We have an executive in the government who can respond to unexpected events without Congressional approval? Russotto knew that when he posted a pathetic $15million response. The president knew the size and potential scope of this disaster that first day. He has the power to dispatch aid on minutes notice. Or at least he could if he read his Presidential Daily Briefing. He has fleets of thousand of aircraft that can be dispatched or be planning immediate transport on hours notice. Instead the NY Times says his response over many days was 6 C-130 medium transports and some P3 Orion surveillance planes. Pathetic that Russotto would ignore these facts as if there were politics involved. The president’s response was that pathetic - as the numbers in dollars and equipment demonstrate AND as world criticism so accurately notes. Especially when a response in the first hours and first days is absolutely the most critical to saving human life.

The military has a surge capability that can start in hours. No Congressional approval required as Russotto well knew. Where are three aircraft carrier groups when they are needed immediately? Waiting for orders that were not issued. One finally got word to get ready to go days later. Pathetic, along with a paltry $35million aid package.

What are the death rates - remembering that 3,000 died on 11 September that was a disaster of epic proportions? Probably 2,000 dead Americans alone. Maybe 6,000 dead Norwegians. American's presidential response was so pathetic than even private groups apparently did far more when response was must needed.

I have no time for silly photographs of crying people, shrouded bodies, and broken trees. I want fact found in photographs with real perspective. Finally found what the president would have had on his desk on Sunday. This from the NY Times are 12 photos that truly put the event in perspective Asia's Deadly Waves . Click on the first row "Photos: Impact" . Click on the second row "Before and After".

Sidebar: Diego Garcia is a rather secret American base that is (if I have the numbers right) less than 10 feet above sea level. It too was struck by this Tsunami. And yet we hear nothing. Curious.

What is required in the first hours and first day is obvious in every disaster of this type. Food, blankets, shelter, medicine, clean water, and bases for expediting future aid. It does not change. What comes later is determined by the first responders. But what comes later cannot be determined if those first responder are on the ground - ASAP. Lookout123 knew this. He just wants to argue.

Good link to those aerial photos. They are amazing, and tell a lot.

Also, according to Stars and Stripes, Diego Garcia felt nothing and is fine.

Since when was Diego Garcia secret?

Silence!!! you dare to question the statement of the infallible tw??? simpleton. sit back and allow him to bestow his infathomable knowledge upon you.

*remembers the smell of burning flesh*Are they going to be able to bury that many people all at once?

One of the biggest problems I have is the expectation of aid regardless of how people in the various parts of the world feel about us.

"Fuck you America! Where's my check?"

And you don't. Got it.

It's not a secret, but it doesn't have the exposure that Gitmo has, even though it has a greater role in our Mideast presence.

Edit: to say that I haven't heard of Diego Garcia in the news in at least a decade until I went out of my way yesterday or the day before to do a Google search to see if it survived the waves. Do you recall any Diego Garcia news stories in the last decade?

I agree. They love us when they get a big fat check though, don't they?

Obviously not. They whine that it's not big and fat enough.

They sound just like a lot of americans eh?

"Fuck you America! Where's my check?"

Try, "Fuck you, America! Your economy is worth 10 trillion, you spend billions each year to wage war to kill hundreds of thousands of people, but when millions of lives are in danger you spend only a fraction of that."

As a country we are, and always have been, much more interested in destroying than preserving. And that goes for more than humanity.

ok, let's start from scratch here. bush is evil, incompetent, and maybe incontinant as well. tw is the presidential advisor.

What would have been an appropriate response to the Tsunami's? Run it by the numbers. what do you do in the 1st hour? 1st day? 2nd day? etc. i want details, not "i would do more..." what dollar amount would be satisfactory? do we send in our military?

oh and keep in mind that we can't actually dispurse any funds until the foreign power officially requests assistance through the embassies.