US Slams Some Muslims For Paltry Tsunami Aid

Straits Times ^ | February 11, 2005

[srm913]

US slams some Muslims for paltry tsunami aid Wolfowitz fingers those who talk big about helping yet deliver very little

WASHINGTON - PARTS of the Islamic world are big on talking about jihad but have fallen short in aiding Muslim victims of the South Asian tsunami, says US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.

Europe's military response could have been greater too, he told a Senate hearing on the international response to the Dec 26 earthquake and flooding that killed about 300,000 people.

'There's been very little generosity so far from parts of the Muslim world that are big on talking about jihad and other things, but when 200,000 people - all of them Muslim in the case of Indonesia - died in this catastrophe, there's not much help forthcoming,' Mr Wolfowitz said on Thursday.

Jihad is a broad term meaning a struggle for the benefit of the Islamic community. It can be anything from an internal struggle to be a better Muslim to a violent conflict in defence of the faith.

'I hope those people might think a little bit about what they've done and what they haven't done,' Mr Wolfowitz said without specifying who he meant.

He has been a hawk within the Bush administration on issues including the Iraq war, which triggered widespread anti-US anger in the Muslim world and set Washington at odds with many traditional European allies.

The government of Kuwait has pledged US$100 million (S$165 million) in tsunami aid; Saudi Arabia has pledged US$30 million, with an additional US$100 million in private donations; Qatar has pledged US$25 million; the United Arab Emirates US$20 million; and Bahrain US$2 million.

The Bush administration has pledged US$950 million. The money must be approved by Congress, but the US military has been in the region since the early days of the relief effort. Another US$600 million has come from US private donations.

Mr Wolfowitz was asked whether the transatlantic Nato alliance was considering changes to respond better to crises such as the tsunami.

'I wish I could say...I think we're dealing with a problem with our Nato allies,' he replied. 'Their defence budgets just keep declining and very few of them have the capacity to do even things that they've been trying to do already.'

While he said he did not want to diminish European efforts, he noted that France had sent an aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean, but three or four weeks after US help had arrived.

Mr Wolfowitz, a former US ambassador to Indonesia, visited the disaster zone last month.p> The US and Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, are seeking closer military ties.

Mr Wolfowitz said last month in Jakarta he would confer with his government and Congress over when to increase contact and ease restrictions on the sale of military equipment.

Asked about this at the hearing, Mr Wolfowitz noted human-rights abuses by the Indonesian military, especially in the former East Timor in 1999, but said progress had been made since then.

Jakarta was committed to democratic reform and civilian control of the military, he said.

'There's been a lot of change...and I think as important as it is to work for an accounting of things that were done in the past, I do think that this is a new era,' he said. -- REUTERS

Pledges range from US$2m to US$1b

Pledges from some governments to tsunami-hit countries:

# US: US$950 million

# Australia: US$780 million

# Germany: US$674 million

# Japan: US$500 million

# Norway: US$182 million

# Kuwait: US$100 million

# UK & Italy: US$95 million (each)

# Sweden & Denmark: US$75 million (each)

# France: US$66 million

# China: US$64 million

# South Korea & Taiwan: US$50 million (each)

# Saudi Arabia: US$30 million

# Qatar: US$25 million

# UAE: US$20 million

# Bahrain, Algeria & Libya: US$2 million (each)

[srm913]

I'm feeling optimistic right now, and my hope is that as tyranny inches back and democracy gradually blossoms in the Middle East, charity will spread and the golden rule will be established.

I'm appalled at the miserly donations of France and China. China has an enormous economy; why the penny-pinching? As for France... well, it's France.

[traviskicks]

'Tsunami Tyranny'

An examination of the true role of government in charity, and a detailed analysis of the American response to the Tsunami tragedy.

http://www.neoperspectives.com/tsunami_tyranny.htm

[evolved_rage]

# Saudi Arabia: US$30 million

Less than they spend for whores in a year.

[phoenix0468]

As for France... well, it's France.

Now if there were a money making angle, such as hiding jewish wealth and heirlooms, they would be chomping at the bit.

[phoenix0468]

I didn't think Saudi Men paid anything for whores. I thought they hit em with rhohipnol and abducted them into the kingdom.

[anonymoussierra]

"WASHINGTON - PARTS of the Islamic world are big on talking about jihad but have fallen short in aiding Muslim victims of the South Asian tsunami, says US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz."Thank you

[bahblahbah]

What's up with France. Hell Germany's pledged 10 times as much as the cheese eating surrender monkeys.

[anniegetyourgun]

What? You tell me the MSM hasn't picked up on this FACT?

[Dark Skies]

This is a conspiracy on the part of infidels and the Zionist entity to make Muslims look bad. In fact, the tsunami was caused by infidels for this very reason. Allah knows we only tell the truth. If we Muslims were charitable here, it would be playing into the hands of the infidels.

As everyone knows, the areas hit by the tsunami were fornicating (with other humans...not permitted) and drinking and celebrating Christmas. So there.

[Publius Scipio]

CAIR demands Wolfowitz's resignation in 5...4...3...2

[montag813]

# Qatar: US$25 million

Qatar has the largest proven reserves of natural gas on the planet, worth trillions of dollars.

[Free and Armed]

Yeah, the US is really stingy with aid.

[anniegetyourgun]

Uh....folks who have only been here a month may want to use sarcasm tags!

[anniegetyourgun]

Oh yeah, THAT'S what I'll read in the paper tomorrow.....not THESE facts. I keep forgetting....it's the messenger, not the message.....

[Dark Skies]

Lady, I have been here a long time and if a guy has to say /humor or /sarcasm...well, it ain't...or you are too dumb to get it.

[truth_seeker]

France has 60 million population.

Sweden has 9 million, and Norway has 4 million.

Now consider national generosity, in this light.

And most all of the time, France is shooting their national mouth off, about something, anything, everything.

And for the most part our Scandinavian small cousins are pretty quiet. You may not like all of their politics, but they don't feel driven to be in the face, all the time.

[truth_seeker]

What about Brazil and Mexico? They are both fairly large countries, population wise.

Pakistan?

[anniegetyourgun]

Well, I am fairly stupid, but was somehow able to identify your sarcasm. I was simply issuing a warning to those who have been posting to FR for a month. There are folks around here who might not be as stupid as me....they may think you aren't kidding.

[johnb838]

Well, Chiraq did suggest a $1 per airline ticket "World Tax" to pay for things such as this...

[johnb838]

Charity is Weakness. If they were walking in the path of true Islam, they are in paradise. If not? Pfffffft...