U.S. Ships, Aircraft, Personnel Converge on Disaster Zone

U.S. Department of Defense ^ | 12/30/04 | Jim Garamone

[Howlin]

This is classic Bush; the press and the UN dogged him about not doing anything, so he came out with a plan that runs the entire thing.

Remember when they ragged him about going to the UN to get permission about Iraq? Remember how he laid the UN low and practically waved a red flag in their faces??

Well, they certainly can't say he didn't warn them, can they?

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1311424/posts
Tsunami must be fault of the US
The Australian ^ | 31st December 2004 | Gerard Baker
It just goes on and on.

[Howlin]

Everybody saw through that frantically put together photo op with Powell-- who should have slammed the door in his face.

But that's not Bush or Powell's style. Do the right thing, and it will show that they don't do the right thing.

Powell and Jeb will be in the Indian Ocean before Kofi decides the shape of the table for his meeting next week.

[Miss Marple]

I can imagine the conference calls in Crawford, with Bush getting everyone moving ASAP. I bet he tried to call Kofi and was given some sort of bureaucratic nonsense, at which point he just decided to get stuff done.

I am VERY proud of that reporter who asked Kofi about why he didn't cut short his ski vacation. HA!

[Howlin]

George Bush was the FIRST person to call the heads of these involved states; on Sunday; but, of course, since he didn't drag himself in front of THEIR microphones, the press doesn't count that.

[Maigrey]

Typical vilificaion of positive actions by the bureaucrats.

[MEG33]

They were pontificating about Jeb being sent as grooming for the Bush dynasty and tut tutting on Fox..

.No one seemed to recall he has experience and just dealt with horrific hurricane damage to Florida!

[Miss Marple]

My brother a couple of days ago said that we had "only given 15 million", having heard the initial stories over the weekend and nothing else (plus he is a union democrat). I was happy to inform him that this was incorrect, gave him the figures plus the information on the ships being sent, and that pretty much stifled his criticism.

I would never have had that information without FR. I am SO grateful to Jim Robinson for this site!

[Miss Marple]

You know, fair and balanced doesn't work for certain things, like major disasters. There are NOT two sides politically to a story like this.

I am quite tired of certain commentators seeing everything through the prism of politics.

[MEG33]

Aren't we all!

[MikefromOhio]

As usual, we will contribute the most and likely be hated the most for it....

[MEG33]

I have come to expect it...Sometimes I hoot at it, sometimes it angers me...most times it doesn't bother me a great deal..

The wrong facts and bias against this nation by our own media and our own citizens does disturb me.

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1311365/posts?page=1

[Peach]

Has anyone read a single article detailing ANYTHING the UN has done to date to actually help the victims?

As far as I can tell, they've held meetings while we are actually doing all the work.

[mewzilla]

If all they do is hold meetings, rather than fleecing the victims blind, I'll be happy.

[Bon mots]

Bush 'undermining' the UN.
Right.

Kofi Annan was busy skiing in Jackson Hole Wyoming for the last three days. When he finally drags his incompetent, thieving a$$ before the cameras he claims to have been 'working'. Oh yeah. Right. What 'work' did he do? He made a phone call between ski runs to some incompetent lackey, who then did nothing? What resource did he mobilize? Time is of the essence, yet it seems that Nero was too busy fiddling while Asia burned.

Yet, he hasn't mobilized a single resource. He has in fact, done nothing but lie and make excuses as to why he lolled around in a tony ski resort while millions suffered across Asia.

President Bush, in the meantime, has mobilized huge naval resources which will provide millions of liters of clean potable water - one resource they desperately need. C-130 transports have been landing around the clock delivering aid - and the idiots at the New York Times criticize President Bush, who has actually DONE SOMETHING.

Dear Elitists at the New York Times: THIS IS KOFI ANNAN's JOB! Not President Bush's
Kofi Annan is the leader of the UN - who is supposed to take charge of serious situations such as this - the biggest disaster of our time affecting 9 sovereign nations in an ocean where America doesn't even own an acre of land.

Kofi Annan, finally, made a press conference. 3 days too late.

What did the great Kofi Annan do?
He promised to hold a meeting. NEXT WEEK.
Kofi Annan drank more liters of Perrier slopeside while shaking the snow off of his ski boots than he delivered of clean water to those in desperate need.

That idiot should be fired.
Where is the scathing New York Times article attacking Annan and the band of thieves know as the UN?
Kofi

[Peach]

I think this is why the president formed the coalition - to keep the UN away from the $$.

If they are allowed to touch one dime of the relief money, I'll be very ticked off because, as you said, they'll be stealing left and right.

[Red6]

Rummy is bad and we are "stingy". This don't fit in the CNN/CNNi/foreign media agenda so it won't be sold to the global public which wants to hear about "imperialism", "Blood for oil", and American "stingyness".

Truth is, before all is said we'll have done more than anyone else. The libs will spin it as if we wanted to do nothing and the NYT will make it seem like it was thier doing that the government acted. "All that negative press you know? It forced Bush's hand to help these people"

Red6

[MikefromOhio]

Yeah...

When the heat is external, I am happy...when it comes from the inside, it makes me worry....

[MEG33]

#33 takes the UN to task.