[quote]Arabian Shame
Friday, August 12, 2005; Page A18
SOME REMAIN skeptical of President Bush’s concern for Africa, and there’s no doubt that the United States could and should do more. But the latest report on Sudan from the United Nations offers a snapshot of an issue on which Mr. Bush has been a leader. So far this year the United States has given $468 million in foreign assistance to Sudan, mostly for humanitarian relief in the western region of Darfur. The U.S. contribution comes to 53 percent of all outside donations -- a proportion about twice the size of the nation’s weight in the global economy. A few other countries have been even more generous relative to the size of their economies, notably Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Britain.
But the contribution from many others has been embarrassing. How can France, which prides itself on its leadership in Africa, give only $2 million to this year’s U.N. appeal for Sudan – an amount that, when rounded, comes to zero percent of total contributions to the country? Even if one generously ascribed, say, a fifth of the European Union’s donation of $90 million to French taxpayers, France’s share of the total contribution to Sudan comes to a paltry 2 percent.
But perhaps the most striking absentees are the oil-rich Arab countries, which have more money than ideas on how to spend it, thanks to oil prices above $60 a barrel. Saudi Arabia has contributed a grand total of $3 million, according to the U.N. data; the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have given less than $1 million between them. No other Arab country even makes the list. This Arab indifference is shameful. The victims of Sudan’s worst crisis, in Darfur, are Muslim, and aid to non-Muslim southern Sudan is essential to shoring up the fragile north-south peace deal that would help Muslims as well. Sudan borders Libya and Egypt; only the narrow Red Sea separates it from Saudi Arabia. Arabs have every reason to care about Sudan, and yet they have done far less than remote non-Muslim countries such as Norway, which has an economy roughly the same size as Saudi Arabia’s. Writing on the opposite page last month, Joseph Britt noted, “We’ve heard a lot since Sept. 11, 2001, about how Arabs feel humiliated, ashamed, resentful at being regarded by the West as inferior in some way." Mr. Britt continued: "Perhaps it is time to say plainly that the way to earn respect is through deeds worthy of respect.”[/quote]
No surprise given the almost total lack of funding by the Arab world despite the fact that the tsunami victims were largely Muslim. There is great hoopla every time a Koran is “harmed” but when millions of fellow Muslims are dying? Well, cannot be bothered by that now can we. Once again this is a perfect example of the US and what it does in the world and yet another example of why Arab sensitivities should not be catered to so excessively as is favored by so many on the Left. Put up or shut up.
Sounds like Canada’s government for the past few decade!!!. I think the “nature of the beast” – big government — is to be fat, bloated, and corrupt. What makes the US different is the generousity of its citizens. They are the most generous donors in the world. The Arab masses are too poor and ignorant to be donors, and their rulers are for the most part too greedy or selfish irrespective of whether its the UAE, Libya, Syria, or Saudi Arabia. Perhaps this will change once “democratic reform” becomes even more widespread. I look forward to watching the “donor” mentality take hold within the region.