Norwegian UN Chutzpah

Jan Egeland says the wealthy nations are not giving enough. "They are stingy" says he.

Well, in the case of France, he is quite correct. Perhaps even in the case of Germany as well. But certainly not in the case of the United States. Nor indeed Canada, or Australia. Not even in the case of tiny Israel.

So we must look to the source whence these words come. Egeland is employed by the UN, that great humanitarian organization that brought us Rwanda, Kosovo, Darfur, and many stops in between. The man is an ass representing a stable full of asses.

And while on the subject of asses, the Vatican Newspaper was moved to find fault with the Israelis for not sending aid to Sri Lanka. Again, we must look to the source, because the entire article was bereft of truth. The Israelis offered an emergency response team of 150 persons, which Sri Lanka promptly refused. Nonetheless Israel shipped them 80 tons of food, water, medicine and clothing, with more on the way.

As to the response team. Thailand indicated they would welcome them, and that is where it is now. I await the Vatican's correction and/or apology. I will peruse the Italian press diligently, but probably in vain.

As I am writing this I see where a private welfare organization in Canada has already raised triple the entire French pledge, and we are only in the first day of collection.

But wait. How foolish of me not to understand. The UN clearly wishes to have vast amounts of money channeled through them so that we can have the south-east Asia version of "food for oil". I guess we can call it "suffering for food": the Asians suffer and the UN bureaucracy has lots of food for their personal banquet tables.

Does anyone know the Norwegian word for chutzpah?