The disparities with Central America are stark,

American-based NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] have not had access to Iraq until recently, and there is now a fast-track process under way,

I think because there are real Indian and Pakistani constituencies in the United States , we'll wind up with money for earthquake relief that may be somewhat above the norm for these kinds of forgotten disasters. I think donors still have some spare change in their pockets.

I think it's terribly important that a moderate group of business leaders has come out in favor of fixing what clearly is broken, namely our system of financing congressional campaigns.

The result is that we are less prepared than we would like to be for what could be a very serious humanitarian emergency.

"The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.... It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn." --George Washington