WP: Bush Has Quietly Tripled Aid to Africa

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush Has Quietly Tripled Aid to Africa
Increase in Funding to Impoverished Continent Is Viewed as Altruistic or Pragmatic
By Michael A. Fletcher
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 31, 2006; Page A04

President Bush's legacy is sure to be defined by his wielding of U.S. military power in Afghanistan and Iraq, but there is another, much softer and less-noticed effort by his administration in foreign affairs: a dramatic increase in U.S. aid to Africa.

The president has tripled direct humanitarian and development aid to the world's most impoverished continent since taking office and recently vowed to double that increased amount by 2010 -- to nearly $9 billion.

The moves have surprised -- and pleased -- longtime supporters of assistance for Africa, who note that because Bush has received little support from African American voters, he has little obvious political incentive for his interest.

"I think the Bush administration deserves pretty high marks in terms of increasing aid to Africa," said Steve Radelet, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development.

Bush has increased direct development and humanitarian aid to Africa to more than $4 billion a year from $1.4 billion in 2001, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And four African nations -- Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt and Uganda -- rank among the world's top 10 recipients in aid from the United States....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123000941.html?nav=most_emailed

[onehandle]

1. Trillions of dollars of damage to the world.

Death to millions by adding to long term environmental disasters.

And this little bit is supposed to save his legacy?

Give me a break.

[earlybelle]

20. Look closely at where the money is going. Look very closely.!

Most people don't even consider Egypt as part of Africa. Sub-Saharan countries...what about them?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

22. Exactly. This wouldn't be done without ulterior motive -nt

[tblue]

2. The only thing he's done right, it appears. But why am I so sceptical of his motives?

And are these loans? And for what in return?

Is he even aware that he's done it? I could imagine him signing papers without even knowing what he's signed.

[depakid]

6. But why am I so sceptical of his motives? Perhaps because

the story is in the Washington Post?

[Ghost Dog]

14. And see eg. "China Colonizing Africa?"

(WAPO blog, Dec 29) http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/needtoknow/2006/12/china_colonizing_africa.html

William Gumede - Is China becoming Africa's new colonizer? In what is reminiscent of a new scramble for Africa, China has rushed to plant its flag on the continent, offering soft credit, bricks and mortar investment and promising non-interference in local politics. China's political clout in Africa has never been greater.

But is this all too good to be true? In November, China hosted an Africa summit in Beijing attended by 50 African leaders, the biggest showcase of China's new foreign policy shift towards the developing world, to expand its political reach and to secure raw materials to feed its rapidly growing economy. Beijing offered Africa US$3bn in preferential loans and US$2bn in export credits over the next three years. China envisaged annual trade with Africa to reach $100bn by 2010. Whereas Western nations such as the US, France and UK have year-on-year slashed development aid, China promised to double aid by 2009. Most of the Chinese aid to Africa is tied to business deals. Nevertheless, China has offered aid without insisting on onerous conditions as Western donors do. This is sweet music to African nations, who for long now have protested the hypocritical insistence by Western countries that they must open their markets, while they (Western nations) heavily subsidize their own agriculture sectors and maintain prohibitively high tariff barriers. As a case in point, China early this year granted Nigeria a $2.5bn loan soft loan and the Angolan government $9bn.But China has offered many African despots, such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe a lifeline. China has major investments in Sudan's oil-fields and fiercely supports the Sudanese regime which is responsible for an internal conflict that has seen millions perished and displaced. China worked effortlessly to water-down a United Nations resolution condemning the Sudan for the bloodshed in Darfur.

/...

[wordpix]

23. more bleeding of the planet by this Chinese regime. Plunder is their name

However, we can't blame the people of China, only the leaders. I don't think the people get much say unless they're in league with the regime.

[Trajan]

28. SO there is a new boss in town ....

Funny how the big circle keeps a turning ....

Imperialists come and Imperialists go .... but the Imperialism keeps chugging along no matter what ....

[tblue]

27. Good point. Very good point. It sounds like PR, whether it's screamed across the MSM or 'subtly'

mentioned as an underrepoted story in one of *'s staunch defenders.

[Donnachaidh]

18. my first thought was - is there any American contractors involved?

After all, Bush doesn't release money unless there is a contractor or two involved.

[librechik]

3. Quietly--cuz all the racist Holy-Roller Grinches in his party will scream

when they find out Bushie has been tossing billions to gay black fornicators . And their furriners too!

[Judi Lynn]

13. My thoughts, also. His "base" just wouldn't like it one little bit.

He's nothing, if not sneaky.

[xxqqqzme]

4. doesn't matter how much money he throws

at Africa - it is not done w/ good intentions. Most of that 'aid' has strings attached - like no condoms allowed - no pregnancy terminations - abstinence only education.

You're still going to hell george!

