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Skriven 2005-01-01 23:33:54 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050101) for Sat, 2005 Jan 1
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
January 1, 2005

President's Radio Address


˙˙˙˙˙Audio


THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On this first day of a new year, we join the
world in feeling enormous sadness over a great human tragedy. Last Sunday,
an earthquake and violent tsunamis struck the nations that surround the
Indian Ocean. The carnage is of a scale that defies comprehension, with
over 100,000 deaths reported. I have signed a proclamation calling for our
nation's flag to be flown at half-staff this coming week. As the people of
this devastated region struggle to recover, we offer our love and
compassion, and our assurance that America will be there to help.

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Earlier this week, I spoke with the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand
and Indonesia. I offered them the condolences of our nation and I praised
their steadfast leadership. The task they face is difficult. Their relief
resources are stretched nearly to the limit. Communications, roads and
medical facilities have been badly damaged; disease has become a very real
threat.

Americans are a compassionate people and we are already hard at work
helping those nations meet these challenges. The United States has pledged
$350 million in relief assistance, with $15 million already in the hands of
relief organizations in the affected countries. To help coordinate this
massive relief effort, disaster response officials are on the ground and
have established a support center in Thailand that is manned and
operational; more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft have been made
available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies -- many of
those aircraft are already on the scene. We have dispatched the aircraft
carrier, Abraham Lincoln, the Maritime pre-positioning squadron from Guam,
and an amphibious ship carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit -- they will
soon be in position to support relief efforts, to include the generation of
clean water.

Tomorrow, I will send a delegation to the area to meet with regional
leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid can
be provided by the United States. The delegation will be led by Secretary
of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush, who has extensive experience
in the state of Florida with relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction
efforts following natural disasters. Secretary Powell has already spoken
with many of his counterparts in the region, and with officials from the
United Nations, and other governments that are helping with the response.
Together, we are leading an international coalition to help with immediate
humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and long-term construction efforts.
India, Japan and Australia have already pledged to help us coordinate these
relief efforts, and I'm confident many more nations will join this core
group in short order.

Here at home, Americans are translating the blessings of our own country
into generosity to others. From charitable organizations to private
individuals to companies, our fellow citizens, on their own initiative, are
raising millions of dollars for relief efforts. These Americans, donor and
fundraiser alike, represent the best of our country and offer an example to
the world. Any American who desires to donate to these efforts can easily
do so online, by accessing the USA FreedomCorps web site at
www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

In this season when we gather with loved ones and count our many blessings,
we hold the victims of this terrible tragedy in our hearts and prayers. And
let us be mindful that even in this modern age, our world still requires
compassion, tolerance and generosity from each of us.

Laura and I send our condolences to all whose hearts are filled with grief
this New Year's Day; and to our fellow Americans, we wish you peace and
happiness in the coming year.

Thank you for listening.
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