Free Republic

IT’S BECOME PAINFULLY apparent that the world is becoming the United States’ responsibility. Clean water, rudimentary healthcare and decent housing for the world’s destitute all fall on our collective shoulders. "If this country doesn't get help, doesn't get the sense of a new beginning," said the faux humanitarian and rock star Bono on his recent fact-finding trip to Ghana with US Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neill. "You (Americans) come back in five years and they'll be throwing rocks at the bus." Ironically, when the first Dunkin’ Donuts opens it’s doors in Accra, Ghanaians will undoubtedly grumble about the hegemonic ambitions of...

BARRIE -- A Toronto man, who blamed his wayward ways on the Toronto Children's Aid Society, has been sentenced to 16 months of house arrest after pleading guilty to selling an undercover cop about $60,000 worth of ecstasy. Derek Mason was also ordered to do 100 hours of community service as part of the drug trafficking conviction. In an unusual plea to the judge, during the preliminary hearing, defence lawyer Ian Kostman argued Mason's troubles are the result of the CAS for failing him as a child. He said the CAS removed Mason from his home following years of abuse...

h1>Tips for the Top: How to be a philosopher Brook Sadler Technique 1Begin by making a spurious distinction. Befuddle the reader with your analytic wizardry. The reader will enter a logical trance, from which she will be unable to recall the initial spurious distinction and will feel strangely compelled to accept your conclusions.Technique 2Think of a matter of great importance to life. Reduce it unequivocally to three concepts. Enumerate them. Analyze each concept by distinguishing two independent notions in each. Continue with further analysis (preferably speculative) until you have developed a maze of distinctions that bear no resemblance to any...

KAMPALA, Uganda (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Irish rock singer Bono revealed strong differences Monday over how rich nations should help poverty-stricken Africa. The pair, in Uganda on the third leg of a debt-study tour that has taken them to Ghana and South Africa and will end in Ethiopia, differed on whether more aid money and increased debt forgiveness could help Uganda. As the pair toured an elementary school outside Kampala, O'Neill expressed surprise that six or seven children had to share one book and suggested voluntary aid could ease such shortages. "I think if people understood...

House Votes $1.3 Billion in Aid for AfghanistanBy ROBERT PEAR ASHINGTON, May 21 — The House of Representatives voted tonight to provide $1.3 billion in economic and military aid to Afghanistan after demanding that President Bush devise a strategy to establish law and order there.Lawmakers of both parties said they feared that the United States's military success could be undermined if lawlessness persisted in Afghanistan.The bill, to rebuild Afghanistan and combat the production of narcotics, was passed by a vote of 390 to 22.The money, to be made available over four years, would be used to create jobs, clear land...

WASHINGTON - (AP) -- The Bush administration assured Congress on Wednesday that it will insist Argentina reform its economy before the United States will support further loans from the International Monetary Fund. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said President Bush and others in his administration ''ache'' when they see scenes on television of violent street protests in Argentina. But O'Neill said the administration and U.S. allies were totally in agreement that Argentina cannot receive new IMF loans until it takes proper reform measures. The country has been seeking what published reports have put at $9 billion in new IMF loans to...

Espert, the economist, said the IMF has called on Argentinean governors to make cuts that would force the dismissal of as many as 500,000 employees of the 1.2 million workers now on payrolls of state governments. BUENOS AIRES - As Argentina flirted with deepening economic and political disarray, President Eduardo Duhalde and spendthrift governors of Argentina's outlying provinces on Wednesday evening pledged to carry out a financial rescue plan for the enfeebled nation. Banks remained closed for a third consecutive day, enraging account-holders. Automatic teller machines ran dry across much of the nation. Protesters banged pots noisily outside of...

TOKYO, April 23 (News Agencies) - Japan on Tuesday, April 23, announced 3.3 million dollars in emergency aid to Palestinians to alleviate their suffering following the Israeli army's incursion into their territories. The aid will be provided through the UN Development Program, the foreign ministry said in a statement. The assistance includes 1.53 million dollars to cover expenses for humanitarian relief, such as food water and medical supplies as well as 800,000 dollars for improvements to infrastructure. "Our government hopes that the assistance will help improve medical treatment for the injured and raise support for poor people," the ministry said....

President Bush urged world leaders Friday to demand political reform from poor countries in exchange for increased aid and warned that unchecked poverty can foster terrorism. "We fight poverty because hope is an answer to terror," Bush said in a speech before representatives from 171 nations taking part in the U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development. The president outlined his proposal to link U.S. foreign aid to a country's ability to rid itself of corruption and walk a straight, narrow path to economic reform. He said he will ask Congress to put an extra $10 billion into core U.S....

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) - After years of squabbling and finger-pointing, leaders from both rich and poor nations have agreed to sit down Monday for a serious talk about how to end poverty. The meeting of business and government leaders - including President Bush - is aimed at improving the lives of more than 1 billion people living on less than $1 a day. Cuban President Fidel Castro is expected to be among the attendees. The International Conference on Financing for Development has been a longtime goal of poor nations, and its themes - how to prevent crippling financial crashes and...

President Bush today proposed a three- year, $5 billion increase in American foreign aid to poor nations that support human rights, adhere to strong systems of law and have open markets. The new money represents a roughly 15 percent annual increase in America's existing $10 billion annual foreign aid budget, which has not grown in a decade and is at its lowest level since World War II. International development experts called the additional $5 billion significant, although not nearly as much as they said was needed. Mr. Bush made the promise of aid, which must be approved by Congress, contingent...