There’s no shortage people who like to criticise George Bush but he’s popular in Africa and his supporters point towards the increase in US investment and aid in Africa since he arrived at the White House. Does he deserve credit for what he has done for Africans? We’re looking to talk about this while the President is in Africa.
On Monday, President Bush visited a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He unveiled a new initiative to equip every child in the country with a mosquito net to defend against malaria. It forms part of the President’s Malaria Initiative, which aims to reduce malaria deaths by 50% in 15 African countries.The president is also keen to highlight the successes of his HIV/AIDS programme, PEPFAR. The programme, launched in 2003, promises billions of dollars of aid to fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries around the world.However, the US leader’s trip has been criticised for focussing too much on his success stories, with little attention given to a number of ongoing conflicts on the continent.Have Bush’s African policies been a success? Has the president ignored Africa’s numerous conflict areas? Let us know what you think.
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Applaud him for not screwing up in Africa as much as he has with the rest of the world? Sure, positive reinforcement may work for the remainder of his term. It worked with my dogs.
I do think its nice that he is using some sort of aid and funding instead of brute military force to do ‘good’ for Africa.
I was a little dissapointed to hear of the HIV/AIDS funding being kept stagnant over the next 5 years with the Bush administration against family planning and HIV/AIDS treatment being offered in the same facilities. I don’t agree with that… But mesquito nets, guess its better than bombs, right?
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
The only problems that Bush has had any success in dealing with are ones that simply needed money thrown at them and that’s all he really knows how to do.
Brett has it right I am afraid.- Bush has not enough time to cause too much damage in Africa.
And the thing is – he really wants a legacy- and you have to pity him- a lame duck president- with a record that will go down as the worst pres in history. So he wants to show he is really a good guy – pity is – Clinton has done all of that with his foundation on Aids.
You see George? You’ve missed the boat AGAIN!
I sometimes thing the criticism of Bush gets a little excessive. Sure, the iraq war was stupid. He sounds like an idiot when he speaks, but some morons on the left are so insanely obsessed with him that literally I heard people blame him for Hurricane Katrina. Like he personally made the hurricane. I mean really, if Bush invented the cure for cancer, leftie loons would say it’s a conspiracy and would froth at the mouth thinking of him, and won’t be happy unless a hardcore communist is in power in the US. Rememeber my dear communist friends, despite how bad you say Bush is, he didn’t kill 10+ MILLION people like your hero Stalin did.
President Bush is probably responsible for saving more lives in Africa than anybody else on the planet. How can there even be a question of whether he deserves applause for that? what’s the down-side of what he’s been doing?
Of course the Bush-haters will find some way of denouncing him for even this achievement (he could have done more, he could have done it earlier, he should be supporting free condoms to teenagers and promiscuous sex, it was only money, what about Iraq, etc). Remember: George Bush and the US tax-payer don’t owe Africa a penny. The US government is not responsible for the welfare of a single African: that’s the job charged to African governments (and one that they all execute with singular incompetence). If the President had chosen not to fund any projects to combat AIDS, malaria or any of the other diseases claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans, no one would have had any grounds for criticising him. There would have been no comeback to the retort: “AU – find an African solution to this set of African problems.”
I’ll be especially intrigued by the reaction of some of the Bush-haters of African descent. Several have denounced him mercilessly over Iraq and Palestine. Yet here we see Bush doing more for Africans than anybody in the Arab world has ever done (just ask the people of Darfur, Mauritania, and southern Sudan). What have the Saudis – always busy building prestige mosques all over the world – ever done to aid Africans?
There are few, if any, countries more generous than the US – government and people – when it comes to humanitarian aid. What would we do in a world without America?
Congratulations and applause to the American president.
Applause, yes, but it does not make up for all the other stuff he’s done. I’m very pleased that Africa is a priority of Bush’s but I can’t help but speculate that it’s merely a way for him to go out on a good note, even if it is a very small one. I anticipate he will continue this goodwill until he leaves office so as to try to minimize the fact that he is the worst president in U.S. history.
Applauded for what? Not sending troops to Darfur. He was so worried about people that had gotten killed in Iraq 10 years before he was elected, however, people being raped murdered and killed by their government right now are of little concern to him. Maybe if they had oil.
The claim that the Bush administration has increased aid to Africa is yet another example of misleading propaganda that the conservative sheep often spew out as fact. The truth is that he increased Aid about 75% and not the “tripled” that he claims. That is on task with the last 4 presidents. Of the 75% though most of it went to emergency aid, and only a small fraction went to developmental aid. The later is what is needed to get the country operating on its own. So it is not just the amount of aid but where it is spent. If you spend 500 million trying to tell Africans that they shouldn’t have sex, that is hardly worth the waste of resources.
Bush has made a mockery of our constitution, intelligence community, military, economy, justice system, and even our language. Their policies have resulted in the hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. His cronies have destroyed the lives of honest Americans who had patriotism and national security interest in mind.
Applauded him for what? not screwing something up? Kind of applauding a thief for not screwing up your car dash when he stole your radio.
a great link the there reality of his Aid increase can be found here. http://www.africafocus.org/docs05/aid0506.php
It’s a cheap attempt to save histories view of his presidency. I look at it like after a man beats and rapes his wife for a week, he brings her flowers the day after. It doesn’t make up for anything. Plus I feel it’s a waste of time. Giving aid for AIDs in Africa is just prolonging the inevitable, and making things worse in some peoples view.
-Anthony, LA, CA
Dwight, can you prove a single thing you said in your frothy rant about BOOOOOOOooooSSHHHH?? Can you show me a single example of a mockery of our constitution, and how you are being oppressed? Can you show me an example of how your life is different now than in 1999? Let’s talk about a hero of yours no doubt, Lincoln. He suspended habeus corpus. He sent federal soldiers to the Maryland statehouse in annapolis to stop a vote from seceeding from the Union. He then caused the death of 200,000 Americans when he decided to attack people rather than let them go their own way. Great guy huh? I’m sure BOOOOOSH is so much worse. Hate to also break it to you dwight, but if people weren’t hyper promiscuous, these diseases would pretty much go away, or cease to be a major problem, but oh nooo!! the jesus people are telling someone what to do that actually makes sense, thus BOOOOSHH!!! EVIL BOOOOSH!!!!!! Communists like yourself would rather have people be dead than to have something you don’t like (ie like being responsible).
Whoa there McCarthy, being Anti-Bush does not mean you are communist. That era ended about fifty years ago… Your a bit late there.
Dwight makes a couple very good and interesting points, I’m off to read the link now.
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
If nobody applauds Bush for his contribution to Africa, the very majority of we Liberians will do so even at the peril of our lives. Bush greatly contributed to ending the bloody civil conflict in Liberia which claimed the lives of almost 300,000 liberian and non-Liberians as well. The American people through his government are ensuring that Liberia is cleared of debts, he is helping in the recovery process and etc.
