Aftermath

The United States Government has now committed $350 million to the tsunami relief effort, and President Bush has called on the private sector to give even more. In an attempt to set an example, Bush is donating $10,000 of his own money.

That's quite a noble gesture, but in the end, that's really all it is: A gesture.

If Bush is serious about calling on the private sector for donations, he could easily take this to the next level. As it stands now, his upcoming inauguration will cost $40 million, all financed through donations.

Skip the fancy parade and the elaborate inaugural balls (there are typically four of them, attended by thousands). Take that $40 million and distribute it among the various relief agencies. Then hold a simple swearing in ceremony in the Capitol rotunda attended by maybe a hundred or so congressional leaders. Afterwards go out for brunch at a local Denny's and have Cheney pick up the tab.

By doing this, Bush could help the United States regain much of the stature it has lost throughout the world.

Back on December 27, I had a link to a Michael Dobbs' first hand account of the tsunami in the Washington Post. Because the power was out, he wrote that story by candlelight and dictated it to the paper over a cellphone. Dobbs has since written a more extensive account of what the experience was like, as well as its immediate aftermath. Fortunately his other family members came through the experience fine, though several of them had close calls as well.

Also, here's an interview a DC area radio station had with Scott Yellin, on the training staff of the NY Yankees. Yellin lives in Thailand during the off season, and barely outran the tsunami on his motorcycle.