[Hoot Gibson]

In general, I do not believe that the U.S. government should provide any relief for natural disasters, either to Americans or to foreign governments.

However, I don't object as strongly to providing disaster relief to the Phillipines as most other foreign governments because it is still on our shrinking list of allies in an area where China is actively working to expand its influence.

I just hope that the aid goes to the Phillipine government and not to the Islamist rebels. With the Obama administration, these questions must be asked in advance because they never get around to answering questions after they destroy foreign alliances.