Let me say to President Bush onbehalf of the Liberian people we are grateful to you and the American people for the support you continue to give to our country.
The world’s richest nations greatly exaggerate the amount they spend on aid to poor countries, says a study released by ActionAid International. The report says that between 60%-90% of aid funds are ‘phantom’ rather than ‘real’ with a significant proportion being lost to waste, internal recycling within donor countries, misdirected spending and high fees for consultants.
There is a real down side to the Bush programs to Africa:
1. They are very top heavy with infrastructure here in the USA and Administration positions rather than actual functional help to people in Africa.
2. Doctors are not hired to be doctors in these projects, just administrators pushing paper.
3, Look for the treatment of patients, and you cannot find it: just a load of cheap mosquito nets that have a half life of a couple of years.
4. NGO’s used by the US government are the most wasteful means to siphon off funds from reaching people in the field. The people they are suppose to help, treat, teach, etc. are only an afterthought, the means to obtain the lucrative contracts, nothing more.
I tried to obtain AIDS antivirals in one country to treat patients, in that case from the Clinton AIDS foundation, and found the medicines disappeared somewhere before they reached patients. Ghost AIDS medications.
The heavy administration, super lite treatment of patients, and smoke and mirrors between the two appears to be the Bush plan also, regardless of how much actual money every goes into programs.
This appears to be another cottage industry for the US medical system at best- don’t hold your breath Africa.
Hello my name is femi from Nigeria. I believe strongly George Bush should be given a great applause for his meticulous or effectual effort in African, bcos this is a job-wll done for we Aficans.
B/4 his departure as a President for United State, we will never forget him as a hero. So, i implore my fellow Africans that appraisal should be given to him. Thanks
I am of the opinion that all peace-loving and well meaning Liberians at home and abroad must welcome President George W. Bush to our beloved country as a way of expressing appreciation and African hospitality for his invaluable contributions to humanity. I see his visit to Liberia and other African countries as not only development-oriented but also humanitarian.
Although he will soon be leaving the American presidency, Mr. Bush will forever be remembered in history and by unborn generations as a hero and defender of international peace, justice, and democracy. Moreover, he will be highly noted as one of the world leaders who stood and continue to stand in defense of the weak against the strong and the oppressed against their oppressors. Indeed, Mr. Bush is Africa’s true liberator, particularly Liberia’s, because tyrants are his worst enemies.
Those who see Bush’s visit to Africa or Liberia as a mere political gimmick are some of the African politicians/leaders who take pleasure in begging for aids, grants, or donations from the West and mismanage same at the detriment of their citizenry. These so-called African leaders have the audacity of using international assistance and their nations’ meager resources to build mansions and open personal savings in foreign banks. As the result of their actions, Africa or most African countries are left with nothing but underdevelopment, tyrannism, and human rights abuses culminating into civil conflicts. My question is, should the West or its leaders be blamed for the unpatriotic attitudes of our leaders? I say emphatically no.
In one of his latest productions, the late Lucky Dube of South Africa says that if you have nothing good to say about your neighbor, then shut up your mouth. If our leaders/politicians in Africa have nothing substantial to say about reputable and credible world leaders like George W. Bush, then let them shut up and concentrate on the multiple of economic problems they are causing their subjects whom they ironically call their people.
Finally, I wish to wholeheartedly welcome you, Mr. President, to Africa and Liberia. May your visit be peaceful, successful, and beneficial to the trodden masses of Liberia and the entire continent of Africa?
mohammed ali:The Bush Junior administration did a great job for you Liberians to get rid of Charles Taylor,but you have forgotten that those rubber plantations are still in the hands of rebels on the one hand and on the other it is the US that is shipping the illegal rubbers that are being collected by the rebels in your country.Some of the rubber factories are polluting the rivers and your own brothers are catching fish to sell in the markets and they themseves cannot eat them.May be you donot know or you are pretending not to know either.For your information, many workers have now turned blind because of the diseases they got from drinking the polluted waters.
For how many years the people of liberia have been under civil war and liberia?Liberia was once the US dumping groud of ex-slaves,and who were also promised a better life when they helped the Americans during their war of independence against the British.The US stepped in only when they started receiving a hail of condemnations by their friends abroad to act quickly in your country.
Victor-
“President Bush is probably responsible for saving more lives in Africa than anybody else on the planet.”
Have you gotten President Bush confused with Stalin- the greatest thing since sliced bread?
Your remarks on Bush haters are coupled with wild claims that are pure fiction.
It would be great if any President, any nation, had done what you say Bush has, but that is just not true.
The AIDS and Children at risk programs are paper programs, no one has saved the world or Africa, I wish they would, but they have not.
Are you just skipping any real steps jumping directly into pure propaganda in your remarks?
It sure sounds like the propaganda of the USSR during Stalin singing his praises.
Is the object here to sing Bushes praises or to put effective programs that do something in place?
I have to conclude from your remarks singing praises is the object here.
First of all in the interest of the various countries is a plus for any Ameriacan or renowed world President to visit thier countires.
I think if Pres. G.W Bush is comin to African to reconcile with the entire african community then thus a plus for him but if there are any meanings then I think is most unfortunate.I think Bush has helped to fight global worms of AIDS,TERRORISM,etc he has also faulted in some ways.
But for now lets not make any rush in judging his visit but read what will happen thereafter like conditions about loans,etc.
We hope that he will use this visit to reconcile with all countires,religions and leave a legacy that will clear hsi image about the Iraqi and Afghan Wars.
I finally say Welcome Goerge.
Kwame
George: don’t take my word for it – just ask the people on the ground, actual real life Africans, who are singing the praises of President Bush for what US aid has accomplished.
I know how much that must stick in the craw of the Bush-haters, but facts are facts. George Bush is welcomed as a hero in Africa because he has helped Africans in practical terms. It’s as simple as that. Nobody is doing more than the US in this respect. The President is simply getting his due.
Your anecdote about trying to obtain antivirals is a comment on Africans, not on the US. It reflects precisely why Africa needs outside help.
Should we all applaud what George Bush has done for Africa?
YE! Have I missed something-I’m sorry .
You out there-radio land tell me if I did.
If it was a high voltage affair my fuse was probably out.
YE! Business is business.
bjay connotation with accent
You know as I just re-read your post, I realized that you said a bunch of stuff with no coherent substance. But I will address what I can pick out of your illogical dribble as best as I can.
The constitution has been trashed by the 1) the patriot act. The 4th amendment was designed to protect American citizens from unreasonable searches. If they themselves didn’t know it was wrong they would not have first hidden from the courts the fact that they were conducting them, and then only under overwhelming evidence, did they come out and say that they did. The same can be said of the tortuous “black sites”. If not a violation of the laws then why hide them? The founding fathers said that the rights belonged to “all men”. Not just Americans.
