$230 Million = Chump Change

President Bush is playing big politics with the announcement that he will make available $230 million for the reconstruction efforts in Lebanon. One estimate puts the reconstruction costs at $3.6 billion and lost tourism revenue at $1.5 billion, with the Jiyahh power station oil spill clean up efforts alone to top $64 million.

What about other countries? How are they helping out? Kuwait has pledged almost 3.5 times as much as the US to the tune of $800 million. Saudi Arabia? 2 times with $500 million guaranteed. The interesting thing is that Lebanon was founded as an enclave for Christians who still make up 40 percent of the population, but these Arab countries don't seem to have any problem with that. From the Kuwaiti Times:

"We Kuwaitis support all the Lebanese people from Muslims to Christians and donating is the least we can do," said Abdullah, a Kuwaiti who owns a summer home in Lebanon.

We spend $250 million a DAY in Iraq, not to mention the $110 BILLION alloted to the Katrina cleanup efforts/scandal. Is $230 million really going to do anything? Its a strange and duplicitous person who gives political cover to one government as they destroy another country and then offers a consolance package worth a couple hundred million for the trouble.

$230 Million = Chump Change