Posted on 01/06/2005 5:44:18 AM PST by flitton
JAKARTA (Reuters) - An effort by the United States, Japan, India and Australia to coordinate tsunami relief will be disbanded and folded into broader U.N.-led operations, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday.
The group's creation was announced by President Bush just eight days ago as he tried to dispel criticism that the initial U.S. response to the catastrophe was slow. Some analysts saw it as an effort to appear engaged.
But U.S. officials said the group, later expanded to include Canada and the Netherlands, had already served its purpose by jump-starting aid efforts to devastated regions following the Dec. 26 tsunami that barreled into 13 countries around the Indian Ocean and killed close to 150,000.
"The core group helped to catalyze the international response," Powell told a tsunami relief conference in Jakarta. "Having served its purpose, the core group will fold itself into the broader coordination efforts of the United Nations."
Other diplomats have suggested there was concern that if the huge relief effort breaks down, the United States would prefer not to be in the lead role where it might get the lion's share of blame.
In the wake of the unprecedented disaster, Bush was criticized for taking three days to speak publicly about it and for the initial U.S. financial aid of $15 million.
The U.S. pledge has since been raised to $350 million -- a figure Powell said Washington would consider raising as the needs become clearer. He said the U.S. Congress has shown a willingness to "do more" but, unlike Germany and Australia, he did not unveil any new money ahead of the Jakarta meeting.
"None of us knows" how much more money will be needed, Powell told reporters later. "So I think it's frankly prudent to be careful with respect to these numbers."
He also stressed Washington has sent an aircraft carrier and 18 other ships as well as 40 cargo and patrol aircraft and more than 50 helicopters to the region "at considerable additional expense" to ferry food and water to survivors.
A State Department official said the U.S. military in the region would "coordinate closely" with the U.N. on providing airlift and other logistical help for the relief work but would not be under U.N. command.
The core group has held daily phone meetings with U.N. officials but at the time it was formed analysts wondered whether its work might conflict with the United Nations, which is coordinating aid from some 40 countries. Aldo Borgu, an analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra, said the idea quickly outlived its usefulness. "I think it was a fairly knee-jerk reaction, that the industrialized world should be seen to be helping," Borgu said. "Subsequently it has become redundant." U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in Jakarta for the aid conference, expressed gratitude for its work but insisted on the primacy of the United Nations in organizing relief work.
"Without that essential contribution it would have been extremely difficult for us to get to those in need," he said of the military contributions by the United States, and quick relief efforts by India, Singapore and Australia.
Powell agreed the U.N. would have "a lead role" on aid efforts but said others may take the lead elsewhere, suggesting that a U.S. military task force recently set up in Thailand may coordinate work among the many military forces in the area.
Powell said he discussed the issues with Annan in Jakarta and hinted at some impatience to see the U.N. take charge, saying: "We talked about the need for the U.N. agencies -- if they are going to play that coordinating role -- to get on the ground and start playing it."
(Additional reporting by Jerry Norton in JAKARTA and Paul Tait in SYDNEY)
"An effort by the United States, Japan, India and Australia to coordinate tsunami relief will be disbanded and folded into broader U.N.-led operations, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday. "
Another diplomatic "triumph" for that loser.
I can't wait for Rice to replace him.
Sounds like it worked to shame the UN in getting off its dead a$$, put down their lattes and get to work.
I don't bet online!!
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I double dog dare ya!! roflo
That's exactly what I thought when I read this! Easier for Kofi, Kojo, et al., to siphon money to their Swiss bank accounts!
The United States has been at the head of this parade for the last 3 weeks; they never set that up to run the aid; they set it up to get it started, since the UN was sitting around twiddling their thumbs.
Now, which is it: do you want the U.S. to take charge of the ENTIRE reconstruction -- and pay for it -- or just get the foundation laid and let somebody else run it?
And in case you missed it, one of OUR guys is right up at the top of this U.N. effort; he was appointed yesterday.
I guess I did miss it...who and what position?
Everybody knows we're once again in the forefront. Reuters hates it. The UN hates it. The folks being helped know who's there to help -- and they know that we're there every damned time.
It never ceases to amaze me that so many of our fellow FReepers wringing their hands and twist their knickers over Reuters' nasty comments.
What a spineless $#&@*($#@.
Now don't make me look that up......LOL.....I'm trying to watch Leahy lecturing Gonzalez.
I'll look in a bit.
But you didn't answer my question: do you want the United States to take FULL responsibility for the aid and the reconstruction?
Why would you conclude that if it were not the UN, ALL the responsibility would fall to the U.S.?
The answer is that the GOP was slowly taken over by transnational progressives, big tenters, and other very non conservative types over a long period of time. It started way back during the early 20th century and really accelerated after the Great Depression. Instead of (rightfully) refuting the criticisms levelled by the socialist FDR dimocraps, the GOP bought into the New Deal, in some fashion. After WW2, the GOP lacked the stones to challenge the UN and the new globalism. Etc, etc. And no, I am not a Bircher, far from it. However, I have read Burke and the more recent writings of Paul R. Johnson, among other thought starters. We got an ever so slight taste of true conservatism with Reagan, but once he was out, the Rockefeller wing returned via G.H.W. Bush. Now, with G.W. Bush, while there are inklings of Reaganism, his childhood programming by his liberal dad is hard to overcome. At least that's how I see it. (Oh, and BTW, yes I did vote for him both in 2000 and 2004)
You mean Malloch Brown at UN...I saw that but haven't considered the full implications of it yet.
I always look at it as Bush smacking Kofi around, then, after he's thoroughly humiliated him, Bush lets Kofi pretend to be in charge.
Heck, we were up and running before Kofi took his skiis off; he was reduced to "asking" Powell if the UN could be part of "our" coalition.
It never fails to amaze me how many of them go off halfcocked about EVERYTHING anybody prints without bothering to get the facts.
Where is the strength of leadership? If we can't stand up to the UN, how is this country ever going to take a stand against Islam?
Part of the problem lies with the neer do wells who are allowed to have too much influence both in the GOP and the administration. It is amazing what good fundraising ability, media access and, ability to terrorize political opponents can do. Naming names, here's one: Grover Norquist, Jr.
Here come the junk yard dogs from the Norquist good squad. They must be paid to monitor forums like this.
I am donating through my church which will go to a private organization that already has Christian churches in all the affected areas.
I will not donate to Red Cross, UN, etc. I have the guarantee of my pastor and the pastor in India that 100% of our donations will go to the ground and not one cent in administrative costs.
I've got to get some work out anyway...later.
We sent our donation to the Salvation Army. I doubt the UN pilferers will get their hands on their donations.
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