The biggest travesty to the constitution was the belittling of the act of treason. Defined as, among other things “adhering” to the enemy. There can be no better way to support the US enemies then to out a covert CIA agent. Before, as most, you say she wasn’t covert at the point she was outed, read the congressional testimony. She says, “I am here to say I was a covert officer of the Central Intelligence Agency,” (it) “was not common knowledge on the Georgetown cocktail circuit.” She went on confirm that was true up until the day her name appeared in the New York Times. Now a pro baseball player can’t lie about steroids use to the house without facing jail time. What do you think the chances that a GS-13 CIA agent is going to be able to say that without facing retribution is not true. My rights were violated when my tax dollars spent to grow and educate an agent is wasted for political reason. My government is supposed to protect me. One agent in the right area can save more American lives then 10 military brigades.
In this way the Bush Administration chipped away at the edges and wakened the document that represent the values that our founders fought and died to instill. Me Myself, I have been to two protest that were relocated away from direct influence. Once was in a park where we had an expressed and documented permit to demonstrate was ignored.
To be honest my fathers life is not different now then it was in 1940. He is a white male. Does that mean there were no violations of civil rights back then? I mean he could ride anywhere on a bus, eat in any restraint, “what’s the problem.” Truthfully I don’t know if my rights are being violated. I am an animate blogger who speaks out a lot about the administration. Can you tell me that my rights are not being violated. Not until I am hidden in some prison with no rights and no way to free myself.
Your question is that related to a camper sitting around a fire eating a fish thinking, he is not being attacked by a bear, so he must be perfectly safe.
What I know about Lincoln is not much, too much going on here and now to worry about the past. What I do know is that his cause was just and according to the laws of the land. He was on the side of liberating humans. If he stopped 200,000 people who were intent on killing and enslaving people because of their color, then I would say that Lincon was on the side of the righteous.
No, my teacher and master is the worlds first hippie. He said things like “turn the other cheek”, “forgiveness is the way”, “throw the first stone only if you are without sin.” He ultimate proved his faith that there was a better world after this one by accepting torture and death. Even though he had the power to end it and call for the death of his enemies. All this so he could spend eternity under the rule of communism.
I have no concern over a people’s promiscuity. My thoughts are not based in some moral fantasy, but rather awareness in reality. The facts and research shows that prevention techniques are way more effective then abstinence. In the end I could care less if we left Africa alone. Let nature take its course. But I do have an issue with liars such as those from this administration manipulating the facts to make them look in a better light then what they do.
The use of the word “Communist” shows your ignorance of the concept. Forcing the will of a ruling body on a general community, (ie. Not giving aid unless you teach abstinence) is an idea ripped straight from the communists handbook.
VictorK:President Bush will never be African hero.Why will he be taken as a hero?Is it because he promised aid to selfish African leaders?Or is it because he was shown on tv handing over three mosquito nets?Come on my dear,the US and the Bush administration in particular,have much to gain from Africa than what he has to offer or has promised to offer.And those promises are like distant dreams.
Bush is in Africa for oil,just take Ghana and Guinea Conakry which has discovered oil.The Hydrodynamic which is in Texas in the US made anunacceptable negotiations.If I am lying you can ask your people there or make research.
Not talking of Somalia,Puntaland that has got oil.Liberia the rubber plantions whereby the large part of the forests are under the control of former rebels and the US is bringing its ships to the ports to carry away the rubbers home.
I havenot mentioned DR Congo for its cupper mines and Tanzania,you think you can make your points just to cover up the reality.I donot hate Mr Bush,I respect him so much than I have respect for our African dictators who will never want to relenquish power.I have no envy for America mostly the population.I know they are good people and I used to have a friend in Africa whose name is Mark who was teaching mathamatics the villages of Guinea Conakry.But what I hate to see is when your government attacks another country without knowing that it is putting your people in danger and fear.The aiding of African dictators is not the best solution.Have a nice day VictorK.
I for one would hate to associate myself with anything Bush. I see him as 1st class dictator, now going to Africa with some cash like a thief who goes to a home with a guard dog carrying meat. When he has stolen then he runs very first.
Where was bush when Luanda was committing genocide? He was watching from America praying they finish themselves. What has Bush done for people of Darfu?
Bush only wants wealth in Africa but nothing else. In this dialog, I fail to understand Femi who to me would prefer a dictator than a real president. Similarly, Victor is totally wrong and again sounds like 1st class American. Bush money in Africa is tainted with blood elsewhere. America was the first country to congratulate Mwai Kibaki the president of Kenya even before election was properly finished, just to be corrected by other world leaders. After massacre that followed and Kofi Annan securing some success, now Bush sends Condi just to be seen helping Kenya. What rubbish. We do not want Bushes hands in Africa and for that matter in Kenya.
I wouldn’t laud George Bush when it comes to his administration’s abysmal record on Africa. This is a presidency that for eight years has lassoed Africa via Family Planning funding that has cut off advocacy for abortion and birth control in a continent ravaged by HIVAIDS and overpopulation — in which women often are forced to carry the burden. George Bush is no saint and certainly no savior as he has been painted in the last few days… too little, too late and not in all corners for true support that will render tangible long-term results for women and men equally.
If you drop all the propaganda talk about “bush haters” and the like, return to the question stated:
Should we applaud President Bush for what he has done in Africa?
So far nothing has been done outside some mosquito nets.
The promises have been grand, but the reality is not.
There is massive hiring for massive administrative personnel for PEPFAR. This is in the USA with plans to ship some bean counting administrators to Africa.
Where the rubber meets the road in clinics and hospitals, there is no rubber meeting the road to date.
From my observations of NGO’s, structure of money supposedly for aid to under developed nations in health, and personal frustrations about the news paper stories versus the facts on the ground trying to obtain resources to treat patients- real patients, not make believe pie in the sky patients, the Bush plan is for show and glow, with no rubber ever hitting the road, now or in the future.
You just cannot place all the money in administration with no patient care and have an effective program.
If that changes in the future, you will hear whoops and cheers from me, not boos.
Until such time as real doctors treat real patients with real medicine, please try to refrain from the ugly remarks trying to pretend this or any other president is walking on water.
To date there is nothing to cheer President Bush about in relation to Africa.
The way this is being organized, I am willing to bet you a nickel, yes that is correct one nickel, that you will hear nothing more of this once Bush has left office, and the administrators will quietly fade to their next political appointment.
http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2005/0627africa_rice.aspx
Above is a link to a piece by the Brookings Institution. It covers the increases in aid to Africa during George Bush’s first administration. I’ve chosen it because it takes a critical line towards the administration’s record on aid. But even the account of a hostile witness supports what I’ve said about the PResident deserving applause.
