Africa needs 'great increases' in aid - Wolfowitz

Reuters ^ | June 17, 2005 | Arthur Asiimwe

[sandbar]

It's like my mom and dad told me, if we have to support you, we own you.

If we are going to support Africa because they can't manage to elect decent people to run the countries, or those leaders can't get a hold on the tribal wars, then we need to take the freaking place over. Africa could be wealthy nations, but ignorance abounds.

[dfwgator]

If the aid indeed went to the poor people in Africa, I would be all on board. The problem is the money ends up being used to build a lavish mansion for some tin-pot dictator.

[Little Ray]

So what?

They are not my friend, not my kin, and I wouldn't want them for neighbors. So charity is right out.

We won't get anything in return, so the profit motive is out, too.

To hell with Africa. They're most of the way there already.

[taxed2death]

Tell Wolfie to shove it. Stay the hell out of my wallet.

[mallardx]

Exactly. Here's a twist on an old phrase: Why not cut out the recipients and give the money directly to Middlemen?

[Iron Matron]

"...adding he would try to persuade Washington to boost its assistance to the continent...

Just Once. Once. I would like bureaucratic nitwits to ask the United States Taxpayers to VOTE on sending more money down the bottomless pit of Africa.

These Nations never help their people with the money, and we could use it to pay for Border Security, or Pay Back Social Security..what the hell is wrong with our Government?

If we'd quit spending money on every stinking potentate, drug dealers, welfare queens, et al into seeming infinity...Our NATION WOULD PROSPER...

[massgopguy]

Africa and its people are "pristine" and should not be spoiled by the intervention of the industrialized world.

[Iron Matron]

Africa and its people are "pristine" and should not be spoiled by the intervention of the industrialized world.

LOL! Guess that means our money too.

[cinives]

"What is promising now is that Africans and African leaders seem to recognize their responsibility about corruption, to develop institutions that will ensure transparency and accountability, so that assistance can be used well."

And his evidence of that is ... ??? Which totalitarian socialist government in Africa implemented free markets and property rights while I wasn't paying attention ?

Once, just once I'd like all these people grabbing for American taxpayer dollars to ask my opinion.

[Centurion2000]

I got a better idea. Let Africans clean up Africa

[oldbrowser]

Enough's enough already. Just because they "need," and we "have," doesn't mean we "owe." It's their own culture that holds them back.

I feel like an "enabler" when we send "aid" to these failed nations.

It seems that much of the aid is skimmed off by their leaders who are keeping the people in a state of near starvation generation after generation so they can get more aid to skim.

It's like farming.