[wordpix]

24. "no condoms allowed - no pregnancy terminations - abstinence only education".

You can be sure Dumbya is wasting away our tax dollars and formerly respected name. :grr:

[dave_p]

5. What's the quid pro quo?

Less government, more open capital and utilities markets, more promotion of abstinence over contraception, more stipulations that countries must align themselves with US foreign policy... this isn't aid, it's a purchase, and it's cheap at the price. Poverty makes for a buyer's market, and that's not about to change any time soon.

[Drum]

7. see also: Christian missionaries. nt

[jwirr]

9. Drug Companies new testing grounds. See the Constant Gardener.

[Drum]

11. 'zactly. nt

[maddezmom]

8. from 12/25: Poor records plague Bush AIDS effort..smoke and mirrors?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2664905

[54anickel]

19. They lied about it in '05 - Bush Exaggerates Increase in U.S. Aid to Africa

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0628-06.htm

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush has been significantly exaggerating the amount of money his administration has provided in aid to sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new study released here Monday.

Instead of a tripling of U.S. aid to Africa between 2000 and 2005, as Bush has frequently insisted, Washington has increased aid by only 56 percent in real terms, according to the report by the Brookings Institution.

The report, entitled ”U.S. Foreign Assistance to Africa: Claims and Reality”, is almost certain to increase pressure on Bush to announce a major new initiative to bolster development in the world's poorest continent in the run-up to the Group of Eight (G8) summit meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, to be hosted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair Jul. 6-8.

The pressure on Bush to be more forthcoming toward Africa has grown steadily despite his agreement to join a debt cancellation plan with other G8 nations that should benefit about a dozen of Africa's poorest nations.

The G8 represents the world's most industrialized nations: the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

During his visit here earlier this month, Blair stressed that increased aid and other support for Africa will be among the top agenda items at Gleneagles. Along with the United Nations and the World Bank, he has called on industrialized countries to double aid to Africa over the next few years as part of a series of measures, including debt relief, to substantially reduce poverty and sustain economic growth in the region.

After Blair's visit, the leaders of several African nations who had been invited to the White House publicly criticized the administration for not disbursing aid from Bush's new Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) more quickly to needy nations.

more...


and don't even get me started on that Millennium Challenge Account - it's like a money laundering scheme or something. Here's one recent article -

ICF International (ICFI) Awarded $3.2 Million Award From Millennium Challenge Corporation
http://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/ICF+International+(ICFI)+Awarded+$3.2+Million+Award+From+Millennium+Challenge+Corporation/1402095.html

ICF International (Nasdaq: ICFI) has received its second task order, valued at US$3.2 million under ICF's five-year, multiple award, indefinite quantity contract for Project Development and Management Services, and Environmental and Engineering Consulting from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. government-owned corporation responsible for the stewardship of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

ICF was formerly awarded its first task order, valued at US$897,345 on September 28, 2006. Under the first task order, the ICF team is assisting MCC in overseeing the implementation of a US$40 million north-south gas pipeline rehabilitation project in the Republic of Georgia.


As for the ones doin' the braggin' here, the Center for Global Development founded in November of 2001 - I'm not sure I trust that band of high-rollers either.

[VegasWolf]

10. It's true. I've been readin the quarterly report of Halliburton Africa, Inc. They are rolling

in money!!

[babylonsister]

12. When has he ever done anything out of the kindness of his heart? nt

[MasonJar]

15. Double by 2010? Thank God, he'll be gone by then. Does that

mean 4 1/2 billion now or 1 1/2 weeks killing Iraqis and US soldiers? And over what period are they receiving the 4 billion, one year or five?

[shireen]

16. it's probably blackmail ...

I have a feeling Bushie got a call from Colin who threatened to spill dirty secrets unless W increased aid to Africa. One of Powell's biggest concerns was the plight of people in Africa, and he had hoped to make it a major issue as Sec. of State. Instead, he got dragged through the mud to Iraq.

[Rex]

17. Pathetic, we piss 2 billion away to China everyday.

We spend 500+ billion on our military every year. Africa suffers from having the shortest lifespans on the planet. We should be spending ten times that amount on helping Africa. Before it is too late.

[daleo]

21. I wonder how much of this is disguised military aid?

"Direct development and humanitarian aid" could be a pretty elastic term.

[superconnected]

25. The last generous donation a bush made was his mother barbara's to

katrina victims. She specified it go to buying software from her sons software company only.

Don't trust this one. They have never shown capacity for empathy before, why would they come up with it now?

[aquart]

26. Africa is a continent. Whose bank account got the cash?

[leesa]

29. We need to see those Cheney Energy Papers NOW.

You know Bush, this has nothing to do with anything noble or honest.

[Canuckistanian]

30. (sniff) He cares!

What a humanitarian! All is forgiven. :sarcasm: