http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2005Feb5.html

Foreign Aid Boost Is Expected in Bush Budget
Funds for President's Initiative, the Millennium Challenge, Would Double to $3 Billion

By Paul Blustein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 6, 2005; Page A06

President Bush will propose a substantial increase in foreign aid in the fiscal 2006 budget that he will submit to Congress tomorrow, although the boost for one of his signature aid programs will fall well short of the amount he promised.

Budget figures show that Bush will propose $9.5 billion for bilateral humanitarian and development assistance, about $2.1 billion more than the current level. That would make aid one of the few areas of nondefense spending to get an increase under a budget that administration officials have described as the most restrained in years.

The main reason for the increase is a proposal to double, to $3 billion, the spending by the Millennium Challenge Corp., a new agency set up under a presidential initiative to direct aid to poor countries with sound policies...

You know as well as I do that this is really just a start. The US citizens always give more.

Do you think these folks will care?

US Tsunami Aid:
Total USG Humanitarian and Recovery Assistance Pledged: $350,000,000
Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed: $78,821,235
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed1: $118,919,041

DOD: As of February 4, 3,825 U.S. military personnel are involved in delivering more than 23.4 million pounds of relief supplies and equipment to the affected region. With 2 ships and 33 aircraft, the U.S. military has delivered a total of 9,193,366 pounds of relief supplies to the governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other affected nations, including 3,263 gallons of water; 500 pounds of food; and 10,250 pounds of relief supplies in the last 24 hours.

Sri Lanka: To date, the USG has provided more than $62.0 million in emergency food assistance, relief supplies, shelter, water and sanitation, health, livelihoods recovery, psychological and social support, protection and anti-trafficking, logistics and coordination, and cleanup and rehabilitation activities for affected communities in Sri Lanka.

That's just Two countries.

Some countries actually criticize the US for that amount because it doesn't stack up on a GDP basis, but those idiots forget about private donations such as these that is expected to top $700 million!:
http://usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2...13-360711.html

U.S. Private-Sector Donations for Tsunami Relief Top $360 Million
Total nongovernmental U.S. contributions expected to reach $700 million

Washington – U.S. private-sector contributions to tsunami relief already have topped $360 million and are expected to reach nearly $700 million when planned fund raising is complete, according to figures released January 11 by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

American corporations and nongovernmental organizations are contributing cash, supplies and services to assist in immediate relief efforts as well as in long-term recovery and rehabilitation projects, according to the center.

Corporate donors include companies such as ChevronTexaco Corp., which has sent $490,000 to the Thai Red Cross and local relief agencies; General Mills Inc., which has spent $750,000 on food, water and shelter for victims; and Levi Strauss & Co., which has contributed $160,000 to local relief agencies.

Foundations established by large corporations also are giving generously, among them the Abbot Laboratories Fund, pledging $4 million in health care products and cash; the GE [General Electric] Foundation, contributing $10 million; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, created by the Microsoft chief executive and his wife, pledging $3 million...

Here is a link breaking down the donations by the countries government. Add another $700 mil to the US total and put it in the "We Care" column. (Oh, there is none. I guess that's because the US is the only country able ,too.) Then figure the percentages.

http://blogger.xs4all.nl/marcone/arc.../03/19687.aspx

And for you conspiracy theorists, step back and take a cold shower. This Tsunami really happened.

I was FULLY expecting the subject to change.


There you have it. Four to seven months before 9/11--and just 15 to 18 months before the drive to attack Iraq seriously revved up--the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor trumpeted that Iraq had a decimated military, no "significant capabilities" regarding WMD, and was so feeble that it couldn't even threaten the countries around it with conventional military power.


Hey! Don't get angry with me! The guys you so feverishly defend stated these facts. Your own goverment. I repeat, your guys.

Actually Ken,

Per capita, Canada donated more than the US. Sorry.

Initially US offered $75 million but upped the stakes when the Aussies and Japs submitted a pledge of $500million to $1Billion.

It became a competition. Numbers produced now, not really that significant.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Originally posted by DAJC:
Per capita, Canada donated more than the US. Sorry. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Maybe not if you include the $700,000,000 plus in private donations as of January 5, 2005. That puts us at over $1billion. http://blogger.xs4all.nl/marcone/arc.../03/19687.aspx

Not to mention the fact that there was no organization to get things going and the US had to step up and handle everything until the UN finally got their act together.
What we really need to look at is China and Muslim nations. What a sham.

Look at what some of the poorer nations provided. A few really stepped up to help. Of course we should remember this is not a bidding war. If it was all would lose.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenP:
What we really need to look at is China and Muslim nations. What a sham. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Totally agree. Asians turning their back on their own. Crock of ****.

The Muslims factor was a BIG surprise.

