Bush billions designed to buy stability

The Scotsman ^ | July 5, 2003 | The Scotsman

[ysoitanly]

Remember, it only costs billions of your money to buy 'friends' for us, and 'votes' for politicians.

[ysoitanly]

Admin - Delete my post, please. I'm really, really cranky about this Africa stuff and spending and probably should call it a night.

Thanks,

[Madcelt]

Two problems on the fly.. the opening paragraph makes it sound as thought it was America alone that "traded" in slaves....NNNNGGHHHT!!! Wrong answer.( Shift the blame, Quick! they're not looking!!) The European powers were the ones with the corner on that market. Even "importing" them into the Americas. Secondly...." Imperialist taint", sounds like a COMMUNIST mantra used against the worlds democracies. "Funny" those words were used. Would'nt you all agree?

[meenie]

Let's assume that this trip is to secure votes from the Afro-American community in this country. Does it sound logical that they will be more receptive by investing in Africa than here in the US? Will the $15 billion investment in Africa Aids do more good there than here? This doesn't make political sense plus it sure is spoiling Bush's image as a political conservative interested in conserving the taxpayers money. Some of this stuff is getting past ridiculous and becoming silly.

[Burkeman1]

Much of Africa's problems can be directly traced to our giving them money and charity. More will only worsen it. I see nothing new here with this plan. We ship free foodstuffs to Africa and thus reduce the price of native produce and make it harder for them to earn a living. We give corrupt elites enough "aide" to buy weapons and mercenaries to keep their people oppressed while they live the life of Riley on shopping sprees in Paris and New York.

If the west were to stop all charity and foreign aide programs in Africa tomorrow then that continent would be vastly improved within 5 years.

[liberalnot]

they could reduce aids themselves by not sexually assaulting children.

[AdamSelene235]

Looks like a fair comment to me.

[AdamSelene235]

Spot on.

[RLK]

Bush billions designed to buy stability

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You can't buy stability. All you do is create respectability for the view that any time another country has built mor than you have, they are entitled to part of it. It's the validation of escalation of such an attitude and escalation of such demands.

[RLK]

The "Door of No Return"

-------------------

I am against slavery. Having said that, The "Door of No Return" was the door of life and survival for those who were forced through it. Someone here posted a link to statistics on Liberia here. The infant mortality rate reads like phone numbers. Life expectancy is low. Without their ancestors having passed through that door, most Americanblacks would be nonexistant with life spans amongh those who survived in Africa such that they were aged and infirm at age 50.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Remember, it only costs billions of your money to buy 'friends' for us, and 'votes' for politicians.

For a historical note, this is the exact type of action that lead to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The Emperor bleed the Western Roman Empire dry of it's wealth by taxing the people to pay off it's enemies into not attacking them, that only worked until the Western Roman Empire went bankrupt and it's then enemies destory it.

[TLBSHOW]

Bush will be handing out our money like candy for the next week.

[Bill Davis FR]

how many billions have we invested in the middle east???

and how many friends do we have in the middle east...

its not in the us interests to stick its nose in internal affairs...

[Southack]

Finally, we get a President who will actually demand that Africa take concrete, completely tangible steps in return for our aid and investments.

Mugabe has to go from Zimbabwe, or else South Africa, Botswana, and Nigeria don't get **any** money, for instance.

In contrast, Clinton could ignore the crimes in Zimbabwe and the press would laud him as Africa's best friend, as if perpetrating such chaos was something that a friend would do.

But for Bush, since he is actually demanding that the Communist Mugabe step down, no doubt the Leftist media will decry that he just doesn't understand Africa, is a dummy, and is only doing this tour for votes (among other typical Leftist nonsense).

And of course, the far-Right Buchanonites and utterly-mad Libertarians will no doubt decry Bush's every possible use of tax-payer funds, lest it actually reduce terrorism, bring on world stability, and decrease their chances for their long-awaited "day of awakening" (AKA doomsday).

It's all completely predictable.