EDITORIAL MISSED OPPORTUNITY.THE United States' well-earned reputation as a hero to the world has been one of the many casualties in the war in Iraq. Despite years of pouring billions in aid to faraway countries and providing an umbrella of security to the world, America was suddenly seen by many to be a bully intent on conquest. The Bush administration had a chance to win back some of the lost good will by rushing to the aid of the countries devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. by the tsunami catastrophe in the Indian Ocean Indian Ocean, third largest ocean, c.28,350,000 sq mi (73,427,000 sq km), extending from S Asia to Antarctica and from E Africa to SE Australia; it is c.4,000 mi (6,400 km) wide at the equator. It constitutes about 20% of the world's total ocean area. region last week. This was a chance to remind the world that America does care. Unfortunately, that opportunity was missed to some extent because the administration was slow to respond, allowing our critics to beat the drums of anti-American sentiment for days. The United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. is now spearheading the international relief effort, using military helicopters Military helicopters are helicopters used by military forces. They can be found in a variety of roles in diffferent militaries of which the tactical airlift mission is the most common. to pluck pluck 1. an abattoir term for the thoracic viscera plus the liver, after separation from the esophagus and the diaphragm. Includes the larynx, trachea, lungs, heart and liver, plus the spleen in sheep. 2. survivors from the wreckage and deliver supplies. Marines on a warship warship, any ship built or armed for naval combat. The forerunners of the modern warship were the men-of-war of the 18th and early 19th cent., such as the ship of the line, frigate, corvette, sloop of war (see sloop), brig, and cutter. are headed for the region. President George W. Bush has now pledged $350 million in aid to the tsunami survivors, and appointed his father and former President Bill Clinton to lead the nation's charitable effort. But in the critical first hours and days after this terrible tragedy, President Bush offered a paltry $4 million, then on the second day upped it to $15 million and finally $35 million as critics started pointing out how smaller countries such as Sweden and Spain were extending much, much more. There never should have been any doubt that America would be at the forefront of nations helping out those in need. That's the kind of people we are and always have been. There should have been no hesitation from Day One that America would do whatever it takes to help relieve the suffering of the survivors and help them rebuild their lives. |
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