Hey! How about them Isrealis!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DennisAJC:
_Let's not turn this into a YOU vs. US._ A theory was put forth. Considering the facts surrounding the Pentagon, this theory is quite entertaining.

Reminder, NO CAN OF WORMS!

I don't want another incident of, _"WMD! They got WMD! That's why we gots to go into Iraq!"_

We all know that was proved _false_ by both parties. But boy the sheep that followed during! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


-I told you guys he was a liberal Canadian fag/psycho.

Dennis I understand what Your saying. But, You can see I'm probably to close to the situation with My cousin to be involved in this overal thread. This response to You will be My last on this issue.
Your My Buddy even if You are a Canadian.

TAZ

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DennisAJC:
Taz,

I think you know me well enough that when I stab at a theory(JUST A THEORY), it is not a stab at the WHOLE. Some people here don't get it. You have to at some point, when nothing positive is forthcomming, reasses your enviroment. If you come to the same conclusion, you choose. Free will buddy.

But for a whole to BLINDLY follow WITHOUT question. Well, I must repeat, "Lemmings and Sheep".

Oh boy, here I go...

WMD was the fear dose at the time. So in they went. NOW, none were found and proven never exsisted, but still they stay even after 1400 dead because denial is too strong.

NO Proof was found in the connection between Iraq and 911. Yet 1400 braves have died so far.

Powell and many others resign.

NOW a BIG problem with Iran. Is it too late? Who dropped the ball? Well, we have to blame the Captain of the team.

Your country is divided into 2 equal parts. BOTH claiming right over the other. Being Canadian, I'm privileged to be friends with both sides.

CIA has confirmed the future standing of USA as a superpower will be in jepardy.

QUESTIONS, THEORIES, OPPOSITION, must be put foward. If not.....Lemmings.

As for the THEORY, don't take it personally friend. It's all Grassy Knoll stuff.


Paragon,

-Water Gate
-White Water
-Iran Contra
-WMD
To name a fraction. And yes Lemmings do the Dew every 7 years. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you are going to argue the money for tsunami victims, use real information. Donations per capita doesn't really mean anything. A nation having a bunch of people doesn't equate to that country having the wealth to donate $xxxM.

Secondly, there is a big difference between the what is being offered. The US is giving $350M in cash, the US Armed Forces are there and being utilized(no one is counting that cost), plus the dollar donations from the private sector. Now, other countries are making their offers in the form of grants and LOANS. This is not the same thing.

From a Canadian newspaper:

<Table><SPAN class=headline>Canada should be proud of our tsunami aid</SPAN> <SPAN
class=subhead></SPAN>

<SPAN class=byline>Rob
Fursiewicz</SPAN>

<SPAN class=regular>“We’ve done much to be
proud of in tsunami relief,” wrote Lorne Gunter in last Monday’s National Post,
“but we could have done so much more.”

Canada has given enormous amounts
of money and deployed DART. What more could we have done, given our financial
resources?

Our government was even matching citizen contributions (until
11 January), which is odd given that those were our tax dollars in the first
place. It’s akin to a buy-one-get-one-free sale where the “free” item has been
taken from your home and given back to you; if we wanted to give twice as much,
we’d do it ourselves.

Either way, most are proud of Canada’s world-class
contribution. Yet there are always those Canadians who will step in to defend
the US whenever Canada just might have a rare advantage over our great southern
neighbours.

Someone on Gunter’s cable box had the nerve to state that
Canada’s relief contributions were larger than the US’s—surely that couldn’t be
true.

“It’s not true,” he writes. US financial aid, “plus the cost of
the aircraft carrier, relief ships, transport planes [and] squadrons of
helicopters” means “the Americans’ contribution is unsurpassed in the world.”


That’s fantastic, but Gunter forgets that Canada has no military,
one-tenth the population of the United States, and one-eleventh of its GDP.


Given this, and ignoring the military aid for a minute, it seems to me
that the US should be giving ten times Canada’s financial contribution. The US
certainly hasn’t responded weakly. It’s just that Canada has pledged such a
monumental amount of cash that it wouldn’t be right to judge America’s
contribution against our.

Comparing monetary contributions is unfair—and
the comparison pundits like Gunter invoke of military-based aid efforts. If
you’re going to factor in military contributions, the United States will
obviously dominate. America’s military spending ($420.7 billion per year) is
greater than the next 23 nations combined.

What would be the reaction if
the United States, global leaders in terms of war and military intervention,
neglected to use their military implements to help do some good in
tsunami-ravaged areas? This is where Gunter’s points are laughable: the United
States should not be commended for their military-based contributions. It should
be expected, and it’s the least they can do considering their military spending
and global presence.

