A peace between north and south Sudan is likely to be concluded this year, a direct result of a diplomatic initiative begun early in the Bush Presidency, and could well involve the liberation of thousands of black Africans from chattel slavery. The presence of U.S. military forces in the horn of Africa, although they are primarily there to deny safe haven to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, has resulted in significant gains in stability and security in a region littered with "failed states". Bush has pushed through major increases in foreign aid for Africa and (more importantly) has targeted aid intelligently, keeping more of it out the of the hands of dictators (e.g. the "millennium fund," reserved for countries with "good governance") and the "aids" funding (that will impact the primary causes of reduced productivity in labor dependent developing economies).
Bush's historic and productive emphasis on Africa needs and deserves to a major campaign theme in 2004. It will not only help with African-American voters, but will impress moderates and independents.