1 If you count what it costs to build, maintain and mobilize the Pacific Command, A Carrier Battle Group, 17 C-130's, a dozen C-17's and C-141's and scores of H-60 helicopters, it surpassed the gross national product of the Netherlands. That stuff ain't free. It comes out of our pocket. If other countries don't want to count it in the total, I think they should reimburse us.

2 I know, I know: the idea of not counting the military component of our aid is absurd, when the military is the backbone of this effort. I guess I'm just trying to get everyone to relax and ease up a little. There are those who won't give us credit for our leadership role in this disaster, no matter what. And for others--including, I believe, the victims--it's perfectly obvious that we and the Aussies are leading this and committing tremendous resources to it. I guess I just mean that there are different ways of counting the way a nation gives to "charity." My favorite is that lately 1) it only counts if it goes through a nation's government, rather than from its people, and 2) it only counts if it goes overseas, rather than going to the needy within one's own borders. There's no need for a pissing contest, because no one else is in the position to do what we can--not even close.