Posted on 05/23/2002 8:06:45 AM PDT by Miss Marple
Bush is saying here that some civilizations are better than others. This is very important philosophical point that has immense practical consequences. Again, it's directly contrary to Clinton's view.
I think this is a good first step to getting foreign aid to actually be effective. After all, if it is effective, it will be a whole heck of a lot cheaper than cruise missiles. Plus new markets could be created, expanding their economies and ours as well.
I think it is fascinating to see how President Bush is using new ways to shape Americian influence around the world. This is just one of many such examples.
In the real world, how would this be accomplished and what are the consequences?
Oh, pshaw.
The Marshall plan worked quite well, for example. Without it, it is quite likely that Eastern Europe would still be communist, Western Europe would be largely communist, and Russia still our mortal enemy.
Especially the part about the Russians -- while he's on his way to Russia.
I'm telling you, MM, this is a very important speech. Internationally, of course, but also domestically.
Wasn't it Ol' Crusty's occupant who recently took W's foreign policy to task? This speech is a direct to her and those like her -- and if they decide to argue back, it appears that Bush stands ready to knock them between the eyes with Bill Clinton's failures.
Bush spends Billions everytime he opens his mouth. Clinton spent Millions everytime he opened his mouth. According to Bushbots BILLIONS spent by a Republican is better than MILLIONS spend by a Democrat and for some reason that makes him better than Clinton dont ya know. (SARCASM)
What a shame that most Americans have no idea of what powerful and moving words their President gave in this speech - and how magnificently he is representing all of us there.
And all the applause! Why, American press would have us think the President was only greeted with boos and hisses.
Thanks for the full speech text WITH applause noted.
When nations are governed justly, the people benefit. When nations are governed unjustly, for the benefit of a corrupt few, no amount of aid will help the people in need. (Applause.) When nations are governed justly -- when nations are governed justly, investing in education and health, and encouraging economic freedom, they will have our help. And more importantly, these rising nations will have their own ability and, eventually, the resources necessary to battle disease and improve their environment, and build lives of dignity for their people.
Well, TADLOS's observation about selective deafness applies to some U.S. citizens at least as well as it does to the Bundestag.
..Had Al Gore been elected president, the outcome would have likely been different. Gustave Speth, a member of the Clinton-Gore transition team who then was appointed head of the U.N. Development Program, was a strong advocate of U.N. taxing authority, and promoted the scheme during his U.N. tenure.
Bush did even more to confuse the world government crowd. He diffused the anticipated criticism of U.S. aid by announcing a sharp increase in foreign aid over the next three years. European nations made a similar commitment, leading conference officials to claim victory before the conference even convened.
When he spoke to the delegates on Friday, however, Bush made it clear that U.S. aid would no longer be poured down the U.N. rat-hole as it has been in the past. U.S. aid will be placed into a special "Millennium" account, not simply handed over to the U.N. The U.S., not the U.N., will establish the criteria that must be met by developing nations before receiving U.S. aid.
Bush told the delegates that no longer can poverty relief be measured simply by the amount donor nations give. The real measure of poverty relief must be based on the achievements produced by the aid.
Bush made it clear that U.S. aid will go only to countries whose governments exist with the consent of the citizens, that commit to open markets, and that promote the principles of freedom.
U.N. conferences are not accustomed to hearing this kind of talk from a U.S. president. Bill Clinton told the Millennium Summit in 2000 that the time had come for national sovereignty to take a back seat to U.N. activism. Bush invoked U.S. sovereignty by defining the conditions upon which U.S. aid will be granted. And he did it with a smile, and without confrontation...
Bush blocks U.N. tax plan: Henry Lamb praises president for skillful handling of global power grab
Yeah we know, us conservatives just don't get it. As long as the altruistic cause de jour is one you can agree with it's just fine to spend our national treasure in extreme amounts. Same thought process that the left uses to explain the failure of communism. It wasn't a bad thing, it just wasn't done properly by the smart people like them.
You're actually foolish enough to believe that your big spending ideas are better than everyone elses.
This in itself would be tolerable, if it wasn't for the long list of trillions Mr. Bush has spent in his first year in office. This is the guy that told us "it's not Washington's money it's the people's money". Yet gets in office and pisses it away like it's HIS money.
Don't worry, we conservatives get it just fine. We don't give 2 craps if there are "strings attached". Just quit spending our kids money like some strung out crack whore. It's not compassionate, smart or dynamic.... it's nothing less than immoral.
What is this, compassionate sarcasm? It's way more endearing than the witch routine. I honestly needed the chuckle, as I think I've been taking things too seriously today.
This is quite a speech, if you will but read it.
In addition, for those who don't like immigration, if you can get some of the third world up and running (as we did with Japan and Germany after WWII) we won't have too many of those people wanting to come here. You don't see too many Japanese illegals, do you? Or Germans, for that matter. It is in our own interest to do this, as well as being compassionate. Sometimes the two are not mutually exclusive, you know.
Well, I must go to the grocery. Please read the speech...especially the quote by Dietrich Bonhoffer, who died in a concentration camp. Pretty gutsy of the President to quote that man to the Germans, and somehow get a standing ovation at the end.
The trouble with you guys is that you are so used to everyone being a crook and a charlatan, you miss the opportunity to appreciate a decent honest person when we finally get one. I don't intend to desert President Bush over a policy difference, because I don't expect him to support everything that I do. In addition, although I may differ with him in methods, his goals are ones I share.
Glad I could brighten your day, AAA! Have a good one!
So, back to reality. I appreciate the fact that this president is trying to do this business differently. In fact, it reminds me of the recent messages to Castro. It's a shape up or ship out approach.
Yeah. The East Germans who struggled under it for 50 years were thrilled.
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