Bush’s “Stinginess” on African Aid Revealed
Bush’s “Stinginess” on African Aid Revealed
Last week in a White House press briefing, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley was asked just how much of the aid package President Bush was committing as “new” money to Africa was in fact “new.” Hadley did the typical White House spin job:
U.S. bilateral assistance and assistance through multinational institutions that end up — that goes to Africa is about $4.3 billion. And the President’s programs — both a continuation and an expansion of some of those programs, that he’s announced in the past in this increased commitment to Africa, and the three additional programs that he talked about today, which will result in additional funds — should bring the United States in 2010 to in excess of $8.6 billion, which would be a doubling, or doubling-plus.
What the White House wants you to believe is that they’ve embarked on a new program to double aid to Africa by the end of the decade. Today, ActionAid, an international development agency group, released a report showing that over 90 percent of the African aid Bush announced was in fact old, committed money:
ActionAid International USA has determined that $4.1 billion of the $4.5 billion increase, in actuality, heralds from existing commitments that have already been announced earlier and approved.
Said Rick Rowden, policy analyst at ActionAid International USA, “The stinginess of the world’s richest country towards the world’s poorest region is not lost on the eyes of the world. President Bush still has an opportunity to rectify this position by offering significantly increased proposals at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.”
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eyes glaze over...Preznit says we double and triple aid...reporters don't call him on it...must be true...must be true...WIAT! LOOK! over there! We TRIPLED aid to Africa!!
July 5th, 2005 at 4:28 pmBetter tell Bush what "rectify" means first.
July 5th, 2005 at 4:46 pmJudging from this Administration's fiscal reporting methodologies, when Bush and Ken Lay played golf together, they didn't just talk about baseball.
July 5th, 2005 at 5:04 pmthis would be like... hmmm... giving your friend a shirt for christmas, borrowing it for a long time until everyone but your friend forgets you already gave it to her, then giving it to her again.
right?
bushco. have a deep talent for insulting the rest of the world, i tell ya. if only we needed that skill.
July 5th, 2005 at 5:39 pmNow if they were giving money ar assetts to energy/oil companies, THEN bush would give till it really hurts us all (hasn't he already done that?). But since we're talking about money for African governments, you should first ask yourself how much money they've given republican re-election committiees or my buddies. Then & only then will he talk turkey.
July 5th, 2005 at 5:47 pmI didn't even read it, because the headline was so unbelievable, but how does this comport with N. Kristoff op-ed in today's NYT?
July 5th, 2005 at 6:55 pmRegifter! Creative accounting seems to be in the Repug blood.
July 5th, 2005 at 9:09 pmNo comment.
July 5th, 2005 at 9:16 pm"Private American citizens donated almost 15 times more to the developing world than their European counterparts, research reveals this weekend ahead of the G8 summit. Private US donors also handed over far more aid than the federal government in Washington, revealing that America is much more generous to Africa and poor countries than is claimed by the Make Poverty History and Live 8 campaigns. Church collections, philanthropists and company-giving amounted to $22bn a year, according to a study by the Hudson Institute think-tank, easily more than the $16.3bn in overseas development sent by the US government".
July 5th, 2005 at 11:20 pmFake but accurate, maybe if Ted Turner just gave more to the UN and Bill Gates gave more to help with education and Bill Clinton, in his private capacity, raised more for aid, then Bush wouldn't have to do anything. Why do we even need a president when you've got private citizens who are doing a much better job?
July 5th, 2005 at 11:35 pmI just watched Hotel Rwanda tonight. We learned nothing from the past. The only time we used our troops to go in to stop genocide it did not work out so well so we gave up on ever being able to stop it. But we did not give up because we were beaten but instead because there is a large right wing contingent that beleives that we should do nothing to make the world a better place to live in. It is the same with hunger and AIDS in Africa - just another form of genocide. I wonder if these same hypocrits would like to go without police and firefighters, doctors and storm warnings in their neighborhoods? After all they should just leave it in God's hands shouldn't they?