Amongs its findings: a 56% real terms increase in US aid to Africa from the end of the Clinton administration, 2000, to 2004. That is, after allowing for inflation, the Bush administration increased aid to Africa by more than half. US aid to Africa in 2004 was close to $3.5 billion. The largest single item of aid to Africa (in fact, to sub-Saharan Africa) was food aid ($1.2 billion). That is, actual Africans receiving actual food to keep body and soul together. The military aid to Africa is quite insignificant, though the Brookings report does its best to hype the issue to George Bush’s discredit.
Now, George, those are the facts. Do you have any to counter them? Has anybody done more for Africa? (We can be confident, btw, that by the end of this administration these figures will all be higher in nominal and real terms). WHYS was quite excited about the ‘millions’ that China was supposedly pooring into Africa. But it (WHYS) raises a question over whether George Bush deserves credit for pouring in billions!
Chernor: I asked if your fellow muslims, like the rich Saudis, are doing anything for Africa that compares with George Bush’s efforts. Do you have an answer to that? I thought not. In Darfur Arabs are showing their traditional love for Africans. The US government is the single biggest donator of humanitarian aid to the African muslims of that province. Does this offend you also? No – in real life Africans who have benefited from the kindness and aid of the USA are treating President Bush as a hero. People who would otherwise have starved or gone untreated for treatable diseases have every reason to praise George Bush and the US. Those Africans who nurse a permanent grievance towards the US and the West will never, of course, give credit to the ‘kaffir’ Bush. But facts are facts (just try not to choke while swallowing them – you too, George).
Victor-
I wrote a long reply addressing your use of propaganda technique which was deleted by WHYS.
You have the advantage of posting rebuttals. I do not on this topic.
Enjoy.
By e-mail
dear president BUSH
the people of BIAFRA welcome u to Africa & do call upon u not to forget us.with one more year to vacate office we still believe our independence is by the corner. so don`t let us continue in slavery in nigeria God bless America emmanuel bush unizik awka anambra state
Bush does deserve applause for bringing offer of mosquito nets to africa, but such
is not the pressing need of a Continent that suffers Political, and Economical
Injustice. the next time He should think of Visiting Iraq that He has Ravaged.
they need more of Mosquito nets
Amazing how people vilify President Bush and dismiss anything that he does. “Yes his Africa initiative is OK but…..”
Lest we forget we were attacked by radical Islamic maniacs killing people from all parts of the world and all faiths.
Decapitating the Taliban was the first part of a complex answer but intelligence services from ALL civilized countries acknowledged that Saddam Hussein had WMD’s. Where is your disdain for the Muslims of Iraq that blow up each other and God’s house as well. Nothing is sacred to them. However, where was the bleeding hearts, gnashing of teeth and crying for the hundreds of thousands that Saddam murdered? Where the hell were you?
Now you think you are part of the world intellegencia by attacking President Bush on every thing that he does. You are damn fools.
The Bush Africa initiative is a bright light in the darkness of Africa and the path to Africa joining into the world as a full member. It is very well inspired and should be acknowledged even by the “Intelegencia” that has only disdain for any progressive ideas that did not originate with them.
The simple thing I can say ti this is that George Bush has been more than good to Africa than any other American president I can think of in living mamory.
Although President Bush’s increase in aid to Africa is a good thing, I can’t help but think of the motives behind this huge cash injection. Maybe he is investing money to build good relationships with African leaders so they can gain access to the continent’s abundant oil reserves. Could this also be George Bush’s last-ditch attempt to make the history books for something other than Iraq?
You did not even have to ask this question, because there is no doubt that President Bush helped Africa the most in all the Presidents. President Bush is one of the greatest Presidents of the US. I wish he was running again so I will vote for him. He is a very smart President.
The history will remember President Bush with kindness, and people will ask for someone like him like they are asking now for someone like Regan.
The African nations should be grateful and they should do something for themselves, take responsibilities to fight disease and corruption and not depend on handouts.
Hiam
Chicago, IL, USA
George Bush has no doubt executed the war against terror fairly well, but when it comes to commitment to Afica the naked truth is that he has failed to give Africa the kind of attention she deserves. His latest efforts just like his is doing in the middle east crisis are coming very late and belated.
We in Africa beleive that George Bush belongs to the past and we rather wait for a new American president who will offer us the right treatment as in the Clinton years.
CHIMEZIE from NIGERIA.
Africa has been neglected by george bushes goverment for 7 years and now when he’s a lame duck he’s trying to salvage whatever good gracies he can latch onto. His policies toward africa has made it harder for agencies to help aids victims and stop the spread of viruses because they have these ridiculous faith base programs. George bushes policies to intervene only when it’s in america’s interest have allowed millions to be displaced and hundreds of thousand to be massacre.
Denzel in Ny.
On the whole I think he has helped bring awareness of the HIV/Aids to the fore front with USAID helping get information out to different people. On the other hand USAID has restrictions on what they can try to get people to do. They can not say anything about condoms as a means of trying to protect yourself they only promote abstinence. For some people they won’t have sex but for many that is unrealistic. Other then that I don’t think he has done much to help Africa.
Bob
Lynnwood, WA
I thought he would reach Uganda where we would finally thank him immensely, for the enormous contributions in Africa especially in war situations and fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS. To me, President Bush’s administration has been an inspiration, his foreign policies were generally good and he’s been a good friend to Africa just like Blair. thx.
My name is Augustine from Ghana. I believe Prez Bush has been good to Africa if you compare his commitment to what some African Leaders have done for Africa.
I think is better for Africans and the whole World to understand that human beings are responsible for their own destiny and must therefore strive hard to do something for themselves instead of waiting on those who have made to take them out of their self-created poverty.
African must appreciate Prez instead of talking as if America created the problem of Africa. George Bush and his level of achievement and failure must be allowed for those who voted for him to do. Africans must check their corrupt leaders. that is what will liberate them from poverty.
Dan,
“intelligence services from ALL civilized countries acknowledged that Saddam Hussein had WMD’s”
Please show proof of this. I was aware that countries noted it was a possibility, but I was unaware that every country was in consensus that he HAD WMDs at the time of the invasion. Amazing that none were found, eh?
Now you think you are part of the world intellegencia by attacking President Bush on every thing that he does. You are damn fools.
For every truth one can muster that the President has said to the media or the public, there are an equal number of lies or dodging/denial of the truth. This is a proven fact that the president has lied over and over again. It’s not a myth, its not a fad. Why should he be unquestioned at every turn or step? We went through that for the first year or so of his reign in office where the misled American public followed him with near full support. There is a reason (many in fact) why the majority of Americans distrust the president and would like to see him out of office. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not simply because attacking Bush is ‘the new black’.
