Thank You, I Hate You

I wrote that we help the victims of the tsunami because it is the right thing to do and not to score points with the Moslem world. I also wrote that if our long history of aiding Moslems hasn't given us positive ratings, this latest aid would not either.

Well what do you know, despite the hopes of Secretary Powell, some who are getting our help suspect our motives:

It's true we need help from the U.S. right now, but many Muslims feel the need to ask: `Is there any political interest here, or is it really just humanitarian help?'" said Moeslim Abdurrahman, a moderate Muslim leader in Jakarta.

You know, if President Bush had held a press conference within 24 hours to express sorrow and announce a massive aid package, conspiracy nuts here and abroad would have claimed the president had to have had advance notice--possibly because one of our nuclear submarines caused the earthquake--to react that fast and with that much certainty as to the magnitude of the tragedy.

Helping is still the right thing to do.