One thing this tsunami disaster has done is allow
Bush and his government to show that, when push comes to shove, they will do
what is necessary. While right-wingers whine about Paul Martin vacationing or
taking too long to fire up contribution levels, leftists whine that Bush isn’t
giving enough. Both sides should quit whining.

Realistically, comparing
aid is an academic exercise within the big picture. The whole world has
contributed, and will continue to do so, at least for as long as the tsunami
media coverage continues bringing waves of ratings successes.

For now,
the world can be proud of its response. The media has won because, while doing
its duty in covering a historic disaster and helping induce donations, ratings
and readership levels are up as people strive to learn more. Bush and his
government win because not only has a greater disaster taken the world’s eyes
off the great disaster of Iraq, but they’ve had the opportunity to showcase
their long-lost “compassionate conservatism.” And now, a tsunami warning system
is about to come into effect, providing hope for the future.

Even
anti-Liberal pundits have had a chance to advance their cause for more Canadian
military spending, tying it to how much more we could’ve given if we had more
aircraft carriers, ships, planes, helicopters and soldiers.

If the
biggest problem in all the aftermath and political fist-throwing is that “Canada
has become ... a cheque-writer in international affairs, not a sleeve-roller,”
as Gunter writes, then all is well. We have the capability and the compassion to
write such cheques—huge ones at that—and whining about what we didn’t do with
the additional resources we don’t have won’t save any lives. After all, pundits
talk, but so does money, and which would a victim of the tsunami prefer right
now?





</SPAN></Table>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> From Paragon's post:
the United States should not be commended for their military-based contributions. It should be expected, and it’s the least they can do considering their military spending and global presence. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Expected!? Greedy, ungrateful bastards.

Winging canuck Pommie hoser.

LCdr.Augs, USN-retired

Augs,

Why does it always have to resort to name calling? Tempting as that sounds , I'm not shoving beliefs down your throats. Just offering the possibility of a different perspective.

Yes we rely on our American neighbours.
Yes they are brave and strong.
Yes they are great humanitarians
Yes they are a super power
YES YES YES

But you can't stomp on anyone who offers a perspective to broaden your way of thinking.

That's why in substance rehab you have INTERVENTIONS.
That's why you can have your Supervisor fired.
That's why you don't line up for toiletpaper in Russia.
That's why some of us think Pewter is the best H2 color.
THAT'S WHY YOU THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR ELECTED GOVERNMENT.

Just think if the Admiral listened to his XO and put the fleet out to sea. Could lives been saved at Pearl Harbour? Or had he at least considered the possibility of the vunerability. Could he have taken extra defensive measures?

What is happening in IRAQ is a tragedy. All those men and women. But that's been said before...

NOW think of what has happened. IRAN is the next in succesion. It was and IS a MORE potent threat and now more advanced. This is the scariest of all scenarios. THEY HAVE THE WEAPON way before we were speculating about Iraq.

Too much time has transpired. IRAN was given the luxury to build. Now it's an uphill battle.
World support? Well, you guys never needed it anyways.

Accept the fact that more Braves will die.

Who dropped the ball on this one? Can it be undone? Could you have done it another way? Attack the obvious first?

I suppose if there were no opposition, or disagreements, campfires would be alot more boring.

Umm guys, it was just food for thought, I didn’t mean for this type of controversy. The only thing that does not set well with me, is that there were no parts to the plane found, and flights leave wreckage. And a plane that size, a lot of it….. Pictures of the remains of the plane would be nice….. Here say of someone who attests to seeing plane wreckage for me does not suffice my curiosity. If that wasn’t flight 77 then were did it go?

I just found the link to be a different point of view and wanted to share with you guys. I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone here……….

On a different note: Drty and AJC what are your live names? Which games do you play on xbox live?

DRTYFN = DRTYFN

Frank6150 = Frank6150

DennisAJC = DennisAJC

HALO2



ANYONE who has a gripe against me should log on. Yes, hunt me down.

BTW, we teabag our kills. So be prepared for some sac.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> posted 02-07-05 09:47 AM
Augs,

Why does it always have to resort to name calling?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> posted 02-06-05 09:14 PM
N2,

Before you wave the passenger list of flight 77, try and stay with the topic dumb****

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ya, why is that Dennis

Sorry N2, you didn't deserve that. I got all involed. My bad.

Seth, so many cool things you can do without the long distance charges. Check OUR pm.

You know im very delicate Dennis .

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sfox:
I don't own an XBox....but maybe I have a reason to get one now..... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring you one...NOT

J.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DennisAJC:
DRTYFN = DRTYFN

Frank6150 = Frank6150

DennisAJC = DennisAJC

HALO2



ANYONE who has a gripe against me should log on. Yes, hunt me down.

BTW, we teabag our kills. So be prepared for some sac. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My XBox name is DIRTYFUN.

