[rmnunez]

I remember doing extensive research on assistance after the Tsunami 2 years ago. I found three or 4 big, but not so greedy, US multinationals each donated more than any EU member, and there were dozens of these generous corporations. Pfizer, Coke, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, Dell and others donated millions of dollars. Coke airlifted tons of water, UPS provided free shipping to the striken area. An innovation was seen in the generosity of philanthropic foundations and many religious organizations, including all the large institutionalised faiths in the US and lots of Christian agencies were also involved. As a percentage of the GNP, the US doesn't seem so generous, but if we considered how much more than anyone else's GNP the US' is (in those "real dollars") we'd appreciate better who is doing what for development in the third world.

Everyone remembers the dumb comment from Mr. England the former High Commissioner who criticised Bush's stingyness a few hours after news of the Tsunami broke, after that governments outdid each other, the US had over a dozen navy ships deployed to assist, hundreds of helicopters and other aircraft engaged in the effort.