[tw]

Originally Posted by lookout123

ok tw, don't get your panties in a bunch. i've asked it and you still haven't answered, really. What would you have done? when would you have done it? where would you have sent it? who would have done it? how much money should have been in the US gov'ts initial pledge? and also they why would we do what you would suggest?

You saw those satellite photographs. Even Indonesia was desperate to learn what had happened to its western provinces and to its own troops. And yet America had those facts. You saw the pictures.

A real leader would have been on the air Sunday (or at latest Monday) declaring this a major world disaster requiring American and 1st world leadership. In the meantime it takes days to load and transist ships. The military trains to 'surge' for unexpected events. This was a 'surge' mission. Those ships should have been leaving port Sunday - Monday night at latest to be in the Indian Ocean for any and every nation that requests help. Those ships would already be there now. Countries all desperately requested help from anyone who was available. The NGOs got there - maybe even available before requests had been made for help. But instead George Jr left America unavailable even to help thousands of American citizens.

When does a leader get up before the nation and say we have a serious problem in the Indian Ocean? When does he - at minimum - go to the rescue of thousands of American citizens. A leader leads the nation in its response. This president waited to have America internationally humiliated before he even acknowledged the disaster - and only then decided to send help. What about those American citizens? Did we lose 2,000 Americans? How many are still waiting for help - while a president waits to be invited.

American help was not requested? Bull. Area nations - especially Indonesia - were desperate to find anyone who could tell them what had happened to their western proviences. India was even putting assistance into other nations - who apparently never asked for help? Bull. The island nations such as the Maldives could not even request help. They had been completely cut off - and were that desperate for outside help. And so we just sit here and pretend they did not ask? What kind of leadership is that? Mythical.

To provide help when it was needed, America had to get its first responders moving the next day. People on scene to organize any help. Instead the best we had to offer was $35 million, 6 C-130s (some say 12), and some P3 survelliance planes. Paltry response directly traceable to a president who did not lead. A president who had the facts available and instead did nothing.

You saw those satellite photos. You tell me the president would not have known or at least suspected the size and scope of this disaster. His technical people most certainly knew immediately. The disaster is so obvious that even New York Times satellite pictures make it obvious. George Jr had to be in denial. No other logic can explain his 'non response'.

The only way George Jr could not have known is if he was using the same reasoning that said, "No looting exists in Iraq." That is not leadership. That is ostrich denial. That is embarrassing. No wonder the US was internationally humiliated before George Jr finally acted. Today George Jr finally conceded the scope and seriousness of this disaster. What kind of leadership is that? Five days later, he finally conceded to the obvious. You tell me. Where is the leadership?

What would anyone have done - especially with those pictures in hand? Act like a leader. Get on the phone. Tell Indonesia why they could not contact their western proviences. Offer immediate assistance. Offer immediate transport to the NGOs who had already responded. IOW act like a leader. Acknowledge reality in those satellite photos. Don't do nothing. Do something. Lead before a world community finally shamed America into action. Unfortunately that is what it took to get George Jr off his ass.

So what would you have done? Act like the ostrich George Jr waiting for a written invite before putting emergency response to sea? Or would you have acted to obvious and deperate conditions to at least protect American and NATO lives? If you acted to be in position to protect Americans, then you did far more than George Jr.

No Lookout123. You only insulted me because I am the one who exposed the mental midget president's non-response. After waiting 5 days for him to act and after seeing those satellite photos, I now know this president deserved the international humiliation. You tell me this president was right to let people die before he started anyone moving. You saw those satellite photos. Go ahead and tell me he should have done nothing. Where does it say in the bible that a moral man does nothing to help his neighbor.

Do you wait for your neighbor to invite you to help save his burning house? Or do you go down the street to see if you can be of assistance? What would a moral man do?