Tsunami paranoia?

[UncleSon]

The president of my country waited 3 entire days before making a public comment of any kind on the gravest natural disaster to occur during his tenure. Why? His aides stated that he did not want to appear to be grandstanding -- making political capital out of other people's misfortunes. OK....... George, you don't need political capital, you're a second-termer. They also suggested he wanted to make sure that the scope of the disaster was as widespread as originally reported. OK.........

Here's what I think, and GOD I hope I'm wrong.......

George W. Bush, the "faith-based" President of the United States of America, said a prayer before going to bed on the 25th, after celebrating the birthday of his personal savior, in which he asked his god to keep his family, America, and American Servicemen and women around the globe safe, and to visit justice on those who would harm us in the name of evil.

And guess what? He awoke on the 26th to learn that his prayer had been answered! Indonesia, the largest Muslim country on earth, had been devastated by a massive earthquake and tsunami! I honestly believe he thought that god had rendered his judgement on the infidel, and spent 3 days celebrating, if only in his heart, the gloriousness of god, and the power of prayer.

It wasn't until the tide of public opinion began to ask "Where's George?" that he thought it prudent to revert once again to the nominally secular position of President of the United States, and make a public expression of sorrow and sadness for all those hundreds of thousands of little brown wogs who must surely be roasting in hell for worshipping Allah, denying Christ, and thus, supporting terrorism.

[Ranb]

"The president of my country waited 3 entire days before making a public comment of any kind on the gravest natural disaster to occur during his tenure."

I wonder, why does anyone care about this? What matters is that people from many parts of the world have pitched in to help this region. What matters is that ships and aircraft from the USA and other countries have traveled to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia to deliver food, medicine and medical personnel. People actually lifting a finger to help out matters much more than anything the POTUS says on TV. Pledges and monetary donations don't matter as much as the bag of rice dropped out of a truck or helicopter. The money helps get the stuff over there, but a tsunami victim can not drink a pledge or eat money.

I'll be glad when Bush is replaced in 2008, but all this crap just seems like another opportunity to bitch.

Ranb

[Otther]

This is so absurd that I instinctively started to read it as sarcasm. But it doesn't work as sarcasm either... it must be drivel.

[username]

Originally posted by Otther
This is so absurd that I instinctively started to read it as sarcasm. But it doesn't work as sarcasm either... it must be drivel.

If the OP thinks Bush is bad for waiting 3 days to make a significant comment on this matter how about the leaders of the nations affected? Corrupted to the point where we can't count on aid money given to those goverments making it beyond government leaders, we (the world community) have to send the money over with the people going to help to use as they need.

People getting shot while trying to deliver aid. One nation downplaying thier dead because their superstitious buddhist dictator believes that natural disasters mean universal karma is against the ruling party. Tribal people shooting bows and arrows at helicopters bringing supplies.

Human traders looking to take advantage of the large number of orphans by selling them for adoptions and the sex slave trade.

I am glad that there is an outpouring of assistance for those in need, but a small part of me wonders if it is even worth it.

Generally when someone suffers a large loss they are grateful for assistance. Generally when a community is hit by a disaster they pull together and help one another as best they can. When I see the exact opposite happening I wonder what kind of folks we are dealing with. I hope that the nutcases really are a minority, a tiny, tiny minority.

[Nikk]

Originally posted by UncleSon


The president of my country waited 3 entire days before making a public comment of any kind on the gravest natural disaster to occur during his tenure. Why? His aides stated that he did not want to appear to be grandstanding -- making political capital out of other people's misfortunes. OK....... George, you don't need political capital, you're a second-termer. They also suggested he wanted to make sure that the scope of the disaster was as widespread as originally reported. OK.........

Here's what I think, and GOD I hope I'm wrong.......




It was a natural disaster affecting distant countries, not a national disaster. Why shouldn't your political leader leave those whose job it was to mind the store to just get on with things?

There was similar criticism of Blair, who was on holiday in Egypt, to the effect that he should have cut short his hols to take charge. I really don't see what difference it would have made to the immediate relief effort.