July 5th, 2005 at 11:48 pmWithout a link to the source, such pronouncements from fake but accurate should be considered fake and inaccurate.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:05 amScrew it. Consider them fake and false.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:06 amTed, this is a free country, if you want forced wealth redistribution, try Cuba, they are still kicking that dead horse. I don't pay taxes to have that money sent off to buy some African dictator a new car, let the churches and private aid organizations help Africa.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:10 amWills, get a clue. We have all those things because we have a civilized society, and we don't hold back Africa, Africa does. Genocide? See World War 2. Like its the "large right wing contingent" that gave the Africans AIDS and took away their food. You people are warped.
So you support sending troops to the Sudan now? Sure you do.
I find it odd gODD can't google. You people are deranged.
U.S. Private International Giving to Developing World Exceeds $62 Billion
Hudson study shows American generosity to poor nations over 3 1/2 times U.S. Government aid
by Carol Adelman
Hudson Institute released new private international giving numbers today in a white paper, "America's Total Economic Engagement with the Developing World," by Dr. Carol Adelman, Mr. Jeremiah Norris and Ms. Jeanne Weicher. Updating their research on American generosity, the authors found at least $62.1 billion in U.S. private donations to developing countries in 2003, the last year numbers are available. This philanthropy, from U.S. foundations, corporations, non-profits and volunteerism, universities and colleges, religious organizations and individuals is over three and one-half times U.S. Official Development Assistance (ODA) of $16.3 billion.
While the United States gives the greatest absolute amount of ODA to developing countries, it is routinely criticized for being "stingy" because U.S. Government aid ranks last among donor nations as a percent of Gross National Income (GNI). U.S. official aid is .15 percent of GNI compared to Norway, the highest ranked donor, at .92 percent.
What such criticism ignores, however, is that the measure, developed by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD), fails to take into account the primary way in which Americans help others abroad: through the private sector. "ODA is an outdated and inaccurate way of measuring a country's generosity," says Dr. Adelman, Director of the Center for Science in Public Policy, at the Hudson Institute. "Americans prefer to give people to people assistance versus Europeans who give primarily government to government aid."
Nor does the OECD fully measure count U.S. military contributions to peacekeeping and security, U.S. private industry investments that generate the bulk of research and development for better food and medicines, or preferential trade agreements that support imports from developing countries. The measure also excludes the $1.5 billion in foreign aid that the U.S. provides to Israel, Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia since these countries exceed the OECD poverty criterion.
Most importantly, the number does not include $51 billion of U.S. private capital flows to developing countries, consisting of foreign direct investment and net capital markets. This private investment creates jobs and economic growth, the surest way to reducing poverty.
To read the paper, click here. http://www.hudson.org/files/publications/Rethinking_Foreign_Aid.pdf
But gODD already knew all this didn't you, gODD?
July 6th, 2005 at 12:21 amDon't pay your taxes, asshole. I want you to go to prison. I can't wait until we can raise them so it really hurts. Don't you support the troops, stupid? War ain't cheap. Lead in your head would be cheaper. You don't pull your weight anyway.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:21 amOh, the Hudson Institute! You clown!
July 6th, 2005 at 12:22 amYou are so dumb, without an autonomous nervous system, you'd suffocate.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:24 amSo you want to put me in prison and "lead" in my "head" because I don't agree with you politically, but Bush and me are the nazis? I note as well your fine use of profanity on this forum, something we all know would get me banned, because you guys are so accepting of "diverse" opinions. Liberals can call Blacks racial profanities as long as they are Republican, but we are all secretly racists? You distribute Anti-Semitic literature at dhimmicrat HQ, but it's ok, you are liberals. You are clueless.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:34 amI want to kill all my enemies, foreign and domestic. I get to decide who my enemies are. It's a free country, right? You keep harping on about it being so. How do you like "your freedom" now?
