spam). They are there for use, and there's no rules against them. Some people may think your capitalization is annoying, but there's nothing in the rules about that either.
So please, it's nothing to worry yourself over. |
I never said anything about rules, and I think it IS something for me to worry over. But I don't need Mod approval to state my disagreement, and if he continues, then it's his right to do so, so okay, although I suggest that he stop because it is stupid and pointless IMO, unless duely called for. And annoying. But that's just my opinion, and I'll leave it at that. He can do it if he wants, though, fine.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Kyre
Commodore
Joined: 15 Mar 2002
Posts: 1263
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| Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:52 pm |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | | Republican_Man wrote: | | Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | Dirt wrote: | | Read somewhere Japan outdid you guys already, 500 million |
Yes, I was very pleased with Japan's governmentr when I heard. This only reinforces my respect for them as a new world leader. |
A. It's not a contest, alright? Like Founder said.
B. I don't really see them as a world leader, and I don't respect them too, too much. They've done this and helped us in Iraq. I see little more. |
Your perspective of what is respectful or not is based on the similar things they do as the US, or how much they help them? Talk about a one sided view on the world, |
First of all, again, STOP DOING THE 's!! They are POINTLESS and simply IRRITATING! Second of all, I meant respect them as a world leader. They are a world leader in Asia, I'll give you that, but I hardly respect them AS A WORLD LEADER. They have done little (I respect France much less, though. I have no respect at all for that country) to be a world leader. |
So how many countries should they invade to get to a higher rung on the ladder?
Because I see a 500 million dollar donation to the Tsunami disaster to be a pretty good way of leading other countries where it matters.
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