[annyokie]

I don't think this is a bad thing. Why should millions of infants and children suffer? Dubya is a compassionate conservative, IMHO.

[Support Free Republic]

See that good looking dude on the left? He's got FAR BETTER THINGS to do than conduct Freepathons! Come on, let's get this thing over with.

[Old Fud]

Compassion on our nickel.

I wonder if Jr. reminded Africans that AIDS is nearly 100% preventable and that infected African men outta stop raping babies? Naw, it takes less spine to dole out money that isn't his.

[Wild Thing]

I will always wonder why a President does not do this for the Vets. So much money for causes and programs and never a thought to our Veterans. THAT is the crime that is much bigger then aids in Africa to me. Just IMO.

I am grateful that Bush is President and thank G-d for that every day. But when oh when is a President going to get to our Veterans.

Wild Thing

[Senator Pardek]

If it's about saving lives, why not push for DDT use in Africa? DDT will save more lives than any AIDS initiative, and it will be much cheaper.

[Peter Libra]

Oh, very commendable. I see the nation of Nigeria is included. Yes, so very honest there. Always on Hotmail they approach me. Why, many, many times have I been informed by persons using the Central Bank of Nigeria about a person with my surname. Yes, it appears a person and family were killed in a road accident there. All I have to do is to trust them with monies to grease the wheels.

So rich myself, (lies) I do not want an extra tax bracket, so I declined. I am sure all these beautiful US greenbacks will be applied painstakingly. Or will it be Paaarteee time?

[Consort]

How much of that money is actually part of the hidden intelligence budget? And limited government is an ideal that probably won't catch on in our lifetimes.

[7DayRepo]

Unfortunately, politicians and the media are well aware that attaching the word "children" to anything guarantees the sucker moms will fall all over themselves supporting it.

[ac7xc]

The reason the US Government has decided to spend so much money on AIDS is to help keep the price of AIDS drug high and to enforce the Intellecutual Property rights of the AIDS drug owners.
Drug companies own patents on these drugs and several years ago Brazil dropped the patent for AZT and other drugs so they could afford to take care of their AIDS population. The US Governemnet and the drug companies immediately negioted a deal with the government of Brazil so they could produce and/or provide AIDS treatment for their citizens. Africa has
a low economic ability to pay for these drugs, this threatened the IP and Patent rights of the drug companies. So the US government has stepped up to the plate to help keep the drug companies from losing patents and money.
Of course 10% of the money will go to AIDS education and it will be some fat cat in Nigeria that will take the money, print up some pamplets and pass them around before he goes on a vacation around the world.
That is the real reason $15 billion US is being spent. Maybe the agony of a few AIDS suffers will be relieved, but what good does it do for a AIDS sufferer to receive AZT when he or she is starving to death or lives in a country riped apart by civil war?

[TexasCowboy]

"reduced the rate of infection through a program of abstinence, faithfulness and education."

ABSTINENCE??!
That's a joke!

[Joe Hadenuf]

I say we should triple it. Lets give them 40 billion! Make the cheap tax payers pay up. Most of Africa's problems are our fault anyway, and besides our economy is booming and theirs isn't.

[mtbopfuyn]

I'm all for sending the $$$ and educating the people. What I have problems with is who's pocket will it all go into without ever reaching the people.

[joesnuffy]

No problem just print more
paper and ink are cheap

[hemogoblin]

All this shows Africa is that they can do whatever the hell they want and we'll pay em.