The death toll from this weekend’s cyclone and tidal wave in Burma has reached 22,500, with 41,000 people still missing. This is not looking good. Before this the people of Burma were already desperately poor, mostly as a result of the mismanagement of the oppressive military junta mismanaging the country. As a result of the cyclone millions of people are now left without food, shelter, medical services, and most likely even clean water. Worldwide, nations and international relief agencies are scrambling to send as much aid as possible as quickly as possible.
Did I say Worldwide? My bad, that is except for the United States. The 'Master of Disaster' Shrub has released an unbelievable $250,000 from a U.S. Embassy emergency fund for the Burma relief effort. Bush is refusing to send more until the government of Burma allows American disaster assessment teams into Burma to, do what he has shown we do so well and that is um...assess.
UNICEF has five disaster assessment teams in the hardest-hit areas already, but of course the 'Master of Disaster' Bush can’t trust the United Nations assessments. He has to have his own 'crack' team on the ground. They are, of course, hardened professionals that have demonstrated their 'crackness' on the ground in NOLA.
The final insult to all this is that Shrub sent his highly medicated bride out this morning in the press room to chide the Burmese government over their poor disaster response....the stupid really burns. No pot and kettle jokes here folks...move along, nothing to see here.
No comments:
Post a Comment