BushCo Throws His Poodle a Bone
Nobody’s posted about the big Blair-Brokered BushCo Benevolence story from yesterday yet so I’m going to cross-post this:
The extravagently Christian leader of the richest country in world is on the verge of considering how to move aid to Africa around so that it looks like he’s the most generous Dear Leader in the world. Tony Blair was reported to be faint with relief. From the Scotsman:
Speaking as he went into talks, Mr Blair said discussions between
British and American officials over African aid had uncovered a
surprisingly large amount of common ground. "We are a significant way
towards a deal, and I’m increasingly hopeful we will get it," he said.
Aides insisted there would be no prospect of American approval for the
so-called International Finance Facility.But instead, the White House said it was open to a £370 million
joint British-American deal to help Ethiopia, Eritrea and other African
nations threatened by famine.However, the deal was given a cold reception by Oxfam, who suggested
there was no new money announced. "Africa doesn’t need yet more warm
words followed by empty gestures," said a spokesman.
Oh, well that’s going to be a problem because that’s BushCo’s favorite tune.
"While the world asks for aid to be doubled, all the US seems
willing to do is shunt around existing funds. It appears they are more
concerned about securing headlines than securing lasting change in
Africa."
Hey, whoa, Oxfam. That’s not fair. BushCo is also concerned about torpedoing other headlines. It’s all a beautiful tapestry.
The BBC let us in on the mood of the announcement:
There was less progress on direct aid.
The PM wants international aid for Africa to be doubled to $25bn (£13.5bn).
All the president could stump up was a paltry $600m
(£327m) for emergency famine relief in Ethiopia and Eritrea - welcome
perhaps, but a drop in the ocean long-term.A key sticking point is that the Americans believe less debt should, in the long run, mean less aid. President Bush was also keen to point out, several times
no less, that he had tripled aid to Africa - the clear impression being
that he was clearly not going to take a lesson from the rest of the
world about generosity of spirit.
Hell, no. BushCo could give lectures on generosity of spirit. And, as Blair found out, on good governance:
And on top of that, the prime minister had to endure a
lecture from the president over the need to link aid to better
governance in Africa.
"Nobody wants to give money to a country that’s
corrupt," the president said, "where leaders take money and put it in
their pockets."
Abso-fucking-lutely not. That would be wrong. And it shouldn’t be encouraged. Definitely not encouraged. Otherwise those people will never learn.
June 8th, 2005 at 6:42 am
“Nobody wants to give money to a country that’s
corrupt,” the president said, “where leaders take money and put it in
their pockets.”
Oh …. my …. gawd ….
June 8th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
I used to be grateful to be an American.
June 11th, 2005 at 1:13 pm
RE: gwb: “Nobody wants to give money to a country that is corrupt………..”
Before he starts playing shell games with the money being earmarked for Aids, I would like to know what he (gw) has done about locating the $8.9 billion that has been “lost” according to a recent audit of the provisional government of Iraq, set up by the U.S. Where did that money go and what is the current status of locating those funds?
I’m astounded that the press has not jumped on this story, which is now some nine months old. On the other hand why should I be surprised. Especially when you have a corrupt government in Washington that views the media as little more that an extension of the government’s war policy.
June 11th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
Thanks for the post. 30,000 children die every day in Africa from poverty-related issues. If this were happening on any other continent, the call for help would be deafening. The blogosphere is strangly silent on the matter, so crank up the volume, what you are saying needs to be heard!