Tsunami insania

Although there has a been a great catastrophie resulting from the tsunami, I'm wary about the donations for the relief effort. How much of these donations will ever see anything besides a foreign bureaucrat? Sucked up by corrupt officals? Every US news anchor and politician is out there trying to garner a photo op.

However, but contrary to Powell's visions of grandeur, the tsunami relief will not improve our image in the Muslim world. No amount of money given will be enough for our critics. There is no reason why Indonesians should hate us as it is, so I doubt some $350 million will make them happy.

"I hope that as a result of our efforts, as a result of our helicopter pilots being seen by the citizens of Indonesia helping them, that value system of ours will be reinforced," Powell said. Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country with 238 million people, had the largest loss of life in the Dec. 26 disaster that struck 12 countries around the Indian Ocean. Indonesia is a fledgling democracy and an ally in the Bush administration's war on terrorism, but suspicion of Americans runs deep here. ..."It turns out that the majority of those nations affected were Muslim nations," Powell said. He said of the U.S. aid, "We'd be doing it regardless of religion, but I think it does give the Muslim world and the rest of the world ... an opportunity to see American generosity, American values in action." ...Powell announced no increase in the U.S. commitment of $350 million in aid, a number he has called sufficient for now. In Washington, the White House said Tuesday the number is likely to rise eventually. AP via Yahoo