Treasury Seccretary O'Neill Starts Africa Tour With Bono

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) - It's the Rocker and the Republican, on Africa Cliche-Breaking Tour 2002. Singer Bono and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill embarked Tuesday on a four-nation odyssey: the activist pop star, Bono, bent on convincing the skeptical politico, O'Neill, that Africa puts Western development aid to good use.

"I come here to learn," promised O'Neill, who was talked into the trip by the Irish singer.

"Normally, when we hear a secretary of state is visiting, it's usually an all suit-and-tie affair," President John Kufuor joked, smiling at meeting the shaggy-haired singer in trademark blue wraparound shades.

Bono and O'Neill, in an equally to-type gray suit, set the tone for the 10-day trip from the first stop Tuesday — no mud-hut village, but a gleaming high-tech center in Ghana's capital, Accra.

O'Neill watched approvingly as young Ghanaian women input data for the U.S.-based firm ACS-BPS.

Bono and O'Neill listened attentively as company president Tom Blodgett answered questions about the workers' pay and benefits.

"It is really an experience to see these well-trained people," O'Neill told an international retinue of rock 'n' roll, financial and political reporters.

"It's equal to anything you can find in the world," the treasury secretary said.

Bono sat on a low wall, swinging his feet while O'Neill talked. The sleek high-tech operation showed it was possible to recast Africa's image, the singer told reporters.

"I really loathe the cliched, international view of Africa. I don't think it is helpful," Bono said.

Similar stereotype-shattering is planned during stops in South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia.

O'Neill has been a vocal critic of past anti-poverty programs in Africa, saying they failed to generate real development and so wasted billions of dollars.

The idea of a joint trip was hatched a year ago, when the two men met in O'Neill's office. Bono, who has campaigned for years to focus the attention of rich nations on the plight of Africa, asked for the session.

Initially reluctant, O'Neill finally agreed to meet Bono, and later said he was impressed by the U2 singer's knowledge of Africa's problems.

Bono has campaigned to get the Group of Eight top industrial countries to provide greater debt relief for the world's poorest countries.

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the issue of fighting poverty to eliminate a breeding ground for terrorists has gained momentum. It will be a top agenda item of the G-8 countries at their June summit in Canada.

In an effort to learn what kind of aid really works, O'Neill and Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, will visit AIDS clinics, schools and projects sponsored by the World Bank and other development agencies.

"I want to hear their hopes and dreams and I hope they share with me their insights into how best to eliminate the obstacles to Africa's prosperity," O'Neill told the American Chamber of Commerce in Accra.

At stake, indirectly: $10 billion promised by the Bush administration in a new foreign aid program called Millennium Challenge Accounts.

The money is to be distributed between 2004 and 2006 — but primarily to those countries that show progress eliminating corruption and reforming their financial systems.

O'Neill said African countries needed to govern justly, encourage economic freedom by removing trade barriers and to invest in their people.

President Kufuor said Ghana, a former British colony that in 1957 became the first African country to gain independence, needed U.S. support to develop.

"It is not aid in terms of alms or handouts," he told O'Neill. "We are proud people. We want to do things for ourselves but we need to develop the human resources."

"I'm the amateur here among the professionals," Bono told Kufuor. "I've come to listen and learn how we might get to the next step in this extraordinary continent."

The singer joked later that O'Neill had been brave to take him along on his plane. "I'm not very tidy," he said. "I brought one tie but it has some soup stains today."

World Economic Forum in NY, 2/2002

Here it comes, Bono, the front man of international bankings' strategy to get American and Western taxpayers to subsidize their allegedly bad loans to third world countries. They started with front organizations in the wrongly named “anti-globalization movement.” Those well-dressed, well- spoken and well-funded “liberals” among the rattier elements of the movement evoking pleas for “debt relief”concocted by public relations firms for the banks, and given the false cover of being independent NGOs. What they mean by “debt relief” is transfers of taxpayer funds to banks to insure the bad loans, and no doubt assure the previously anticipated profits.

