[Mark Felton]

""The time has come to move from words to action to implement this new deal between rich countries and poor countries," he said.... "

Marxism must die. If the US was prepared to destroy the Soviet Union to stop the spread of Marxism, why on earth does it endorse and support the new wave Marxism?

[SamAdams76]

And exactly how is throwing money to these dirt-poor people going to help? There sure are a lot of clueless people out there who have no idea how a capitalist economy works.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The money of "rich countries" is that of its citizens. This is nothing but attempted robbery of working people who pay taxes.

[Asclepius]

... Rich countries face "a moment of truth" over their plan to halve global poverty, which is endangered by turmoil in global stock markets and the threat of war against Iraq, the World Bank warned yesterday ...

I do not remember this plan. I do not remember ever agreeing to this plan.

[DoughtyOne]

What we are witnessing is the development of the foundation for redistribution of wealth on a scale we've never seen before. The facilitation of national bankruptcy, for third world nations means that you and I will be paying for loans to other nations, on many occassions the interest built up while servicing those loans, then the replacement funding after those loans are declared forgiven. Sure Europe will chip in like usual, but we'll pay out tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars any time the World Bank feels like it. In actuality we'll probably be paying in all the time, with large sum payouts being managed by them when the circumstances warrant.

I've been against this. Third world nations are so poor they cannot service debt. The World Bank continues to loan it anyway. Thus it amounts to nothing more than gifting of the funds to the third world. What this government signs on to, is simply astounding. Hold on to your wallet. Oh I forgot, they get yours before you get yours.

[dalebert]

thought we paid the highest price on 911. Money does not stop extremists.

[Defender2]

West to Poor, Get A Job!!!!

[uncbob]

If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."

Pure BS
Those living in poverty only have enough energy to try to exist
They don't revolt

[DWPittelli]

I agree that we should open our markets to free trade, perhaps especially including sugar and textiles. Given that free market capitalism made us rich, and socialism keeps much of the rest of the world poor, those who oppose such moves have a strong burden of proof to pass in making their mercantilist/protectionist arguments. That said, and for the same reason, it's absurd for these pinkos who "care" about the third world to claim that more socialism -- more country-to-country welfare socialism -- is what's needed to help the poor.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

This is how it goes: First World countries send money to help Third World countries. Third World country leaders send money back to First World (Switzerland). To their own bank accounts.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

"If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."

And just who in these countries receives the $$ after we hand them over? Some dictator who skims most of it off, builds a few palaces, and then demands more of the selfish rich Americans.

[DCPatriot]

And, just how is this money going to get into the hands that "need" it?

[Lokibob]

Send me 3 of them. I could use a gardiner, a maid and a cook. I'd double their $1/day. Course, I have to charge them for the room and board.

[xJones]

"If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish.

Who'd a thunk the Saudis are dirt poor? < /sarcasm>

They are the bankrollers of countless mosques and madrassas around the world preaching Wahabi extremism, instead of using THEIR wealth to aid the poor of their own continent. Osama was a top-notch extremist, and was able to carry out his far-flung terrorism due to his wealth, not poverty. Don't give us this B.S. and get your hands out of our pockets, looters.

[hoosierskypilot]

Hmm. Isn't this what LBJ said when he was president? We threw all kinds of money at America's poor. Sure did us a lot of good, didn't it? Wiped out crime, broken homes, drug addiction, etc.

[RLK]

James Wolfensohn, the Bank's president, said the west must "put its money where its mouth is" and stump up the cash to meet the agreed target of halving the number of people living on less than a dollar a day by 2015.

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

I don't recall any such agreement. I want no part of any such agreement.

[Teacher317]

The US has given more aid, advisors, food, military protection, loans (especially the forgiven kind), IMF funds, World Bank funds, knowledge, medical supplies, medical personnel, medical training, education opportunities, disaster relief, Peace Corps workers, charity proceeds, and private donations than the rest of the world... combined... throughout all history. We give safe haven to those who come here looking to escape tyrrany. We give social services benefits to those who aren't citizens. We bear the hatred and envy of the entire planet, and yet refuse to use our power to conquer, subjugate, colonize, or rob our neighbors as every other world power has done. In wars that do not reach even our hemisphere, we still come to the rescue of those nations that love Freedom, or those who simply ask for our help. We've dedicated thousands of lives and trillions of dollars to improving and utilizing natural resources only to give them away voluntarily, or have them confiscated by eminent domain. Our universities made major food exporters out of Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, just to watch the Marxists take over and return the lands to desolate expanses of starvation once again.

I'd say we've given already.

You want more wealth? Create it yourselves. We've already shown you how, blazed every possible trail, and created thousands of new ways to succeed. Now you just have to get off of your lazy Socialist asses and do it.

I know it's easier to just boss the Americans around, and have them send more of the fruits of their labors, but we've just about reached our limits. Don't push it, or you'll be forced to remember what it truly is like to live without America to guide you through the difficulties of life.

[xrp]

How about if the countries where their subjects (not citizens because they aren't treated as citizens) live on less than $1/day try giving their subjects:

Civil Liberties
Freedom
Free markets with little or no government controls

A bunch of [sarcasm]evil white men[/sarcasm] did this back in 1776 for 3 million colonists on the eastern coast of what is today the United States and look what happened in the USA's first 100 years. Then look at 200 years. Then look at the USA's entire history! Great stuff indeed. Freedom, liberty and free markets spawn innovation and wealth. It's amazing that the world has a 230 year history of the USA for an example and still doesn't get the F-CKING MESSAGE.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"Speaking to the Guardian, ahead of this week's IMF and World Bank annual meetings, Mr Wolfensohn said he feared that worries about the global outlook would distract attention from the plight of developing countries. "If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."" (Guardian)

Bull. The kamikazes of 9/11 didn't come from black Africa or from Laos - the world's poorest countries; they came from rich Saudi Arabia and were led by zillionaire Saudi heir Osama bin Laden.

Terrorism has fluorished among the affluent - the "Mustang Maoists" of the U.S. during Nam, the West Germans who spawned the Baader-Meinhof Gang of the 1970s.

If you really want to increase terrorism, just create a "The Mouse That Roared" scenario making it pay.

Wolfensohn's latest shakedown attempt is just more proof that the antiglobalist protesters at every World Bank or IMF meeting are right when they call for disbanding the World Bank and the IMF.

[republicman]

The solution to global poverty is global capitalism and global democracy.

Throwing money at the problem, never has, nor ever will, work.