Because of the tsunami disaster, governments, corporations and ordinary citizens the world over have pledged US$2 billion in a single week. However, the American taxpayer shells out US$3 billion every month in order to sort out the mess in Iraq.

More than 150,000 people have died because of the earthquake off Sumatra on Dec 26 and the resulting tsunamis. But 10 years ago, when almost a million Rwandans died in a civil genocide, hardly anyone outside Africa paid any notice.

The US has pledged US$350 million to help the tsunami victims. Contrast this with say, Norway, which has pledged US$180 million. Note that the US has a population of 250 million people whereas Norway has only four million citizens.