Virtue is as virtue does

The other day, noting the disaster that hurricane Jeanne had inflicted on Haiti, I said

we can find seemingly unlimited funds for war ... but when it comes to undoing pain rather than causing it, we suddenly find virtue in frugality....

Apparently, I underestimated our devotion to virtue.

On September 21, 2004, US Ambassador James Foley issued a disaster declaration due to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne. In response, USAID [US Agency for International Development] is providing $50,000 to CARE to distribute hygiene kits, cooking sets, blankets, water containers and other relief supplies to those most affected by the floods. USAID has dispatched a two-person team from the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance to help coordinate the United States relief efforts with local disaster officials. USAID has also secured an aircraft through Air Serv International to provide aerial assessments and transport of personnel and relief supplies.

The most effective way to help is to make cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations.

That official statement, posted on USAID's website (and quoted at the World Socialist Web Site), offered a total aid package of $60,000. Yes, that's the right figure.

At the same time, the European Union pledged $1.8 million and Venezuela came up with $1 million. The WSWS notes tartly that in comparison to these others, the US package

would barely count as a mid-sized corporate contribution to the Bush-Cheney campaign fund.

Two days later, USAID announced it would provide $2 million in aid beyond the $60,000 "that some criticized for its paucity," as AP put it.

Indeed.