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| Bush won't endorse Blair's plan for aid | ||
| 2005-06-03 | ||
| George Bush has dug in his heels ahead of Tony Blair's visit to Washington on Monday, when the prime minister will attempt to convince the US to accept a new action plan on Africa that would require a doubling of American aid. Speaking to reporters at a meeting with the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, Mr Bush made it clear he would not drop his opposition to a British plan to create an International Financing Facility (IFF) for Africa to mobilise more foreign aid. "We have made our position pretty clear on that, that it doesn't fit our budgetary process," Mr Bush said, referring to limitations on Congress entering into long-term financial commitments. US officials have rejected British attempts to convince them to make an exception for African aid. The president also signalled on Wednesday that he believed the leadership of the G8 group of industrialised countries was already moving in the right direction on African aid, and the policy did not need overhauling at July's Gleneagles summit. Both the US and Britain agree there should be some relief of Africa's World Bank debts, but differ on how it should be financed. Gordon Brown and Mr Blair argue that rich countries should pick up the debt servicing bill. The Bush administration wants the cost to be taken out of direct aid budgets, with the consequence that recipient states do not receive any more funds.
Aid experts suggest there may be room for compromise when Mr Blair arrives in Washington to drum up support for implementing the findings of his Commission for Africa report. But there are profound differences between London and Washington. John Williamson, an aid expert at the Institute for International Economics said: "It was a wild hope that the Bush people would get enthusiastic about that. In a sense, Europe is a more hopeful route." Unlike Mr Blair, the Bush administration does not believe increasing aid budgets will do any good without fundamental political reform and the eradication of corruption.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 Diversionary, indeed. Kofi's next scam is the renovation of the UN building in Turtle Bay. He wants $1.2B for a job that NY real estate experts say could not possibly cost more than $500M, absolute max. Also asked Congress for an interest free loan on this scam project. Unbelievable. Here's Hinderaker/Hindrocket with the goods: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/621yvchq.asp |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-06-03 12:24 |
| #8 You're right, big jim. This falls right in line with Coffee's announcement of the accelerating rate of AIDS in Africa and how we should do more (read: send more $) to slow down/stop the spread of AIDS. Until those corrupt tribal leaders are thrown out, none of that money will get to where it really needs to go. I guess $15 billion (just for AIDS) wasn't enough? I'm sick and freakin' tired of being the world's feeding trough and then getting stabbed in the back by the money we sent 'em! |
| Posted by: BA 2005-06-03 08:25 |
| #7 Apparently they aren't aware of current trends in welfare in the U.S., i.e. "get a job!". |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-06-03 08:25 |
| #6 I'm sorry, I can't quit bitching about this. I'm glad you guys are here to take it or I'd be divorced. That arrogant ass, why doesnt Britain double it's contribution? I think you are right Tony, you should go to europe to look for the money. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-03 08:05 |
| #5 the prime minister will attempt to convince the US to accept a new action plan on Africa that would require a doubling of American aid. Is it just me, or can you see a problem with this pitch before it even gets off the ground? What the hell is he talking about? A plan that requires us to double our aid. Great idea Tony, is that the best idea you came up with, or just the first? Why doesnt he go hit the saudis up for some dough, they have it on em. Even after they fully fund Hamas for the year. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-03 07:59 |
| #4 Hey, it's our money. Of course they're in a hurry to spend it. How about this idea: how about channelling money from kleptocratic Africans' Swiss bank accounts into local aid? What a concept. |
| Posted by: someone 2005-06-03 02:21 |
| #3 ..a new action plan on Africa that would require a doubling of American aid. Yeah, throwing more money at the problem will surely solve it.... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-03 01:26 |
| #2 Note the fair and accurate final sentence from the Guardian. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-06-03 00:29 |
| #1 I love how Euro politicians are so free with their citizens' money. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-06-03 00:12 |