The president said the dramatic increase in assistance, which eclipsed a $250 million aid pledge from the World Bank (news - web sites), was based on initial the findings of U.S. assessment teams in hard-hit areas of southeastern and central Asia, and on a recommendation from senior officials including Powell.

This is what we call a “pimp”. Some UN cronie and the NYT says we are stingy, so how do we respond… we out respond the UN. We show to the world how inept the UN is, how stingy the UN is, and we solve the problems ourselves.

This is motivation for reform… reform or someone else will just do the job instead.