Tsunami:                                                               Back

1/1/04: (CNN) CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- A U.S. delegation prepared Saturday for its trip to South Asia to get a close-up look at the devastation and determine what more this country can do to help.

Bush's decision to increase the aid came amid mounting criticism that the United States was slow to respond and that he was slow to publicly express his condolences. "Clearly, our first step forward was not sufficient," said P.J. Crowley, a retired colonel who served as a Pentagon spokesman in both Republican and Democratic administrations and was a White House national security aide in the Clinton administration. "This is an event of literally epic proportions and for the White House to take 72 hours before the president was visible on this, I think was a mistake."

72 hours? It took him less then a day to go to Florida after the Hurricanes. Oh! I forgot Florida was a swing state & it was an election year.

Seriously people, for the president of the most powerful country in the world not to be in full view of the world, giving our condolences and promise of support immediately following the disaster was shameful.

Whether we like it or not the world looks to us for leadership & compassion and we have to respond quickly. People around the world are looking at us, to see who we are, and if we fail to give all the aid we can, their view of us will decline and at a time when (Because of the war in Iraq) it is already at an all time low, we can't afford bad press.

I take no pleasure in using a tragedy to make a political point but we have to see this president for who he is.