Left Using Tsunami Tragedy for Politics

Seems it took no time at all after the horrific tragedy which continues to unfold in South Asia for the peddlers of Socialist clap-trap to reach for the nearest microphone to do two things: A. Denounce President Bush (oh that's original) and B. Try and use the tragedy to advance their agenda for world socialism.

News accounts of the devastation continue to be interspersed with reports claiming that "global warming" (which of course they claim is the fault of the United States and President Bush) somehow cause tragedies like this to occur. What bunk! Only the most whacked out tree hugger could believe such nonsense.

Next we have the usual lineup of suspects at the United Nations, one of whom referred to the U.S. disaster relief efforts as "stingy" and that if only the United States raised taxes, they could supply the UN with more funds. This was shortly followed by another UN oh-so-high and mighty-type referring to President Bush's effort to work with a group of nations to provide aid to the stricken as: "Undermining UN with Aid Coalition" and going on to say "Only really the UN can do that job...It is the only body that has the moral authority."

"Moral Authority?" Give me a break. Is this the same moral authority that stood by while some 20 plus BILLIONS of dollars meant to aid sick and hungry children in Iraq through the UN administered Oil for Food Program was funneled into bribes, including sweet heart deals for the son of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan?

I'm sure all these oh so well-meaning UN bureaucrats would prefer that the United States raise taxes to fund more UN programs, including an additional $1 BILLION to renovate the UN headquarters building in New York. If you really want to help those in need, sell the UN building, or turn it into a shelter for the homeless, not a palace for the corrupt.

But as you would with just about any charitable organization, look at how much of the contribution actually goes to helping those in need and how much is used for administrative costs. I cannot imagine that the pampered UN bureaucrats, with their "moral authority" and loose standards of financial accountability could do a better job of aiding the victims of this or any other disaster.

John Podhoretz in the New York Post summed up the situation quite well:

"It is fine and proper to have a debate and discussion about the degree of generosity the United States could, should and must show in the wake of this literally earth-shaking event. But at this moment, the United States is not the issue.The foreign-aid budget of the United States is not the issue. Our government should not be the focal point of the discussion right now."

President Bush has assembled a coalition of countries with the best possible pool of talent and resources to respond effectively to this calamity. What the victims don't need right now is another example of how they might be spared their grief if only the tarnished ideals of world socialism prevailed.

Michael Miller