Who pushed the button on this one?

Bush was criticized for the initial offer of financial aid after last year's tsunami. Then he was criticized for a laggard response to hurricane Katrina. So you'd expect them to be on the ball for the next disaster. But no. We read (from the VOA): (emp add)

US Offers Aid and Sympathies after Asian Quake
By VOA News     09 October 2005

President Bush has offered Americans' deepest sympathies for the loss of life caused by the South Asian earthquake Saturday. In a statement, Mr. Bush said initial deployments of American aid are underway, and that the United States stands ready to provide more help as needed. The U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Ryan Crocker, has said Washington will provide 100-thousand dollars in emergency relief funds. He said the U.S. military has offered supplies and assistance to its Pakistani counterpart, and that a joint U.S.-Pakistani program (the Ministry of Interior Air Wing) will provide helicopters for the rescue effort. President Bush considers Pakistan's leader Pervez Musharraf a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror. Pakistan was also one of many countries that offered assistance to help the United States deal with Hurricane Katrina.

Who decided on the amount of $100,000? This didn't go down well with the Pakistanis, who we're presumably counting on to help with the war on terror (or capturing Bin Laden or something). Was the $100K figure signed off by the State Department? Who made the call? Condi?

UPDATE: We remember distinctly hearing and reading about the initial $100K offer in a number of news outlets. Yet here is the New York Times with a totally different take: (emp add)

Showing Speed and Loyalty, Bush Mobilizes Aid to Pakistan
By DAVID E. SANGER     Published: October 10, 2005

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 - Eager to show it has learned from the slow responses to the Asia-Pacific tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, the White House announced Sunday evening that it would provide an "initial contribution" of $50 million for relief efforts in Pakistan.

On this story, who do you trust more, the Voice of America or the New York Times?


posted by Quiddity at 10/11/2005 07:47:00 AM