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hudson_Institute
The Hudson Institute, is a hard-right activist think tank that advocates the abolition of government-backed Social Security and an end to corporate income taxes. It also campaigns heavily on environmental issues (pro-GM, anti-organic).
I think G. Gordon Liddy wanted to blow up the Brookings Institute. To G. they were too "liberal". I just want to blow you up. I already know where you live. G. is a hero of mine. I just don't subscribe to his politics.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:38 amThis is the place G. wanted to blow up.
The Brookings Institution, whose predecessor was founded in 1918 by Robert Brookings, was probably the first public policy institute in the USA. Currently a right-wing, neoliberal (http://www.SourceWatch.org/wiki.phtml?title=Neoliberal), anti-regulation organisation, it has politcally veered between the centre and right during its lifetime.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Brookings_Institution
Yeah, I know, it's awful of me, but as soon as we weed out a good number of you lunatic fringies, the survivors will just go back to blowing up federal buildings and dying in fiery stand-offs with the ATF and FBI. I'm just so glad that all the weapons industries are in the blue states, fake. That's what killed the confederacy, no industrial base. Bring it on, red state sucka!
July 6th, 2005 at 12:46 amAlways get fake to provide a link to his outrageous claims. It neutralizes him into oblivion and it doesn't waste real bullets on a wothless pile of shit..
July 6th, 2005 at 12:50 amYou agree not to:
July 6th, 2005 at 1:00 am• Post any private information or otherwise harvest, collect or disclose information, about another Blogger without his or her express consent.
• Post any content to the Blog that is unlawful, racist, hateful, libelous, defamatory, obscene, or that intentionally discriminates against or harasses particular individuals or groups.
"I just want to blow you up. I already know where you live. Comment by GOD  July 6, 2005 @ 12:38 am"
Yes Yes, you are tough. Blakbloc? gODD I'm here for you honey, gimme some love baby : )
July 6th, 2005 at 1:05 amFake,
I find your comments harrassing to liberals - I request you be removed for posting known propaganda as part of a wilfull effort of the NeoCon/NeoNazi organizations to discredit truth and fairness. You need therapy like most of your psychotic friends... The fact that you've so drunk the coolaid from known propagandists makes me sad for you - now I know what intellectual germans must have felt when they saw all of the stupid rubes falling for Goebels lies... You're a sad little man...
And just so you know, being against a fascist Israeli policy isn't anti-semitic, but being so focused on Israel's security over the health and well being of the continent of africa is entirely racist and bigoted. You're a hypocritical fool...
July 6th, 2005 at 2:47 amI'm threatened with violence and censor, yet you call me a nazi. The sad thing is I'm not surprised by any depth you guys will sink to. This is to good. Scared of the Blackblocheads, not a chance. When you have fought skinheads and rednecks like I have in my youth, married someone of anther race as I have in my adulthood and fathered a mixed race child, you can come talk to me about your credentials fighting racism, all this in an evil "red state". Trust fund revolutionaries scare me not, but I do love pointing out your hypocrisy. By the way Ryan, the Scream Dean didn't agree with your take on the anti-Semitism, and neither did Barney Frank, who is Jewish, you might want to take it up with them : )
July 6th, 2005 at 9:14 amMaybe you could have them removed by force, they must be nazis as well.
Much of this aid is "boomerang aid" anyway. The elite of these African countries are bribed to use the aid to do business with large western companies on infrastructure and other projects which benefit the most wealthy and the companies but leave out the masses.
July 6th, 2005 at 9:57 am*RED ALERT*
Ted and fake are one and the same. He likes to set up his own points because they don't stand alone. C'mon, don't you know he is educating us all?
Strong, independent, African democracies are not in the best interest of the west. Resuorces can not be plundered when" the people" demand an accounting of and control over their own lands. So help, but never enough to make a difference.Keep em off balance, and look charitable.
July 6th, 2005 at 11:46 amWhen you have fought side by side with skinheads and rednecks like I have in my youth, you are bound to be an idiot for the rest of your life.