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
” 31 Samantha Pryce
February 21, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Although President Bush’s increase in aid to Africa is a good thing, I can’t help but think of the motives behind this huge cash injection. Maybe he is investing money to build good relationships with African leaders so they can gain access to the continent’s abundant oil reserves. Could this also be George Bush’s last-ditch attempt to make the history books for something other than Iraq?”
Just take a look at his new plans for military installations across Africa. Also Washingtons note that in the future 25% of its imported oil will be from where?Coincidence? Unfortunately, it seems there aren’t too many of those under this administration.
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
Dear Ros,
It will be the greatest dishonesty if Africans say Mr. Bush’s policies on the continent have not been positive. His help in the fight against HIV/AIDS have been really exemplary and must be appaulded by all Africans.
But Mr. Bush and his government have done quite little to meet the millenium development goals regarding the alleviation of poverty on the continent. Fighting HIV/AIDS is laudable but finding a solution to Africa’s grinding poverty is more imperative.
I have, for the past week been traveling around Liberia’s interior, and the poverty I’ve seen so far is quite troubling. The bleakness of these people’s future makes me feel sorry for my fellow countrymen.
The US led the initiative called the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the second World War. Why can’t the US lead another such initiative for Africa? Please ask them.
Anyway Mr. Bush’s time as president in the US is nearly up, and quite frankly I doubt if he can be of much help to this continent now. I think the challenge is for the next president of the United States be it Obama, Clinton, or McCain.
Lamii in Liberia
YES BECAUSE,
– I recognize also, his exemplary dedication to the fight against diseases like malaria and the HIV-AIDS pandemic on the continent.
– I acknowledged the leading role of he in the decision by the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G-8) to cancel the 40- billion dollar debt owed by poor countries of the world to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multi-lateral international lenders.
– Yesterday, Ghanaian president announced the 14-Kilometre Mallam-Tetteh Quarshie Road, which is to be reconstructed into a first class six-lane dual carriageway at a cost of 101 million dollars, Funds for the implementation of this project is coming from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
However, NO. because of his disobedient to the formal UN secretary general, Mr. Kofi Annan and his team of expert for not going to war with IRAQ. This has resulted/created tension and fear across the globe including Africa.
Once and still OIL business man in the Arab world, people including myself look at him with different set of goggles.
I believe, in a close door discussions; he is exploring his personal business opportunities after he leaves office.
Americans believe Africa is their Garden where they exploit wealth by exploitation of all kind.
Kojo. Quayson
Ghana- Western Region, Tarkwa.
One can look at this form several dimensions
1. In terms of trade policies
2. In terms of military invasions/
3. Direct Human Relation to Africa
I think that in terms of trade policies he has not than too bad on a scale of 100 I will give him 60%. This is because it’s during his time that the AGOA initiative was passed. Again he has also initiated the Millennium Ch. Account to help support African countries who are really making efforts to combat poverty and is practising Democracy.
the next thing is that in terms of Military invasion he may have ochestrated some of the troubles in Africa but again some African countries have benefited form training and some equipment to support the Peacekeeping operations in our continent
His relationship with Africa has not been too good but has occasionally made some strives to invite African leaders to talk about the way forward in the development of the continent.
His focus had been to combat Terror and has forgotten about the [poor people on the continent. Bush has not performed as good as Clinton (benchmark) but I think is worth giving a little praise.
Kingsley, Ghana, Accra
his visit will bring change only to the American on global war on terror
and this will make Africa to be the next battle field for war on terror because of his military command to be base in Africa.
Demayen Deng
Kongor Southern Sudan
He hasn’t been good for anything. The whole country now looks like every company he ever worked at. Oh my god what did people here think they were getting? It’s “Harken” energy on a grand scale. Now if you bring up Paul O’Neil and what he wanted to do in Africa in the first term that’s another story. Unfortunately when he came back from Africa with his ideas they laughed him out of the White House. It’s all documented. Too little too late now. Now it’s not sincere it’s all posturing for his post political image. His “Charge to Keep”. BTW, has Africa actually gotten that money or is it just promised?
Greg in the States
Dear Ros,
It is indeed a sad thing to see George Bush making these seemingly progressive financial pledges at the edge cliff of his departure from office when he would have done this a long time. This is a mockery to Africans as these same pronouced figures will not come soon and most of them will not come monetary funds but in drugs donations. So this action by George is an indierct funding to his domestic pharmectical undertakings and with very little to contribute positively to the well being of our people back here in Africa. And by the way if one earnestly wonder the donations Bush has made so far to Africa are a drop in the ocean compared to economic stimulate US$ 140 Billion he has proposed to quench the thirsty American economy.
The people of Africa current do not necessarily require those pledges from Bush but need effective economic solutions, fair political play and prudent resource management compounded by equity & equality spectrum that will inevitably stimulate availability of employment opportunities.
Bush your time is gone and your legacy is mainly in the failures of the Afhagastan and Iraq invasion execution. My word of advice to the American people is that their economy will not jump start as a result of adhoc fiscal & monetary adjustment because currently the country is running three economies namely Afhagastan, Iraq and itself. These adhoc adjustments will not effective and instantaneously work because the other two economies (Afhagstan and Iraq) are elusive, remote and invisible. Significant amount of the American budget allocation goes to these two countries and this injection is always a sunk cost thereby acting as parastes on the indigneous productive sectors of the economy. American people should stand up and oppose exegenous military defence and adopt the endegeneous military defence approach that is cost saving and minimises the death risks of their troops.
Regards,
Kamayoyo Kelvin
From Lusaka – Zambia
Though George Bush has “hypothetically” increased HIV/AIDS spending in Africa under his administration it has always been tied to a moral interpretation as opposed to being relevant to the needs and the culture being served. Family Planning Clinics receive very strict guidelines with U.S. funding. For example, if a woman in Africa were recently impregnated through rape or a willingly chosen course, but discovered she was HIV-infected during pre-natal testing at a Family Planning Clinic receiving U.S. funds, abortion would not be an option. Is this truly empowering African women, children and their families over the course of eight years? I fear not.
No way! Mr. Bush should rather be treated as a criminal and be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ICC. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes – sometimes things come to light, bust I believe we don’t know most of what America is doing as far as the African continent is concerned.
What about Somalia, for example. It is widely known that it was with the tacit approval of the Bush administration that Meles sent troops to fight there. I believe if the U.S. had not told Meles to go in there and fight for them, he would never have thought of it. He does what the U.S. tells him and they support him, and make sure that he stays in power – that dictator. That’s just the tip of the ice berg, I believe.
And what about the American cotton farmers and so on, who are subsidised by the government? I think if America would allow producers all over Africa to become competitive in the world market, most countries could lift themselves out of poverty. Another example would be coffee. Ethiopia is the hoe of coffee (and I think Ethiopian coffee is the best in the world), so then why are most coffee farmers struggling to make a living?
Portraying George Bush as “good for Africa” is just completely ridiculous. Hopefully the next president will be (at least a little bit) better.
