Yeah!

[ryoushi]

I got this off of instapundit I would hope if I were ever in a situation this gentleman was in I would have the guts and presence of mind to unleash an equally inspired comeback.

Today, during an afternoon conference that wrapped up my project of the last 18 months, one of my Euro collegues tossed this little turd out to no one in particular:

" See, this is why George Bush is so dumb, there's a disaster in the world and he sends an Aircraft Carrier..."

After which he and many of my Euro collegues laughed out loud. And then they looked at me. I wasn't laughing, and neither was my Hindi friend sitting next to me, who has lost family in the disaster. I'm afraid I'm afraid I was "unprofessional", I let it loose -

"Hmmm, let's see, what would be the ideal ship to send to a disaster, now what kind of ship would we want?

Something with its own inexhuastible power supply?

Something that can produce 900,000 gallons of fresh water a day from sea water?

Something with its own airfield? So that after producing the fresh water, it could help distribute it?

Something with 4 hospitals and lots of open space for emergency supplies?

Something with a global communications facility to make the coordination of disaster relief in the region easier?

Well "Franz", us peasants in America call that kind of ship an "Aircraft Carrier". We have 12 of them. How many do you have? Oh that's right, NONE. Lucky for you and the rest of the world, we are the kind of people who share. Even with people we dont like. In fact, if memory serves,once upon a time we peasants spent a ton of money and lives rescuing people who we had once tried to kill and who tried to kill us.

Do you know who those people were? that's right Franz, Europeans.

Theres is a French Aircraft carrier? where is it? Right where it belongs! In France of course! Oh why should the French Navy dirty their uniforms helping people on the other side of the globe. How Simplesse... The day an American has to move a European out of the way to help in some part of the world it will be a great day in the world, you sniggering little _____wad."

The room fell silent. My hindi friend then said quietly to the Euros:

"Can you let your hatred of George Bush end for just one minute? There are people dying! And what are your countries doing? Amazon.com has helped more than France has. You all have a role to play in the world, why can't you see that? Thank God for the US Navy, they dont have to come and help, but they are. They helped you once and you should all thank God they did. They didnt have to, and no one but them would have done so. I'm ashamed of you all..."

He left the room, shaking and in tears. The frustration of being on the other side of the globe, unable to do anything to assist and faced with people who could not set aside their asininity long enough to reach out and help was too much for him to bear. I just shook my head and left. The Euros stood speechless.

Later in the breakroom, one of the laughing Euros caught me and extended his hand in an apology. I asked him where he was from, he said "a town outside of Berlin". He is a young man, in his early 20's.
I asked him if he knew of a man named Gail Halvorsen.
He said no.
I said "that's a shame" and walked away to find my Hindi friend.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Amazon.com has helped more than France has.

So has my cat, probably.

 

[brian roberts]

reply....

great comeback, rubbing salt in the wounds w/out totally burning the bridges. well done!!

 

[walking arsenal]

France has an AIRCRAFT CARRIER?!?!?!?

Who gave them an aircraft carrier!!!???

Who gave them planes!!????

 

[Arc-Lite]

Ryoushi....you did good, but in all reality,honor never needs defense !! And france is france, and frogs are frogs... If this clown keeps this up, just take him to Jims Place for lunch, and let him, start with this topic!

 

[hso]

Well said!

 

[Kharn]

Walking Arsenal:
They built it themselves.
On builder's trials, it lost one of its propellers and had to be towed back to shore. It hasnt done much since then.

Kharn

 

[ryoushi]

Ryoushi....you did good, but in all reality,honor never needs defense !! And france is france, and frogs are frogs... If this clown keeps this up, just take him to Jims Place for lunch, and let him, start with this topic!

So you've been to Clovis and the infamous Jim's Place. Heh, that would be fun to watch. Also I don't want to leave the impression it was me that set the Euros right it was this guy

 

[walking arsenal]

built it themselves? yeah, ok, i could see them having enough popsicle sticks to do that.

but still

who gave them planes?

