Email from Spiritofamerica.net below -- I knew those Wall Street Journal types would make short order of a measly $100K:
Here are the results. Overwhelming. Incredible. In the last five days we have received $764,408 from 4,088 donors. Most of these funds are earmarked for the request made by the Marines for equipment needed to establish Iraqi-owned television stations in Al Anbar Province Iraq (described here: www.spiritofamerica.net/req_12/request.html). Our initial goal for this request was $100,000. The Marines are as stunned as I am. I'll remove the expletives of joyful surprise and forward some of their comments to you next week. They are also developing ideas for the expansion of this initiative. More on that soon.
UPDATE: The WSJ Ed Page takes a victory lap:
As to the project exceeding its funding goals, Mr. Hake says this ensures that the rebuilding and upgrading of community TV stations in Iraq can be extended. He has no intention of letting Spirit of America become "big and stupid." Any additional funds will be used as in all the group's projects up to now -- to respond to requests initiated by U.S. troops in Iraq or Afghanistan for help with small, nonmilitary, civil reconstruction projects.Posted by jk at April 21, 2004 08:25 AM
Bravo! Winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqis will do more to keep our troops safe than body armor. This is how to show them the good side of American capatilism and show them that we are as good at building as we are at destroying.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at April 21, 2004 09:28 AMSilence, I believe we've already SHOWN them how good we are at building, since their electrical, water, oil, and school infrastructures are in far better shape one year after the bombing started than they ever were under SADDam. This is one of the reasons why a huge majority of Iraqis, while disliking our "occupation" of their country, don't want us to leave, at least not yet. (Another reason is that liberty is contagious.) The fact that bomb blasts and hostage video make more compelling news stories than normal, peaceful everyday life magnifies the appearance of the few hundred Timothy McVeighs running around blowing people up.
Posted by: johngalt at April 21, 2004 11:20 AMAgreed, but it doesn't hurt to keep working at it. The "yeah, but what have you done for me lately" syndrome I am afraid lives everywhere.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at April 22, 2004 08:17 AMAnd I think the key word is "show." These folks see nothing but US atrocities on Al-Jazeera, now they can see the other side.
Posted by: jk at April 22, 2004 08:54 AM