Vienna, Austria
why only ghana, tanzania, rwanda, benin, and liberia? someone asks! where he has a lot interests! those who listen to him! anyway bush has been only ever good us president to africa in many sectors. i pray the next us president to be like him, he has sowed many seeds; children of africa will reap the fruits
President Bush contributing money to a Country in need is great! I think more people/Countries should support Africa. However, supporting Africa is not going to win over the hearts of the United States. His arrogance and mismanagement of our money is unforgivable. No matter how much money he donates to Africa (as much as I feel the need to help Africa), he will never make up for the damage he has done! Most Americans do not support his decisions or the war. I have seen more support this last year for Africa from celeberities and general public. The Nation has been inspired to reach out and help Africa and raise money for a good cause. I only wish we could find the inspiration to support out own communities with as much motivation!
has he talked about brain-draining? all what africa needs is advice on democracy.
Gee, maybe I’m wrong about Bush. Maybe, if he had never been elected president and was still just an oilman in Texas, he would be spending his own money and devoting all his time to selflessly helping the nations of Africa overcome their problems.
And maybe pigs really can fly.
Applauded? Probably not…but any aid to the African continent is a good thing…no matter what the motives. I really don’t care why Bush is taking an interest in Africa. I only care that there is an interest. Ineffective programs and bureaucratic red tape in getting money and food to those who actually need it is the way of the American government, and has been for as long as I can remember. We’re kidding ourselves if we think this is going to change with the next President. Blame it on Bush if it makes you feel better, but the true culprit is the incredibly huge and inefficient American system. It was in place long before Bush got there.
Brett,
It has been more than half a decade since the US carried out the UN resolution and took out Saddam Hussein. In that time hundreds of volumes of data from the countries around the world presented documentation of their belief in Saddam Hussein’s WMD stockpile and program. Still you sit back in your magnificent ignorance and demand that I show you proof. Grow up and look for yourself. The data is almost everywhere BUT….where were you when Saddam Hussein launched a WMD gas attack against the Kurds. Did you demand that you be shown the dead bodies first?
No matter how bright the light a blind man will not see =especially when looking the other way.
Next you allege that President Bush has consistently lied but present no evidence only your opinion and like your orifice of elimination everyone has one and yours is nothing special.
The only point you make that I agree is that we have a responsibility as citizens to question ALL of our elected leaders including the left wing Democrats.
How is it that one claims 35 years of experience but there are no fingerprints left behind? Will you show the same disdain for those people as you do for President Bush?
The best thing that George Bush has done for Africa is the the facilitation of the passage of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) by Congress. African countries have been able access the U.S.’s textile and apparel markets. I am not a strong believer of the so-called aid to poor countries. Aid encourages dependency syndrome. Furthermore, most aid money ends up back to the countries giving it. Take the case of the U.S. If the U.S. gives out money for humanitarian purposes, most of it ends up in the pockets of Americans. Relief food has to be bought in the U.S., must be shipped by U.S. transporters, and must be distributed by a U.S. Non Governmental Organization (NGO). What Africa needs from the U.S. are more trade opportunities not handouts.
James
Seattle
I think bushs record on aid to africa has been more than impressive.
His devotion to the african malaria problem is one that merits commendation. He was wrong in iraq but i believe hes got it right with africa.
Kwabena
Bush is not trying to help but to rule Africa
Hello All,
Good deeds should never be criticized. Fighting AIDS is always good. While it is undoubtably true President Bush’s motivation in funding African anti-AIDS programs was at least partially to direct money to politcal supporters, and that it is also true the program intially focused upon preaching rather than practical prevention, it has had positive impact. Whatever their motivation; the actions and their results should be applauded.
Where G.W.’s attitude toward the peoples of this continent, and the attitudes of most other western and eastern leaders as well may be criticized, is upon continued exploitation of the human and natural resources of Africa. It seems clear from the current actions of the Africans themselves, that extended familial loyalties (tribalism) often exceed national loyalties. Any moral individual will understand taking advantage of such societies to their detriment is both easy and immoral. We all (colonial countries) are guilty of this immoral behavior. So; as you take pride in your diamond jewelry, or drive your car, or chat with a friend by cellphone, or appreciate the sound of woodwinds at a Philharmonic concert, know that Africans have died for our sins.
later,
g
Yes, George has been good in terms of proactive policies like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows Africa an American market for their goods and The Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) which doles out money to African countries for development driven projects. These facilities if properly utilized by the receiving countries would go a long way to lift Africa from poverty. The agriculture and the export sectors are benefiting from the MCC, AGOA and the West Africa Trade Hub under the USAID. My only problem is that The MCC does not come in one tranche.
Talk also about the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) which has announced a $250 million support to some selected economies in Africa. The financial sector including the capital market as well as telecommunication, manufacturing and mining are receiving a boost. All these and other interventions from America under George Bush in HIV/AIDS and other diseases all show indeed, that George has been good to Africa.
However, African economies have been so vulnerable to world market price hikes of oil which have been so as a result of the unfortunate war waged by Uncle George on Iraq. George can also be friendlier if he can convince many of the manufacturing and industrial concerns in America to produce the drugs, treated bed nets, cars etc in Africa to make them affordable and available at home.
Ben in Tarkwa – Ghana
I think bushs record on aid to africa has been more than impressive.
His devotion to the african malaria problem is one that merits commendation. He was wrong in iraq but i believe hes got it right with africa.
There is a limit as to how much Western leaders can help Africa. I think that Bush and most western leaders did not stop Africa from developing.
Whether we succeed or not is interly up to us. May be what we should do is to bargain more especially on Agoa and other opportunities. No American President will develop our continent. Its up to us.
Horace
Lilongwe, Malawi
I don’t think Bush gives a damn about African hiv, I think he is pushing a big business agenda to gain control of africas natural resources. A systematic approach that we have seen time and time again: Aid money arrives, grand visitations occur, funds become misappropriated by “corrupt” factions, aid is withdrawn, chaos ensues, military arrives and on to the next stable region we go …….etc. etc.
It is no secret that the US. would like more military bases in Africa. Who does the US think it is kidding, there is always a hidden agenda, it is nonsense to think otherwise……
Archibald
Dan,
The attack and subsequent proof I believe you are referring to occurred in March of 1988. Our invasion for WMD’s was over a decade later… If invasions and wars were based solely on more than decade old proof we would all be in trouble.
Need evidence of lying from Bush? Heres a start.
-“The United States does not torture”
-He said the International Atomic Energy Agency had produced a report in 1998 noting that Iraq was six months from developing a nuclear weapon; no such report existed (and the IAEA had actually reported then that there was no indication Iraq had the ability to produce weapons-grade material).
-“Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.” Yet former deputy CIA director Richard Kerr, who is conducting a review of the prewar intelligence, has said that intelligence was full of qualifiers and caveats, and based on circumstantial and inferential evidence.