I teabagged a couple of my kills last night. Dennis did it to me first, and it was funny/humiliating watching it for the first time as my player lay dead on the ground as Dennis was over him squatting repeatedly. I think it will start a Halo2 teabagging phenomenon.

I am JMV1210 on Xbox live, I will add you guys tonight- Anyone will be on tonight?

Note to self.....Must kill JMV tonight.

Prepare for some facial sac buddy!

I'm used to this typical naive extrapolation of conspiracy theories and half truths by those trying to support an opposite agenda to the prevailing one. Freedom of speech.

There were plane parts found, and photographed ad nauseum, and the rest melted, same thermodynamics as the towers. Get over it.

But that's not my issue with you Dennis.

You crossed my line when you presumed as a Canadian to understand Americans via the spectables of it's political process without at all appreciating it's diversity. Simple reminder, the last two elections were evenly split down here.

You crossed my line when your refered to Americans as you did as sheep and lemmings, twice, thus lumping all of us who supported the war or fought in it, or had comrades, friends and family die in it as stupidly blind followers.

Simple rule I grew up with in South Texas: you gotta dance with those that brought ya.

Ain't about blind acquiesence my friend. It's about duty, honor and loyalty.

Big ass difference. I don't care if you want to apologize about ad hominems. Try apologizing for your lack of appreciation, or at least attack us for being loyal to those who brought us up, or for thinking duty and honor are more important than political expediency.

I joined this website to talk about Hummers, not be targeted for a humiliate. Someone needs to ****can this thread IMHO.

LCdrAugs, USN-ret.

Give your macho bul**** speach to the families who sent their kids into Iraq with their ILL-ARMORED Humvees, non existent Flak Jackets.

Tell their families it was for DUTY,HONOR,LOYALTY.

There's a big difference between Waving the Flag and Burning your own.

Just because your fvcking sig says so doesn't mean ****. As Kerry could attest.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by "Augs" Flak:

I joined this website to talk about Hummers, not be targeted for a humiliate. Someone needs to ****can this thread IMHO.

LCdrAugs, USN-ret. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agreed

"Augs"flak - LCdrAugs, USN-ret.

Thank you for serving this country !

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dug3x3:
"Augs"flak - LCdrAugs, USN-ret.

Thank you for serving this country ! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm gonna be sick.

But yet you spit on this man. Talk about confused.

Words....Words....Words....

What kind of brain farted response now?

Kerry fought for your freedoms, yet he disagrees with your views. What does that make him? Try not to let your head explode.

It's simply hilarious knowing what the next response will be.

Like sheep.

Dennis- dont get sick, I dont know **** about politics . You know more than i do about that kind of stuff. I just think the people that defend this country (in my opinion ) deserve a little thanks.

Dug,

I do respect your opinion. I respect everyones. That's just it, EVERYONE has a right to opinions.

What I don't get is close minded people.

I know it's a stretch, but Augs and Kerry(Purple Heart) both did your country proud to some extent and yes of course even I benefited. But BOTH have a different views. Who's right? I don't know. What I hate is when they wave that banner of, "I served so you stink" attitude. That's a load of ****.

Fear this...Sure you and I will send our children to battle(God forbid) in the near future. Wouldn't you want to make sure they're in good hands? The premise of sending them in for DUTY, HONOR, LOYALTY is out the door. **** that! ARMOUR, FLAK JACKETS, BULLETS. Then you can use those eloquent words of braverey.

drtyfn- How bout' some more girls getting waxed videos to lift the spirits around here ? Waxed/toe nailed/butt fked/suckin dong what ever you can find .

That's in the Woodshed! Gates Of Hell

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> joined this website to talk about Hummers, not be targeted for a humiliate. Someone needs to ****can this thread IMHO <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least it could be moved, or posted in the right section for that matter .

Dennis,

You have to be the world's greatest proof of reincarnation-- no one could get that dumb in just one lifetime. Judging by the old saying, "What you don't know can't hurt you," you're practically invulnerable. Seriously, you had to have forgotten to pay your brain bill. You obviously have the IQ of tree bark and have now have reached rock bottom with signs showing that you are starting to dig. The new guys here don't realize that you have more faces than China and that you are normally out of your depth in a puddle of water. If you read your posts, it's easy to see that you were shot through a stupid forest and didn't miss a tree. It's just a shame that stupidity isn't painful. Most everyone realizes that your brain waves fall a little short of hitting the beach, that you make as much sense as windshield wipers on a goat's ass, and that you are living proof that **** can sprout legs and walk. I am also sure most of us will defend to your death the right to our opinions.

Just when I'm starting to have fun, you f#ck it up for me Paragon! What the hell is this Forum comming to???

Oh well, some guys know me better than most. I'll shut up now.