I recognize that the tourists are being evacuated as quickly as possible, to get them out of the way, and to prevent them and their loved ones from clogging communication lines especially. I have no problem with that.

But I still have a problem with Kohl's behavior, even now. But there is no point arguing that with you Wolfgang, because we aren't going to agree.

I have been discussing facts, BillD. When I say "the US" and "the Americans" I have been referring to the Bush government. I too make distinctions between individuals and governments.

Now, I am very cynical about the Bush pledges for aid, because of the Bush government's very well known track record of pledging money and never delivering it (for instance, in the rebuilding money for Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Bam earthquake in Iran for starters). That is Bush's ideological "compassionate conservatism". Promise everything in the moment when people are most passionately engaged, wait for the hoopla and media circus to fade, and then don't deliver what you promised. That way, you look good without paying any price. The Bush strategy to a T, as we saw in the recent election with his very different response to the Floriday hurricanes--he was there in a heartbeat, passing out bottled water and promising billions. It paid off for him too. He won the hotly contested state of Florida.

Compare that to his reaction to the Asian tsunami, where the victims don't vote in American elections.

I sincerely doubt that the people of south Asia will see much of that money promised by the US government in any form other than military intervention in their countries under the flag of the "coalition" Bush has built to undermine the UN.

It looks as though you and I won't agree either BillD, so I suggest we drop it.