– “We found the weapons of mass destruction.” But he could only point to two tractor-trailers that the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency had concluded were mobile bioweapons labs. Other experts–including the DIA’s own engineering experts–disagreed with this finding.
-“The vast majority of my [proposed] tax cuts go to the bottom end of the spectrum.” That estimate was wildly at odds with analyses of where the money would really go. A report by Citizens for Tax Justice, a liberal outfit that specializes in distribution analysis, figured that 42.6 percent of Bush’s $1.6 trillion tax package would end up in the pockets of the top 1 percent of earners. The lowest 60 percent would net 12.6 percent.
ENVIRONMENT
-One of Bush’s first PR slip-ups as President came when his EPA announced that it would withdraw a new standard for arsenic in drinking water that had been developed during the Clinton years. Bush defended this move by claiming that the new standard had been irresponsibly rushed through: “At the very last minute my predecessor made a decision, and we pulled back his decision so that we can make a decision based upon sound science and what’s realistic.” And his EPA administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, said the standard had not been based on the “best available science.” This was a harsh charge. And untrue.
9/11
– “No one could have conceivably imagined suicide bombers burrowing into our society and then emerging all in the same day to fly their aircraft–fly US aircraft–into buildings full of innocent people.” His aides echoed this sentiment for months. They were wrong. Such a scenario had been imagined and feared by terrorism experts. And plots of this sort had previously been uncovered and thwarted by security services in other nations–in operations known to US officials. According to the 9/11 inquiry conducted by the House and Senate intelligence committees, the US intelligence establishment had received numerous reports that bin Laden and other terrorists were interested in mounting 9/11-like strikes against the United States.
– Fourteen months after the attack, Bush said, “We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September the 11th.” But his actions belied this rhetoric. His White House refused to turn over information to the intelligence committees about a pre-9/11 intelligence briefing he had had seen, and the Bush Administration would not allow the committees to tell the public what intelligence warnings Bush had received before September 11. More famously, Bush would not declassify the twenty-seven-page portion of the committees’ final report that concerned connections between the 9/11 hijackers and Saudi Arabia. And following September 11, Bush repeatedly maintained that his Administration was doing everything possible to secure the nation. But that was not true. The Administration did not move–and has not moved–quickly to address gaping security concerns, including vulnerabilities at chemical plants and ports and a huge shortfall in resources for first responders [see Corn, “Homeland Insecurity,” September 22].
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20031013/corn
I did find it amusing that you respond with ‘grow up’ when asked for proof, then complain that my comments on his lies have no proof to accompany them.
Either way I don’t think this blog is long enough to post the countless lies that ole GW has spewn to the American public and abroad.
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
It seems to me that Steve and Dwight are on opposite sides of the spectrum, unable to see the potentially valid points the other makes.
The bottom line is thus: Any help directed towards African countries in need is a worthwhile cause, forget the possible corruptions along the way. Call me an idealist, but I have to believe you cannot stop giving and trying simply because the system is flawed. That is a road that leads to absolutely zero aid in African countries.
No matter how much I may disagree with our president, and his administrations countless awful decisions, I am not too proud to applaud him for his efforts in Africa. No matter the underlying motives, if Africans are receiving ANY sort of relief, a good deed is a good deed.
Steve- you may be a smart guy, but the way your present your argument forces one to believe the opposite. The moment you begin name calling and making wild accusations (seriously? communism?) is the moment your reader stops listening to a word you say. I’d appreciate you leaving your own fears at the door, so I can actually begin to read and understand your point of view.
Dwight, I applaud you on a well articulated argument.
Some say too young to know what she’s talking about,
Laura in Minneapolis
Aye the team,my opinion really lies that;
Yes he can be credited for his strong fight against AIDS but though its like a token which he might be regarded as some of his best works in the world due to his mess in the Iraq war of invasion,here some people remain commited to the fact that he cant be applauded for this,what about the conflicts he supported in Somalia,yet he is leaving government when its even not resolved and themoral support given to Kenya is worth little expected of him yet he was aware of how democracy was surely made futile and cordially by trauma brought down,to many people here and particulary educated,him making extreme wars against other nationa and giving moral support to any other kind of freedoms of people subliming them to margination has made President Bush unpopular nomatter the applauded achievements he might have tried to have and let work!!!
Makerere University,
Kampala
Uganda
Bush has always had good thoughts for Africa but has never been able to implement them. He has been too busy with war in Iraq & Afganistan.
This show will reveal the catch-22 the US is in. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. We get criticized for intervening, then criticized for not intervening. Gee, maybe countries with wonderful human rights records, like China (just how many did they kill at Tianamen Square for speaking their minds) will become the next target of the professional whiners that complain about everything the US does or doesn’t do.
Thanks President Bush for visiting Liberia long live America, long live President Bush.
President Bush is a hero.it takes a courageous man to wage war on terror.may GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Has Bush been good to anyone but arms dealers?
I particularly like and endorse his fight to eradicate the scourge of malaria and HIV Aids.
Having been so cynical of my government for the last 8 years, I am glad that SOMEone, SOMEwhere has a positive thing to say about Mr. Bush & his administration. However, I shake my head in shame at our foreign policy, how do you address Africa without addressing the genocide?
George W. Bush is a war monger who need to be tried at the ICC for crimes committed against humanity in Iraq an Alfgahastan.
I work in a HIV Clinic where we have seen the survival rates of our patients go up since we started running the PEPFAR program. To most of us involved, the program has been a big success irrespective of the strings attached to the fund. How many African govts have been able to impact their people in such a way. Kudos to George W Bush & America!
People should appreciate anything that is done to help. It doesn’t matter if Bush looks at the major problems. By visiting and getting the press to Africa it gets people talking more about the country and it’s issues. It gives awareness to the world of the issues that need to be looked at there. The us is just one country and by Bush making a point to visit and acknowledge issues and problems that give awarness to other governments that Africa needs their help too. The problems of Africa should not be left up to the US and Bush to fix.
His legacy is of debt relief, stand against terror,disease,poverty, etc. To my look on ex-American president s record on Africa,his is best.
I appreciate that George Bush’s whitehouse is reaching out to aid Africa like no other nation has financially but to me its an obvious strategy to do SOMETHING positive during his tenure.
I’m glad Africans may benefit , as they certainly need it, but Americans and others are suffering. Let’s not forget that a big part of the instability over the years in Africa is a direct result of meddling by outside nations including the U.S.
Regards to all…
EPA
Bush tour in africa will rival china increasing presence in this continent.the best investment the usa can provide is to help it have the adequate infrastructure for ordinary africans
Lets just say George W. Bush has been good enough to Africa. He is a war president; his country is in war; his country is in budget/trade deficit never seen before. BUT he still managed to do well for us and currently visiting our continent and meeting our leaders. More power to him.