 

[Roland of Gilead]

LOL, Berlin is in Germany, not France. So don't lecture the Germans about what the French do or don't do. That makes you look dumb. Germany DID send more money than the US until the US upped its figure the second time (multiplying its second figure by 10, or its original figure by nearly 20.) All I have heard from you jokers is how the world was wrong to criticize us for sending $35 million. BTW, the GOP had already planned to spend $30 million on W's inauguration! If current figures are correct in that 5 million people have been or will be affected, then we were planning to send them right at $7 each. For the biggest seismic event on this planet in 40 years, one that affected its rotation and its shape. I guess someone finally got around to doing some math, and decided $350 million was a little more appropriate.
The frustration of being on the other side of the globe, unable to do anything to assist and faced with people who could not set aside their asininity long enough to reach out and help was too much for him to bear. I just shook my head and left. The Euros stood speechless.
Just think, what if they couldn't set aside their greed? What if they had the resources to help, but wanted to expend them on inauguration parties and gift baskets for the guests who also got tax cuts for being the wealthiest 1% of the wealthiest nation in the world? One thing about us Americans, we are never speechless.

 

[El Tejon]

Roland, no need to do math. We just did not know how large the disaster was. Thus, our donation went up as the body count went up.

No doubt the Euros are a greedy bunch as you say, a la the "Oil for Food" scandal, however Europe has pledged some money. Besides, doesn't the UK have an aircraft carrier? I'm sure it's on its way there, no?

Tax cuts are a great thing. However, we greedy Americans have extended the deadline for chartible contributions for the Asian disaster relief. How self-centred of us.

 

[longrifleman]

who gave them planes?

The Mirage series of jet are pretty and considered fairly decent.

And very effective when the Israelis fly them.


For another take on disaster relief go herehttp://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul227.html


And for the difinitive take on govt charity go here:
Davy Crockett

 

[Arc-Lite]

Yup...do the math, france / germany,both back seat drivers, who both know lots of being only on the receiving end...and big on having all the fine points. of a bad attitude covered. honor speaks for itself, as well as lack of responsibility and involvement. The important point, is the area of distruction, not the fluff jive of the euro's....either become involved, or get out of the way.

 

[Sparks]

No doubt the Euros are a greedy bunch as you say

Technically, there's some doubt since the EU gives out more money in aid per year than the US does...

 

[rritter]

As for the initial low donation by the US, remember how our government works - Congress decides how much money to spend on what, not the President. The $35 million was the amount Bush had available in the emergency funds, so he committed it. The remainder had to wait until Congress allocated it. Once they returned from the Christmas break, they allocated more money and our contribution went up.

 

[El Tejon]

Sparks, gives or "pledges"??? There was such a segment on the BBC today where Euros pledge all kinds of money but do not follow through.

Are you including militree expenditures as well. Are the U.S. and all the Euro aircraft carriers being included???

No doubt they are greedy, just look at the "Oil for Food" scandal and the tax rates of greedy Euro governments!

 

[tulsamal]

Technically, there's some doubt since the EU gives out more money in aid per year than the US does...

Whether that fact is true or not (I don't know) it really shouldn't be surprising or anything. The EU was started in an effort to create an economic unit with more people and more money than the US. If you add it up, they have more people (by quite a few) than we do. If you total up their economies, they are larger as well. So I would HOPE they give more per year. Especially since the US "total aid" never seems to include the costs of all those ships, airplanes, helicopters, etc. The US taxpayers paid to design, build, man, and service all that equipment but somehow all that money isn't part of our "aid" to other countries.

Gregg

 

[Firethorn]

Actually, Sparks, they DON'T give more money than what we do.

What their government does do is contribute a larger percentage of their GDP than we do. As some people have said "That's easier when you don't have to pay for your own military protection".

IE the Guy with $200 donates 15 dollars. The guy with $100 donates $10. Don't forget, however, that the guy with the $200 also chips in 6 bucks for defense, including the guy with $100.

Oh, and Amazon's contributions are practically higher than what the EU is giving.

And ditto the $35 million. That's all that our government had in that fund, it takes congress to increase that, as soon as congress was available, it increased. The $35 million also doesn't cover all the military help we're providing as that comes from a different bucket.

 

[tulsamal]

(double tap)

 

[Iain]

Well, you can count my contribution in the amazon.com total as any donations made through .co.uk goes through the .com it would appear.

Does this have to turn into a childish debate about who has the biggest? Or did we miss the point of the contribution the Hindi guy made in the original post?

