Bush willing to work on Africa Marshall Plan-Mbeki

Reuters ^ | 06/03/05 | James Macharia

[nypokerface]

"plan to impose an international tax on jet fuel - an idea floated by French President Jacques Chirac"

- Only Chirac can come up with such a stupid plan.

[thoughtomator]

Here's an idea. Let the Europeans pay for it - up front, in cash - and we'll administer it and make sure it gets done. That's about as far as I'm willing to have us cooperate with yet another corrupt European plot.

[ruiner]

Its about time we got together and offered money to help, er, umm, rebuild (?) Africa!!

[Altair333]

Maybe Bush can figure out a way to import illegal aliens from Africa- I don't think there are enough coming from Latin America to satisfy him.

[oldleft]

While I think we need to take on Africa, I don't understand why the ENTIRE CONTINENT is always talked about. If we dedicated, say, 1 TRILLION dollars over 10 years, we may be able to make something of the West African Countries (Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Liberia.)

I don't know if it's worth it, but remember, these countries are VERY, VERY, rich in natural resources. Of course, the biggest obstacle isn't money, it's the corrupt regimes of Africa.

[Calvin Locke]

They didn't mention the fine print. Fuel for Airbus planes is tax-exempt.

[Wiz]

Africa news ping

[agitator]

NEPAD[s] That's what we're gonna need if we get involved in this crap.

[KarlInOhio]

Will this money have to go through a bunch of middle men, or can we just dispense with the BS and send truck loads of money directly to Credit Suisse in Zurich?

[blam]

ANC Leader Tainted By Trial (Mbeki's Successor, South Africa)

[reelfoot]

If Mr. Bush does decide to send money to Africa, let him dig into his own pocket.

I'm against even $1 of taxpayer money being sent to the continent of Africa. It is wrong, generally, to tax Americans for foreign aid. And Africa, in particular, is an unworthy recipient: the corrupt leaders invariably rake off most, with very little getting to their starving subjects. Hundreds of billions in welfare have already been spent on Africa over the years with little, if anything, to show for it. I see no prospect that any further amount of welfare largess will transform subSaharan Africa from the toilet bowl it now is. I certainly don't want any of my hard-earned money being confiscated by the government and transferred there. If the French want to throw their francs away, have at it.

[Ohioan]

The idea of Western Governments launching programs to tax their people to fund aid to Third World Nations involves an implicit Socialist, One World, ideology.

African countries have many natural resources. If they seriously want to develop them, there are myriads of ways to lure private capital--immense amounts of private capital--in, to fund development. Artificial subsidies from Western Governments can only retard rational development, just as the Welfare State and the Great Society's War on Poverty, have retarded the progress of the poor in America.

Why would anyone imagine that what is stupid at home, somehow makes sense overseas?

Of course, American Aid to Africa can not be Constitutionally justified, unless there are strings attached, connecting it to our military needs or interests.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Most of the foreign aid to Africa goes into the pockets of tinpot dictators and U.N. bureaucrats.

If Bush really wants to help Africa, he should encourage them to promote capitalism, elect responsible leaders, and open up their countries to foreign investment.

[Irontank]

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
--George W. Bush, with his hand on a Bible, January 20, 2005

Still looking through my pocket US Constitution here...trying to find the Constitutional authority for a "Marshall Plan" for Africa...can't seem to find it...must be here somewhere...

[ValenB4]

I'm still looking for the part about spreading democracy to the Middle East. Perhaps the African Marshall Aid section is in the same place.

[Irontank]

I'm still looking for the part about spreading democracy to the Middle East. Perhaps the African Marshall Aid section is in the same place

Exactly right...my pocket version must be missing a huge part of the Constitution...the parts that provide authority for the 98% of the federal government that is not authorized by the parts I do have

[ARCADIA]

The United States is willing to look for ways to fund a "Marshall Plan" for Africa

This conservative is starting to consider joing the Democrats in asking for the impeachment of the communist in the White House. Is there any form of spending that W will oppose? Not even Jimmy Carter was this bad.

[T.L.Sink]

Yes, I agree but with this caveat: Bush wants to wait
until the billions he's sending Africa for AIDS takes
effect. When they are like the Mexican illegals and are
healthy enough to run drugs, fill our prisons, and
bankrupt hospitals and school districts --- he will welcome
them with open arms. Meanwhile, he'll send additional
billions in tax dollars and pretend that it doesn't
matter about the national debt or domestic priorities.
By the way, I thought the Cold War excuse for foreign
aid excesses was over?

[T.L.Sink]

Jimmy Carter is not even a rival in the contest of
excessive spending by Bush. His Prescription Drug plan,
when it begins to kick in in '06, will cost trillions
and is the biggest entitlement since LBJ. Bush can't
be outdone by a piker like Carter -- he's a BIGTIME
spender who competes with the best. Oops - I mean the
worst. He's never seen a spending bill he didn't like
and hasn't read that part of the Constitution that
talks about something strange called a "veto". By the
way, you've in spired me to reread "The Red and the
Black". It's been years and I only vaguely remember
the young man torn between priesthood and soldier.

[Publius6961]

The United States is willing to look for ways to fund a "Marshall Plan" for Africa even if it opposes Britain's plan for a new lending facility, South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.

Would someone be kind enough to explain to me how even the name Marshall Plan, and the concept behind it even applies to Africa by even the most painful stretch of the imagination?

The Marshall Plan was not a form of International Welfare.
The Marshal Plan's goal was to restore the 20th Century Industry and infrastructure destroyed during years of war.

What is there to restore in Africa?