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by Musician and humanitarian activist Bob Geldof recently penned an article for TIME magazine recounting his visit with American president George W. Bush aboard Air Force One en route to Ghana, Africa, on Feb. 19, 2008. In the article, Geldof praises Bush on his record in regards to humanitarian aid in Africa, and criticizes the media's neglect in telling that story.
It was, for example, Bush who initiated the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with cross-party support led by Senators John Kerry and Bill Frist. In 2003, only 50,000 Africans were on HIV antiretroviral drugs — and they had to pay for their own medicine. Today, 1.3 million are receiving medicines free of charge. The U.S. also contributes one-third of the money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — which treats another 1.5 million. It contributes 50% of all food aid (though some critics find the mechanism of contribution controversial). On a seven-day trip through Africa, Bush announced a fantastic new $350 million fund for other neglected tropical diseases that can be easily eradicated; a program to distribute 5.2 million mosquito nets to Tanzanian kids; and contracts worth around $1.2 billion in Tanzania and Ghana from the Millennium Challenge Account, another initiative of the Bush Administration.
Geldof also talks about his disagreements with Bush over Iraq and other policies, but paints a picture of a man of intelligence and faith, motivated by his deep sense of right and wrong.
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The Economist also had a great article about all Bush has done in Africa--more than any President before, and has done it quietly, without making a lot of hoopla about it. He's done a lot for global aids and malaria prevention, and his administration has tied aid to improvements in governance through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Millennium Challenge also gives the aid to the recipient based on plans THEY submit, not ones we cram down their throats. In other words, Liberia (say) says they want to fix the road infrastructure from X to Y, not us telling them they will do what we think they should do with the money. This makes it THEIR project and give them a much bigger stake in the success of the project while the US stays in the background.
The common theme with Bush that I think runs through all of his policies is that he's really a global meliorist like Woodrow Wilson. I really think he believes he is spreading democracy and freedom, in this case in Africa and in another case in Iraq. I'm really surprised that liberals and progressives can't get past their blind hatred of the man and at least respect this aspect of him and maybe agree with some of his motives if not his methods. But I guess that's American politics for you. You can't be civil or admire any trait of your opponent or show him respect.
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Hypocrisy by smcbride :: NR6 :: on 29 February 2008
Truth is, Bush is a good man who had the guts to stand up and fight, we haven't been attacked again on our home front, and for that I am very thankful to our President and military. He was not along in making the decision to go to war. The Liberal news paint a picture of Hypocrisy!
Sad how time re-writes history and how so many who supported the President now lie when its not easy for them to tell the truth. Bush is a intelligent man who knows right from wrong.