French daily says Washington "stingy" with aid to Asian countries [View All]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/31/content_2399335.htm

French daily says Washington "stingy" with aid to Asian countries hit by tsunami

PARIS, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States' aid for tidal waves stricken Asian countries is "stingy", according to French daily Le Figaro on Thursday, which compares it with the country's food sales for dogs and cats.

US President George W. Bush's initial promise to release just 15 million dollars in emergency aid was "completely ridiculous given the magnitude of the catastrophe," said Le Figaro in an editorial.

"Fifteen million dollars are less than half the daily sales of dog and cat food in the United States," it said.

It is "one-tenth of the cost of the daily cost of the war in Iraq for the US army" or "half the price of a new F-16 fighter jet," it said.