January 05, 2005

The Ugly Stepsister Speaks

Really, you just can't please some people:

[T]he European Union's humanitarian commissioner says the escalating aid offers may become a "beauty contest," where nations compete for the title of biggest donor.

Alternative post endings:

1. Alas, "Let them eat cake," had already been used.

2. It's a bitch knowing that you are going to a gunfight and you've voluntarily made it illegal to carry even a pocket knife.

3. "European Union humanitarian commissioner" would seem to be an oxymoron.

4. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyone think the victims care about who might look prettiest?

5. Perhaps he should speak to the EU's defense minister about sending one of their carrier battlegroups to help out.

6. Damn, the UN Idol show idea just isn't going to pan out.

7. How soon do you think someone is going to call for the US to give money to other countries so they can turn around and give it to the victims. We've got to be respectful for other countries' self esteem, don't you know?

8. Maybe the EU and the UN will propose some sort of BCS system for taking credit for disaster response.

9. Same as it ever was...

Posted by Charles Austin at January 5, 2005 05:15 PM
Comments

He's worried about the morning after the contest, when the Prime Ministers sober up.

Past "beauty contests" have resulted in big talk but few dollars.

AP: "It's reminiscent ... of donors' promises of more than $1 billion after an earthquake killed 26,000 people in Bam, Iran, in December 2003. A year later now, Iran says it's gotten only $17.5 million."

see http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_as/tsunami_where_s_the_money_6

Posted by: Sam at 06:56 PM