 

[Havegunjoe]

Well Done!

Very Well Done!

 

[Arc-Lite]

Good focus St. Johns, and your right. just for the record, in my eyes, the UK, is first rate, and very honorable, just in a questionable neighborhood.

 

[Sparks]

Actually, Sparks, they DON'T give more money than what we do.

Sorry, but you are incorrect. The EU provides 55% of worldwide Official Development Assistance ($26.3 billion out of $52.3 billion total). At present, the EU provides 0.33% of its national income as Official Development Assistance (compared with a US contribution of 0.11%). The EU has said it will increase it further to reach 0.39% not later than 2006, and then on to the UN/OECD target of 0.7%. The US President’s Millennium Challenge Account would bring the US Official Development Assistance to a level of about 0.22% of national income (presently the US provides $10 million annually, 19% of total foreign aid).

Thing is, most of the comparisons are being made between individual countries in the EU versus the entire US. A more valid comparison would be between, say, California and Germany, or between the entire EU and entire US. Like with like and so forth.

 

[tulsamal]

Thing is, most of the comparisons are being made between individual countries in the EU versus the entire US. A more valid comparison would be between, say, California and Germany, or between the entire EU and entire US. Like with like and so forth.

But that isn't "like with like." The entire EU has more people and a larger economy than just the US by itself. We could do a straight "per capita" comparison but that leaves out the VAST amounts of money the US spends that _doesn't_ get counted in these numbers.

For instance, look at the size of the defense budgets of Canada and Mexico. Would those budgets logically be that small if they didn't have the most powerful nation on earth right next to them? Neither one has to worry about China (or whomever) invaded them because the US would come to their aid in minutes. So that makes them economic "free riders" in the defense area. They have more money to put into aid projects. How much is the US putting into Iraq and Afghanistan? It _should_ be a worldwide goal to rebuild those countries and to establish democracy but in practice it is mostly US money.

And then there is the actual US military equipment being used to help the people in the affected areas. How do you measure the money the US "puts in" if you don't somehow count the cost of aircraft carriers, helicopters, huge numbers of active duty soldiers working on this stuff, etc? Some of that military equipment is going to need significant (and expensive) repairs and maintenence after this is all over. Will that money be "added to" the US aid numbers? I seriously doubt it. Non-military people seem to always view US military assets as just "being there naturally" or something. If you wear out some Blackhawk helicopters now, you have to buy some replacements next year.

And why are we just looking at government numbers anyway? Everywhere I go, Americans are collected money for aid. My son and daughter are both collecting at their school. The big corporations feature it on their home pages. Is there any way to measure how much money Americans are sending abroad _as private citizens?_

Like the original post stated, I get tied of other countries trying to act like "the US isn't doing their share." But when I go overseas it is US aid products that I see everywhere. It is US military and civilian personel and equipment that I see doing the work. And US leadership in the international area trying to get debt relief for the affected countries. I guess it is pure jealousy of the dominant country and culture but it does get annoying.

Gregg

 

[Sparks]

But that isn't "like with like."

Not on a direct comparison of absolute numbers, though it's a better approximation than comparing (say) the US and the UK. But as a percentage of national income, it is a valid comparison.

And then there is the actual US military equipment being used to help the people in the affected areas.

I believe there's an effort underway to have that military aid counted towards the 0.7%.

And why are we just looking at government numbers anyway?

I was trying to correct the idea that europeans were being tightfisted, which wasn't only inaccurate, but which was rather insensitive, given that Sweden has lost an estimated 2,900 citizens to the tsunami. This is their 9/11, so to say they're being tightfisted is, well, in bad taste.

Everywhere I go, Americans are collected money for aid.

The same story is true of over here. Concern (an Irish charity) has said that they've received more donations in the past few weeks than in the previous few years combined; Oxfam shops have been unable to sell clothing because they've had so many people queuing up to make donations; and the private donations have long exceeded the public ones in pretty much every EU member state so far. Frankly, it's the one good thing I've seen in any of this.

A more important question now is how much of the aid will make it to the ground, given that a full third is going to indonesia which has a horrendous record of corruption, and that other nations in that area, like Burma, are not a great improvement on that record.