Humanity in Katrina's Wake

It's nice to see an editorial like this from our Thai friends.

Thailand, both its government and people, should provide whatever assistance it can to aid the Americans. We still remember when the US government dispatched dozens of aeroplanes and thousands of soldiers, to help tsunami victims in Thailand and other Asian countries. Furthermore, Washington has pledged $950 million out of the estimated US$12 billion promised by all Western donors. The rest of the world that has benefited from American generosity should show solidarity with Americans who are now picking up the pieces. Regardless of what other peoples think of the US government and its foreign policies, most of the world owes it to themselves to reciprocate goodwill to the American people.

Unfortunately, this other site is a joke. In a fair world, it wouldn't be.

Kofi Annan's hastily called meeting of UN members has produced a unanimous decision to send massive aid to the United States for the reconstruction of New Orleans. Iran jumped onboard very quickly. Supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated emphatically that, "the generosity of the Americans after our two recent earthquakes must be returned. We were only waiting for an American disaster anyway to return the money, and this is of the scale that we believe is just and right. America, through my good friend President Bush, sent us millions of American dollars after our earthquakes. Bam has already been rebuilt by American dollars. Iran will rebuild New Orleans."

UPDATE I: Michelle Malkin has a good roundup of the international response so far.

UPDATE II: I'd like to think that the fictional account isn't so far off after all, though the commitments here are well... a bit on the symbolic side... and not really so revolutionary as they may seem:

Venezuela, a target of frequent criticism by the Bush administration, offered humanitarian aid and fuel. Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. pledged a $1 million donation for hurricane aid. The United Nations informed U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton it was prepared to support the relief effort "in any way possible."

B-llS--t! Citgo is an American company. They may be funneling the donation through Venezuela for obscure political purposes, but last I checked, they were based in Houston and had a great big lighted billboard in Kenmore Square in Boston. As for the UN: I'll believe it when I see it. Aren't they the professionals at "the sound and fury, signifying nothing." (Speaking of Mississippi... and tragic plays.)