[A Quiet Boom]

Seems all the critics forgetting that the $350M is only the beginning if history serves a lesson. It's also forgotten the VERY important and certainly costly role the American military is playing in the region. European nations also tend to give primarily through their governments while the US give primarily through private and corporate donations, comparing what the US government gives to other governments is apples to oranges. Where is the outcry at the oil rich nations like Saudi Arabia who only pledged $10M?

What makes our country great is that we are doing so much for a region that is largely unsympathetic to American interests. Not to mention how much the US spends each year on global security.

I also don't get the criticism of GWB not cutting his trip short, for one thing there are communications at his ranch and I'm certain he was apprised of the situtation and for another I don't think it was really clear just how devastitating this incident was for the first few days. I know I still can fully comprehend the destruction and loss of life. In fact I'd have been critical of the administration if they started handing out large sums of my tax dollars before assessing what was needed. I also recall that every pledge the US has made came with a "and this is just the beginning". The data on hurricane Mitch from several years ago show that the US has spent upwards of $1B in total aid with spending still going on.

As far as liberal actors and actresses privately donating, that is fantastic, but why does their politics matter. This relief effort should not be politicized. The US is the most generous nation in the world period look at the facts. Last year US aid was about $2.4B or 40 percent of world aid, private donations more than doubled that number.