Article

2004-12-26 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Follow-up: Tidal Waves Kill More Than 550 in Asia

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Posted by .com 2004-12-26 3:14:40 AM|| || Front Page|| [10 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Now they're saying 700 here.

Posted by .com 2004-12-26 3:32:29 AM|| 2004-12-26 3:32:29 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Theres a lot more then that - Theres thousands missing in over 5 countries. Bangladesh just got smashed by a earthquake & now more Tsunami's are on the way.

In one country theres over 200 tourists who were out on a scuba diving trip that are missing.

This death toll is going to keep climbing and span over lots of countries.

Posted by God Save The World 2004-12-26 6:42:17 AM|| 2004-12-26 6:42:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/26/asia.quake/index.html

Posted by God Save The World 2004-12-26 6:44:32 AM|| 2004-12-26 6:44:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Bangladesh will have 500,000 dead from a sympathetic, contact drowning.

Posted by Shipman 2004-12-26 9:54:19 AM|| 2004-12-26 9:54:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 And not to be cynical but all of these counrties that bitch and moan about Uncle Sam will be crying for help from guess who

Posted by Cheaderhead 2004-12-26 11:41:17 AM|| 2004-12-26 11:41:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Kofi and the all-powerful UN? Kofi's first question: Can Kojo lead the rescue effort financial resources?

Posted by Frank G 2004-12-26 12:08:03 PM|| 2004-12-26 12:08:03 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 CH, I bet the c-130 is already in the air.

Posted by Seafarious 2004-12-26 12:16:19 PM|| 2004-12-26 12:16:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 And not to be cynical but all of these counrties that bitch and moan about Uncle Sam will be crying for help from guess who

I'll out-cynic you all.

Maybe the first person off the plane needs to be a policy wonk wanting some ink on an anti-terrorism pact. If these countries want our assistance, it's time for them to earn it. Don't think I'm not interested in helping any of them. I'm just fed up with the "thanks for all the foreign aid, you running Yankee dogs" mentality.

Posted by Zenster 2004-12-26 1:58:24 PM|| 2004-12-26 1:58:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Before rendering assistance, how about asking, "What's in it for us?"

I would be very interested in worldwide reaction to that sort of inquiry.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-26 2:48:09 PM|| 2004-12-26 2:48:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 BaR, I've posted at greater length about this over in the "screamer" headline thread. I'd be glad to hear your own thoughts regarding this.

No better opportunity is going to arise for America to begin obtaining a genuine quid pro quo for all the monetary and material foreign aid we shovel overseas each year.

So many of these countries hate us already. What possible harm can it do to finally wring some functional concessions out of these reluctant "allies" in our fight against terrorism?

Posted by Zenster 2004-12-26 2:58:13 PM|| 2004-12-26 2:58:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 The total casualties are going to be huge. The communications in the areas hit are slow under normal conditions this just makes it far worse.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-12-26 3:02:58 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2004-12-26 3:02:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 If this were an act of terrorism, possibly I could agree that our aid be less than forthcoming. Cause meet Effect. But an earthquake? A tidal wave?

Why become the shriveled souls the Anti-American press tells everyone we are, when living happy, generous lives is so much more fun? My prayers go out to both the victims and their rescuers and as soon as I can find a reputable coordinator, my charity will go out too.

Posted by Adriane 2004-12-26 4:29:01 PM|| 2004-12-26 4:29:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 So many of these countries hate us already.

India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives?
The only country whose people really hate America is Indonesia, and there the government is about as friendly with the US as they can be without being accused by their opponents of being slaves to the west, American puppets etc.

Posted by Paul Moloney 2004-12-26 6:32:42 PM|| 2004-12-26 6:32:42 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 The only country whose people really hate America is Indonesia

This is untrue. Indonesia is hardly anti-American. You may have some Indonesian people who hate the US, and some who just dislike the US. **//Gosh golly, that sounds like Berkley or Boston //** Most Indonesians are busy with their own lives and neither hate nor love the US. A great number of Indonesians really look up to and admire the US. Many more Indonesians like or love the US than hate it.

This is a good time to show the people of the world what we Americans are made of and give without expecting anything in return. The sentiment of compassion is OUR Judeo-Christian heritage.

Zenster writes, So many of these countries hate us already. What possible harm can it do to finally wring some functional concessions out of these reluctant "allies" in our fight against terrorism? GREAT HARM, because we are not opportunists. Our values and ideals are not self-serving. To try to advance our cause by âwringing concessionsâ out of people who are suffering the effects of a natural disaster is SICK and DISGUSTING, and does a disservice to our national heritage.