July 6th, 2005 at 12:45 pmdirty hppie , yes sure then I threaten myself, then I accuse myself of doing all this, then I change my own post and call myself names. I'm the only person who posts here besides you, it's just me and you. You people could benefit from this, how timely.
The Hatred Gap
"Hate is a strong word," some caution. "Not strong enough!" others retort.
And all I can think, when I see something like this, is that some people's lives are just so consumed by hateâ€â€either feeling it directly, or fantasizing it in othersâ€â€that I can't even fathom jumping the gulf that lies between myself and that kind of mentality.
From the linked discussion thread at Daily Kos, the genesis of which was a seemingly innocuous bit of satire, we get this:
http://www.grotto11.com/blog/archive/1120622080.shtml
Come on, I dare you to read it all.
July 6th, 2005 at 5:23 pmI wonder what the African's think about Bushie courting one of their own (Condi).
And to fake, get to Iraq already you sissy, even the Afican people are begging you to go.
(Oh, and don't fall off your bike again) LOL!
July 6th, 2005 at 8:12 pmSorry fake, think you and your kind have cornered the market on hate.
July 6th, 2005 at 9:28 pmCondi's African? I thought she was born in Alabama? I'm sure they all look alike to you suzy. Bike? got one, need to borrow it?
hppe, I see you made your point, who could argue with all your examples? Man, you win man...
So who gives more money to the world than the US? $dollar$, not some euro gdp crap. Your anti-American spin is weak.
July 7th, 2005 at 12:30 amOh, and don’t fall off your bike again) LOL!
Comment by Susan
July 7th, 2005 at 1:26 amI just read about Bush crashing, LOL. Did he blame the cop he hit? I remember "action" kerry munching it boarding and blaming "the secret service S.O.B." who got in his way. (if you have snowboarded, you know this is a lame excuse!) I bet Bush gets back on, and rides again, doesn't that bug you, I bet he laughed at himself to.
By the way, next Black person you see, inform them they are now "African" but judging from my wifes reaction to your comment, you may want to borrow Bush's helmet first : )
Will somebody please tell Nick Kristof at the Times about this? His editorial lauding Bush for increasing aid to Africa was one of the most embarassing by a "purported" liberal that I've ever read.
July 7th, 2005 at 4:21 amStingy my ass !! The United States is the ONLY country that hands out everything from money to food to weapons to medical aid to EVERY country on Earth. We give aid to our "friends" as well to our "enemys". We give aid to those who like us and to those who wish to see the USA go up in a mushroom cloud.
July 7th, 2005 at 10:47 amUSA stingy?? BULLSHIT!!!!
Increased handouts will not help Africa, it will only make them more dependent on handouts. Look at what 60 years of social engineering has done to our inner cites. They need a handup not a handout. Progressives have always favored the handout method, it helps to keep them on the plantation at election day.
July 8th, 2005 at 2:55 pmHow much aid did our governmnet give to Africa under Clinton?
July 19th, 2005 at 6:50 amoops government*
July 19th, 2005 at 6:51 am[...] It’s a classic Bush maneuver. Many Dems signed onto No Child Left Behind: Bush didn’t fund it. Many Dems applauded his AIDS initiative (there’s the compassion we heard so much about, we mistakenly thought); it turns out that most of the money was just being redirected away from fighting other deadly diseases like malaria, the single largest cause of death for young children in Africa. Some Dems signed on to Bush’s prescription drug plan: it turns out that Bush knew all along that the plan would cost over $100 billion dollars more than he let on. (Go to the bottom of the article to get the Post’s own reporting, and also to see how passing this bamboozle of a bill worked to immunize Bush from the question of what he’s gonna do about the cost of prescription drugs.) [...]
February 17th, 2006 at 4:57 pmbasicall the point is is that america and other developped countries need to shut their mouths, open up their eyes and see that there are things going on that need help. forget the statistics and the comparisons and amounts of money. its still not good whats going on so just shut up and do some thing about it
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