It looks like banks have given up on the anti-globalization fronts (really globalizers) and have found a new public relations image. Bono was introduced as the front man at the World Economic Forum in New York three months ago. At the same time a new and no less phoney NGO was concocted: “DATA.” DATA’s alleged agenda is “Debt relief, Aids, and Trade with Africa.” The Aids thing is just a cover story to pretend it has charitable purposes.

DATA’s philosophy adopts, no doubt begrudgingly, demands for democracy and reform for continued aid. Same as the Bush administration.

The difference in their views is “debt relief.” “Debt relief” can take many forms. Last of which the banks would accept is rescheduling their own bad loans. Or writing them off, or whatever they do, for example, with domestic loans. “Debt relief” for this crowd means government transfers of taxpayer funds to the banks, not the countries. Then, with accounts squared away and profits accumulated from our wallets, they can make bad loans in these countries again.

Compare what Bush didn’t do Argentina. He gave no debt relief, and the Europeans, whom hold the majority of loans to Argentina (like Africa). But Argentina is still there, and they’re working it out. This is not the most profitable arrangement for the banks, being responsible for their own loans, and working them out with their customers.

These “Millenium Challenge Accounts” appear to be targeted as loans or grants directly and more responsibly to the governments in Africa. I believe this is unconnected to debt relief. This shows that aid need not consider the needs of previous loans by banks. I believe you will hear nothing from Bono about these moneys, for example, whether it should be more. He is there to argue the banks’ interests, not Americans or Africans. He will hammer away at “debt relief” making grand generalizations about a multitude of issues.

There’s many other issues with these loans, why this money should not be invested at home, unfair demands on the borrower countries’ laws, etc. But IMO, the “debt relief” is motivated for a singular purpose of the greed of banks, and belief they have a sugar daddy, the taxpayers, who are morally responsible to bail out these bad loans. Bono is the front man. Perhaps, ironically, O’Neill can “educate” Bono how he is a dupe of the international banking system.

Well, that's what I think. I pray this is our Administration’s position, and they are just pandering to Bono for the photo ops. I’m watching my wallet nonetheless.

Bono’s Mission (Feb 26 Time Magazine)

Some Other Links:

Pop Star Bono Wows Bigwigs at Elite Economic Forum (Feb 1)
Economic Forum Draws Rich, Powerful and 'Spoiled' (Feb 1)
U2's Bono calls corporations "mother-----ers" (Feb 1) (Bono pretending he’s not a shill for international finance interests)

Bono talks African debt at White House (March 1)
Pro Bono (March 17)
Bono 'would have lunch with Satan'
Bono finds money in Bush (March 24)
Bono and his band of bandits: Ilana Mercer whacks U2 frontman for foreign-aid rip-off (April 3)

"I just assumed/hoped we had seen the last of the likes of BS and her crowd after we got rid of Bubba. Now we have the Secretary of the Treasury pandering to an Irish rock star."

Bono's NO Barbra Streisand, my FRiend...there are many in the MTV Generation and a bit older who believe U2 has some gravitas for a bunch of musicians. With the voting age of 18, I don't believe the GOP can afford to thumb our noses at those whose political IQ is significantly less than our own. Reaching out to someone like Bono doesn't mean we are necessarily "pandering" to him, IMHO.

"Any thoughts/opinions on why the Bush administration is going along with this will be greatly appreciated."

I don't see Dubyuh talking to an MTV crowd about boxers vs. briefs or how he longs fer gettin' stoned again, but giving Bono a little attention may yield dividends in November. Heck, we "go along with" Swarzeneggar and Bo Derek and just today I heard Morgan Fairchild co-hosting on O-Reilly's radio show...the Right needs to be willing to teach all who are willing to listen about the benefits of limited government, liberty, and justice. I'm "only" 38 and I'm already starting to wonder about the "Next Generation"...but we've got to engage them if we have any hope to steer them along the right path in the future.

FReegards...MUD

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.