President Obama has reportedly asked former President George W. Bush to join former President Bill Clinton's relief efforts on behalf of the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake earlier this week.
From AFP
Former US president George W. Bush will join former president Bill Clinton to help lead the US relief effort in response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti, an official close to Bush said Thursday.
Bush, President Barack Obama's predecessor, "will join president Clinton in helping with disaster relief" after the catastrophe, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The official announcement was expected to come from the White House.
And confirmed by Politico:
President Obama asked former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to team up to lead the U.S. relief efforts in Haiti.
Obama called Bush Wednesday night to ask if he would join with Clinton, sources said, and the White House could announce the arrangement as early as Friday.
Clinton, who is the United Nations special envoy to Haiti, similarly partnered with Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami
I think it is a good decision on the part of President Obama, as long as the parameters of Bush's involvement are crystal clear.
Now that the steam has stopped blowing out of my ears about President Obama asking George W. Bush to join the Haiti effort, I have the following thoughts:
- President Obama and Bill Clinton better NOT let that man make one logistical decision about the actual relief effort.
- Bush should be confined strictlyto raising money.
- As pathetic as it is to have to admit that this is even a consideration during a crisis of this scale, having W involved (on money only!!!!) makes it less likely that valuable energy and cooperation will be wasted on partisan bickering that has already raised its ugly head yesterday.
- Maybe W may finally experience the necessary and long overdue remorse he never did for his utter incompetence in handling Katrina when he sees how things can and SHOULD work.
- No matter what he does, Bush can't change the past or rewrite history, so there's no need to let a perceived chance at redemption get in the way of helping people in dire straits. We will always remember the disaster of the Katrina relief effort under Bush's watch. Period.
So any incremental increase in resources that Bush can bring to a desperate situation by mobilizing for FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ONLY does not offend my sensibilities nearly as much as the thought of more innocents suffering without the financial resources he could generate.
We can all help the people of Haiti by donating needed money to any of the following organizations and many more reputable NGOs with long-standing experience/expertise in Haiti that are already working tirelessly to bring relief and comfort to millions under very difficult circumstances:
American Red Cross
UNICEF
Doctors Without Borders
Yele Haiti - Wyclef Jean, Founder
AmeriCares
Catholic Relief Services
American Friends Service Committee
Helping Haiti
***Update***
In case anyone is wondering my motivation in writing this diary, it's basically to walk through my own personal struggle in coming to the conclusion that difficult times like these require an "all hands on deck" approach to easing the suffering around us. In my opinion, this requires the acceptance of all valuable contributions* of those willing to pitch in.
* - accordingly to the contributor's
SPECIFIC ABILITY AND PROVEN STRENGTHS, if known.
***Update 2***
The White House confirms President Obama's request to former President Bush that he join former President Bill Clinton in the relief effort on behalf of the Haitian people:
Gibbs says Obama spoke with former President George W. Bush on Wednesday evening "and asked if he would take part in an effort similar to the good idea that he had around what has happened in Haiti," referring to how Bush asked his father and former President Clinton for help after the tsunami. He says Bush and Clinton have agreed to take part.
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