Zenster, overkill is not the answer. Your gung ho, "death to all Muslims" solutions consistently lack the temper of realism. Don't give up on Muslims, in general. They, too, bleed and die and hope daily for a better life. Places where Islamo-fascist tyranny rules, like Palestine (NOT Indonesia), simply prove that the gentrification of entitlement, without personal responsibility and true democratic voice, always leads to thuggery. If we follow the policies of President Bush, there is much reason to hope millions more can be set free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. We have the sword for the warring, and our right hand of friendship for the peaceful.

Posted by cingold 2004-12-26 8:15:53 PM|| 2004-12-26 8:15:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 Cingold, that's beautiful.

Is the Cinti airport fully functioning yet?

Posted by Gleaper Thomomble7223 2004-12-26 8:23:56 PM|| [http://Trailing Wife, offsite] 2004-12-26 8:23:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 Why become the shriveled souls the Anti-American press tells everyone we are, when living happy, generous lives is so much more fun?

Maybe because I want to live. There is nothing "shriveled" about ensuring that we do not finance the recovery of our enemies. For America to continue its incredible largess without manifestly linking our hard-earned dollar contributions to some sort of authentic return in political capital is simply insane.

While this disaster was in no way an act of terrorism, the massive cost in human life does have connections to the spineless attitudes many Southeast Asian governments show towards Islamism.

I doubt anyone here is going to argue that the region is known for its superb disaster preparedness, despite being centered upon the seismically active "rim of fire." Japan, Taiwan and, perhaps, Korea are the only nations that spring to mind in terms of such civil emergency measures.

India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives?

Let's take India. While reasonably cooperative with respect to anti-terrorism, anti-Christian violence is rising and corruption is rampant nation-wide. Try to remember that Indian governmental corruption often manifests as an anti-Muslim bias. How does that help fighting terrorism?

Thailand has been going through the motions but still has huge strides to make in quelling internal dissent and their own corruption problems.

Here's a link to Transparency International.

See what they have to say about these "friendly" countries.

Law enforcement authorities are perceived to be the most corrupt public institutions in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

"Across South Asia, public spending on basic services such as drinking water, education, health and law enforcement represents a significant allocation of scarce resources," said Gopakumar Krishnan, Asia Programme Manager at the TI-Secretariat. "The survey results show that even when public services are meant to be freely available, bribes and delays keep many from receiving them, and it is most often the poorest in society that suffer most."

Let's take a look at Transparency International's corruption indicators index (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being best):

Malaysia 5,0 (4.5 - 5.6)

Thailand 3,6 (3.3 - 3.9)

Sri Lanka 3,5 (3.1 - 3.9)

India 2,8 (2.6 - 3.0)

Palestinian Authority 2,5 (2.0 - 2.7) [just for reference]

Indonesia 2,0 (1.7 - 2.2)

Vietnam 2,6 (2.3 - 2.9)

Philippines 2,6 - (2.4 - 2.9)

Pakistan 2,1 - (1.6 - 2.6) [because it is mentioned in the above report]

Myanmar 1,7 (1.5 - 2.0)

Bangladesh 1,5 (1.1 - 1.9)

These appear to be among some of the most corrupt nations on earth. Where corruption thrives, so does incitement to terrorism.

One more time, we must tie future disaster relief and economic aid in general to measurable improvements in the quality of life for those country's citizens. Governments who are unable to properly distribute such unearned wealth are, perforce, our enemies.

Take a close look at the corruption index listing and then correlate exactly where all the terrorists come from. Do I need to assemble that chart for you too?

Posted by Zenster 2004-12-26 8:42:33 PM|| 2004-12-26 8:42:33 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 Zenster, overkill is not the answer. Your gung ho, "death to all Muslims" solutions consistently lack the temper of realism.

Nowhere, ever, do I advocate "death to all Muslims." Talk to .com about that attitude, but DO NOT try and pin it on me. Either that, or start supplying some cites to back up your allegations.

I want immediate death for all violent jihadists. Benevolent Muslims are not even on my list. GET A CLUE.

Posted by Zenster 2004-12-26 8:52:24 PM|| 2004-12-26 8:52:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 This is a good time to show the people of the world what we Americans are made of and give without expecting anything in return. The sentiment of compassion is OUR Judeo-Christian heritage.

We've been doing that already. Look at Bosnia - we got involved there to save Muslims from being whacked en masse (something I didn't particularly support, for obvious reasons), and what thanks do we get? In Iran, we offered up assistance when they had that earthquake in Bam. And what do we have to show for it now?

It's nice to be charitable, but at some point in time after having been taken advantage of repeatedly, seeking something in return for aid isn't an unreasonable expectation. The alternative would be being played for suckers. Again.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-27 12:13:29 AM|| 2004-12-27 12:13:29 AM|| Front Page Top

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