Reply #59: Why do you keep saying that? [View All]

According to the Associated Press:

UNITED NATIONS -- U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland praised rich nations Wednesday for their generosity in helping victims of the tsunami, but stood by his criticism that the rich do too little to assist the poor when there are no emergencies.

President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell took umbrage at Egeland's comment Monday: "We were more generous when we were less rich," he said. "And it is beyond me why we are so stingy, really."

The following day Egeland told reporters that his complaint was directed at no nation in particular, and didn't refer to the outpouring of assistance for the victims of the disaster - a point he reiterated Wednesday.