Powell tours South Asia, touts benefits of U.S. aid

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that U.S. aid to the Indian Ocean region and other foreign-assistance programs can help turn the developing world away from terrorism and thus strengthen U.S. security.

After a day of touring tsunami-battered Thailand with Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Powell said officials think humanitarian aid is "in the best interest of those countries, and it's in our best interest, and it dries up those pools of dissatisfaction that might give rise to terrorist activity."

Powell said that, although the United States doesn't care about the religion of aid recipients, its $350 million for the victims of last week's earthquake and tsunami "does give the Muslim world and the rest of the world an opportunity to see American generosity, American values in action."

Powell's comments, among his most candid on the connection between overseas aid and U.S. security, were made as he and President Bush's brother began a four-day trip aimed at demonstrating U.S. concern for victims of the disaster.

The officials toured relief facilities in Phuket, a popular tourist destination on Thailand's southwestern coast where more than 5,000 people are believed to have died.

The U.S. officials told Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai that they would provide technical help for building a tsunami-warning system and advice on repairing environmental damage.

"One thing the Thai people can be sure of is that they have a friend in the U.S.," Powell said during an appearance before a small crowd at the Phuket regional government offices.

Later, Powell and Bush flew to Jakarta to meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda and prepare for a trip today to Aceh on Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Powell and Bush also toured two huge hangars at the Bangkok, Thailand, airport where U.S. and Thai officials have been accumulating bottled water, packaged food and other supplies to be sent to coastal areas. Rudimentary coffins were piled nearby.

After the diplomat and the governor visit Aceh today, Powell will return to Jakarta for an international donors conference and Bush will fly to Washington to celebrate his parents' 60th wedding anniversary.

On Friday, Powell will fly to Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, to discuss conditions in that nation.

Aid to survivors poured into the region in fits and starts yesterday, hampered by such things as torrential rains in Sri Lanka and a pair of water buffalo on the airport runway in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

While international teams cleared the dead cows and damaged aircraft from the runway, the U.S. Navy stepped up helicopter sorties, ferrying supplies to devastated coastal villages.

"We are making extraordinary progress in reaching the majority of the people affected in the majority of the areas," said U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland in New York. "We are also experiencing extraordinary obstacles in many, many areas."

To help overcome problems, the Pentagon announced plans yesterday to double the number of helicopters deployed in the region, where 45 U.S. choppers already are ferrying supplies and relief workers.

By most accounts, the relief effort in Indonesia has made major strides. More than 50 tons of food have been distributed in the country, government and agency leaders said.