Bush Criticizes U.N. 'Stingy' Comment
Wednesday December 29, 2004 5:16 PM
AP Photo TXSW105
By JOHN HEILPRIN
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush defended American generosity Wednesday, even as his administration figures out how to pay for more help beyond the $35 million it has already promised to tsunami victims in Asia.
snip...
But the journey from the $35 million to potentially $1 billion or more in help for the tens of thousands of latest victims is fraught with bureaucratic twists.
First, the U.S. Agency for International Development, which distributes foreign aid, will have to ask for more money, since the initial $35 million aid package drained its emergency relief fund, said Andrew Natsios, the agency's administrator.
``We just spent it,'' Natsios said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. ``We'll be talking to the (White House) budget office ... (about) what to do at this point.''
more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4699935,00.html