for towie, ghost & dumb dave
For Towie, Ghost dumb dave and anyone else that is denying reality
That western governments supplying aid is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do and that there are political reasons other than being the right thing to do for providing aid
Providing aid will help in repairing relationships with muslim countries and aid in the war in terror by hopefully preventing the likes of AQ and JI preying on people that have lost everything into becoming new recruits.
Dumb Dave the aid is not going to change the view of the hard core radicals (I never stated it would, it would realy help if you fuk heads learnt to read) it will though hopeful help prevent the hard core radicals recruiting new followers
And this is exactly what Colin Powell has stated (who according to you fuk wits must now be a muslim loving, west hating leftie)
Powell hopes US aid improves image among Muslims
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell has taken a first-hand look at damage from last week's Asian tsunami disaster and expressed confidence that his country's relief efforts would boost its battered image in the Muslim world.
Mr Powell was accompanied by President George W Bush's brother Jeb as he toured relief operations on Thailand's resort island of Phuket.
He has pledged US help in crafting a regional early warning system to head off future catastrophes.
The chief US diplomat is on a three-nation tour to demonstrate the US commitment to the region after criticism that it was slow to respond to the tragedy, which has claimed more than 145,000 lives across the Indian Ocean.
After flying to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation and the country hardest hit by the tsunami, Mr Powell put the US pledge of $US350 million in aid and its massive military relief operation in political perspective.
"I think it does give to the Muslim world and the rest of the world an opportunity to see American generosity, American values in action," he said.
The invasion of Iraq last year chilled US relations with the Muslim world.
Mr Powell insisted: "America is not an anti-Islam, anti-Muslim nation. America is a diverse society where we respect all religions.
"And I hope as a result of our efforts, as a result of our helicopter pilots being seen by the citizens of Indonesia helping them, that value system of ours will be reinforced."
Mr Powell says the US aid effort is based on humanitarian concerns but is also a significant part of the global war against terror launched by the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"It dries up those pools of dissatisfaction which might give rise to terrorist activity," he said.
"That supports not only our national security interest but the national security interests of the countries involved."
