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The Math of the Aftermath

Comedian Chevy Chase, when he anchored thethan eight miles of tunneling.It's been
first Saturday Night Live faux-news desk, hadreported that the federal commitment to this
a running joke that satirized, post-mortem,task has already exceeded $62 billion. One
the endless medical updates provided by thethird of that amount has already been
public relations machine of a dying dictatordeployed and it can fairly be said that its
..."Here's a bulletin from Spain: Doctors areeffects are hardly noticed. This total will
reporting that Generalissimo Francisco Francobe added to the federal deficit, of course,
is holding fast in his valiant fight toright along with the billions being spent to
remain dead!"The point, of course, was thatdo whatever it is they currently say they're
neither the Spanish public nor the globaldoing in Iraq. If the current administration
public at the time was ever fooled by theholds fast to its pledge against raising
propaganda of Franco's terminal conditiontaxes, the implication is that a host of cuts
during his last days. The tweak also carriedin other programs are inevitable.Thus,
undertones that no government could overcomeAmericans won't have to be located along the
the forces of nature, no matter what itGulf Coast to somehow share in its
announced.That brings us to the wake ofdevastation. Among other things, some
Hurricane Katrina.Anyone who has been to theinterest groups are now taking a close look
Gulf Coast says that the media images of theat how funds are being utilized and
devastation there --- no matter how hard theyallocated. Allegations of misappropriations
try --- just cannot convey the scope of theand the like are sure to follow.Contrast this
disaster. Vast segments of the region havestate of affairs with the recent earthquake
literally been blown back a couple ofin Pakistan. The magnitude of that disaster
centuries, to a time when electricity,was similarly breathtaking. If you missed it,
telephones, running water and the like werethe Richter scale measured the quake at 7.8
either a luxury or a futuristic concept.and an estimated 87,000 people were killed.
Usual conveniences such as food shopping areTheir government already depends upon the USA
still a major challenge to many. Some jobsfor much of its additional aid. It may be a
may have left with Katrina; like her, theywhile before they see anything significant to
may never return.This doesn't look like it'sassist in this natural tragedy.One city there
going to get much better anytime soon,will have additional help. It's coming in the
either.I thought of this while taking aform of lottery winnings. A gentleman named
second look at the pages on the Longer LifeIshan Khan hit it big while working in the
site, all of which include the American RedUSA as a taxi driver. He nailed a $55 million
Cross public service ad which appeals forjackpot and took his winnings up front,
donations to their hurricane relief fund. Thenetting over $32 million. Mr Khan moved back
appeals are just as urgent and relevant todayto his homeland, where that amount of money
as they were when they were first posted. Ican spend like $1 billion and where he
sometimes wonder, though, if those who viewinstantly became one of Pakistan's most
them don't get so accustomed to theirwealthy private individuals.It's obvious to
presence that they ultimately look past them.Mr Khan that private assistance is necessary
I know the plan at the Longer Life site is tofor relief efforts there to have any
keep them in place until all needs are met,immediacy. His village, Batagram, lost 4500
which in my opinion, means the Red Cross willcitizens in the 8 Oct quake and surely, a
be a fixture on their pages for a long timegood number of those were known to him.
to come.The American government recentlyHere's the Associated Press account of his
released over 100,000 pages of documentsresponse to date:"Just days before the
which dealt with their handling of theearthquake, Khan was elected district nazim,
crisis. It's notable in the impression thator mayor, of Batagram. After the quake hit,
they didn't give the matter much morehe helped pull survivors from the rubble, and
attention than they would have if thepaid to get the most seriously injured to
affected area was a third-world country.regional hospitals. He told pharmacists he
Having said that, the sheer volume of fundswould pay them later for dispensing all the
required to repair and rebuild ismedicine on their shelves. The bill came to
staggering.For example, it's been cited in10 million rupees, almost $200,000."Khan has
the Los Angeles Times that the costliestbankrolled a program to supply roofing
public works project to date was the shift ofmaterials to rebuild shattered homes. He
freeways in Boston to an underground route.bought 150 tents, some of which occupy land
The price tag was $14.6 billion, the timejust outside his mansion with panoramic views
factor was 14 years and the object of theof snowcapped peaks."Most important, Khan has
exercise was to move just under eight milesemerged as a colorful and outspoken critic of
of roadway into a tunnel.The Gulf Coastlocal government corruption.
reclamation is going to involve much more



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