Press Releases

The U.S. and the Asia Tsunami  

January 4, 2005

Ankara, January 4, 2005. Several Turkish newspapers – most notably “Star,” “Yeni Safak,” and “Sabah” -- have run irresponsible stories and columns in recent days that make outrageous and completely fictitious claims about the United States related to the tragic December 26 earthquake and tsunamis in Asia.

Most incredibly, several papers have published claims that the United States somehow “caused” the massive earthquake through “underground nuclear testing.” This claim is steeped in ignorance and stems from a desperate attempt by some to hold the United States responsible for a natural phenomenon that has occurred frequently throughout human history. No serious newspaper would print such obvious nonsense.

Other writers have claimed that US authorities deliberately failed to warn countries in the region about possible tsunamis after the earthquake occurred, suggesting that the US was not interested in saving lives, particularly in countries with large Muslim populations. This claim is both inaccurate and offensive. In fact, within 15 minutes of the December 26 earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii sent an alert to 26 countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, regarding the earthquake and possible tsunamis. Countries that did not receive the alert – India and Sri Lanka, for example – are not members of the International Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific, an organization administered by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission. Unfortunately, there is no early warning system in place for tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the seismic data gathered by scientists in Hawaii and other places around the world, including Australia, could not be transmitted in time to alert many people affected by the earthquake. As Secretary Powell has said, “the countries of that region must take another look at whether they should be investing in the kinds of systems that will sense this kind of earthquake and can predict the kind of results that might happen…such as a tsunami.” The Secretary reiterated that US commitment to “work with the international scientific community to see what more has to be done.”

Some writers have suggested that the United States was more concerned with protecting the naval support facility on the island of Diego Garcia than with preventing civilian casualties in other areas. Once again, this information is simply wrong. It is true that, as part of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet command structure, the facility routinely receives warnings issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. However, the fact that Diego Garcia was spared more severe damage in the tsunami is related to geography rather than to prior notification. Diego Garcia is located on the Western edge of the Chagos trench, an underwater canyon that forms one of the deepest regions in the Indian Ocean. The depth of the trench does not allow for tsunamis to build before passing the island. As a result, the December 26 tsunami wave on Diego Garcia was less than 2 meters and therefore caused relatively minor damage.

Finally, some in the media have suggested that the United States has been less than forthcoming in emergency relief efforts to the affected countries. One writer even claimed that US naval fleets were moving toward Indonesia not to provide relief, but to establish a military base. This despite footage on all television networks of US helicopters operating from aircraft carriers bringing relief to the most desperate and isolated areas of Aceh Province. US helicopter crews continue to rescue stranded survivors from coastal villages and drop food and drinking waters to communities in need. During the first week after the disaster, US Air Force planes delivered 195,045 kilos of relief supplies. The United States Government has pledged $350 million in relief assistance, and a team led by Secretary Powell is visiting the region to assess further assistance needs. President Bush has also appointed two former US Presidents to coordinate additional fund-raising efforts in the United States. The US is a leader of the international relief effort in Asia and is committed to continuing its assistance efforts over the longer term.