Sharni, you cynic!!

America has given their friends in the regions hit by the wave military assistance by the

billions since WW2.

This has given successive regimes the ability to stamp their good wishes on their people.

Seriously, many US charity co-ordinators are doing wonderful things to help the victims,

and the helos from the Carrier task force off Aceh are doing things which will secure life

for tens of thousands who may otherwise have succumbed to disease.

For our American fellow Pixies, Oz personal as opposed to governmental aid to victims of

the Great Tsunami is at present about $US16 per head. This translates to very roughly

$US4bn if we are matched buck for buck.

All this is on top of pre-tsunami commitments.

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Calm, quiet, smooth, devastating