Asfaw, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
America can’t solve everyone’s problems.
As minimal as the forward *general* development has been, there would have been none at all without us. I don’t like George Bush either, but don’t bite the hand that literally feeds you.
George bush has done nothing for africa, means nothing for africa and why now? There must be a good good reason behind all these dangling carrots. When did he come to realise that africa exists. Go well mr bush.
Ros and team,
if one of your staff of thousands can find this out during the show, I think it would put the program in perspective – without necessarily distracting from the subject at hand.
Bush’s tripling of aid to Africa is admirable, and certainly the United States is setting a good example that many others should follow.
But how much aid – in dollars – is the US currently giving to Africa as a whole, and how much aid (largely military) is it giving to Israel?
I am neither Israeli nor Palestinian, by the way.
cheers,
I have traveled to West Africa five times in the last 14 months. We rent a house there that we use to provide aide for children. We don’t have to do this. Nor does America have to provide aide to the African continent. What really bothers me is the attitude in Africa that we don’t do enough. Why is it that African’s think they are entitled to my tax dollar? They should be grateful instead of using the opportunity to criticise the very people who are giving aide to them.
Rob in Texas
Can you say that the president has got it right in Africa while we stand by and allow genocide in Darfur? How many people have died under the watch of his administration? No doubt many of his policies have benifited the lives of Africans- but Bush has not done enough on perhaps the most important issue.
Rest assured that Bush is giving dimes for Aids from one hand while stealing Oil dollars with the other, he simply cannot be trusted!
In my view no one in america history has done to African and Black American have done in all case than President Bush did He is an african herror I will fight for this all of my life I am not happy with anybody in africa who does not appreciate this I can understand them because even Jesus do have critics
I think that Bush has done some good in Africa, but it disturbs me that 1 in 5 children in the U.S.A. goes to bed HUNGRY!
I am proud of all the good work the US has done in Africa. The shadow over Bush’s HIV policies is his pushing a narrow religious belief in abstinence only prevention.
President Bush is merely looking for a legacy, otherwise what else would he be best known for? Iraq. While the issues in Africa have been transpiring for decades and even centuries, I do not believe that his efforts, or the reasons for his visit, are entirely philanthropic.
George Bush is trying desperately to find something good in his “legacy”. It’s hilarious to listen to the media jump through hoops trying to help him do just that. George Bush is an incompetent, corrupt and greedy leader.
He isn’t interested in peace – there’s no money to be made in that! If America was still a democracy, Bush would have been impeached by now. He doesn’t care about poor people – any action he takes is for his own good, or for the good of his corporate sponsors. Witness Katrina, torture, war, illegal wiretaps, outing CIA agents, tax cuts for the rich, reductions in consumer protections, on and on and on.
The only reason George Bush is in Africa is to try to prop up his failed Legacy.
American policies under the Bush Administration withhold condoms from African countries and money to countries that won’t adopt the Religious Right’s “Abstinance-Only” programs.
Since Condoms are the best protection against HIV/AIDS, Bush policies have actually contributed to many thousands of unneeded deaths due to AIDS.
How many people have died just in the last week because Bush and the Religious Right think sex is dirty and condoms are the work of the devil?
Steve Daniels
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Pepperdine University is an extreme right wing Conservative school, so your guest ought to be recognized as pushing pro-Bush propaganda!
Bush will always be welcome in Africa now or later. tell me please was P Bush voted to office by the Americans to benefit Africans? let our presidents learn from this that they are responsible to make africa happy not the P of US or any other P for that matter. G Bush is welcome to visit any place he feels like visiting, leave the man alone and let the people of africa stand for their own responsibilities
Tina
While Bush’s policies towards Africa is admirable and these countries need the help of the world’s resources, it is unfortunate that the Bush administration sees fit to help those abroad before focusing the vast resources of our country internally. While the US may be one of the world’s wealthiest nations, there are many communities within our borders where the poverty, sickness & lack of educational & economic opportunities and resources rival those of the world’s poorest nations. Any attempts to direct more money towards our own educational system, health care, sex education or living assistance is looked upon as “welfare” and unacceptable.
Saudi Arabia has given a lot of aid to poor countries throughout South Asia and Africa. Here is some information on aid given to Africa http://www.saudinf.com/main/l107.htm
but there are a lot of sources which show more amounts that you are free to look up.
Also, Victor since you are so infatuated with Saudi Arabia, you should note that Saudi Arabia also doesn’t have military bases throughout east Africa like the US, and when Saudi Arabia gives out aid (like the $130M recently given to Bangladesh) they don’t have press conferences and photo-ops for days.
And I’ve noticed you go out of your way to write Muslim as muslim (not capitalized), you are free to disrespect whoever you want, but then your post will be taken with a grain of salt.
Y es, Bush has done good for Africa.
What does it matter what his motive of other policies are. Good results are good results.
I agree with Rob from Texas. The president is not god. He can’t be good for everybody. If people keep complaining that US has not done enough, we might as well STOP aiding Africa. There can only be so much money that US can give. There are always ungrateful people. US is not unlimited ATM.
I want the US government to make sure that helping Africa is in the interest of US in the long run. If it means that US can only help certain nations, then that is fine with me.
I had to laugh listening to the caller saying that literacy is a bigger problem than HIV in africa. And “Where was he?”? Sorry, it doesn’t take the US to throw money at you to get you to read. You do that on your own. Get a damn book, then read it. That’s not exactly the same as HIV medications, which don’t exactly make themselves, and cost a little bit more than a book. That caller sounds likes an ungrateful whiner. Sorry, you don’t need Georgie’s hand to get people in your continent to learn to read even if her comments were valid. Are books banned in Africa? If not, please blame yourself, not George Bush.
Bush is doing what he does – talk. And unless congress lines up and writes legislation, that passes, this is nothing more than an attempt to sew up his failed administration. He’s been in office 8 years and only now he’s addressing health issues in Africa.
Before politics first is survival according Vladamir Lenin the communist leader and George Bush agrees with Lenin and Africans should forget about politics and focus on survival.
True we have Aids and other diseases and it is also true corrupt leaders are chasing African doctors and engineers and others.This brain drain is Africa’s big problem and for that we need accountable and elected government in Africa.
Regards,
This is just the second ‘Scramble for Africa’ between China and the US rather than Europeans
Sure, Bush has helped, but you must the subtract the harm done by defunding programs provding contraception. You should also remember that the murderers of 3,000 of my countrymen in NYC know they must support good works via charity to maintain support or at least offset opposition. Bush is acting on this very strategy. He is has proven himself to be too much of a callous, murderous cynic to be acting otherwise. He remains a war criminal and likely traitor to his own country who should be tried for his crimes.
I voted against Mr Bush both times he stood for the Presidency. Nonetheless, I must applaud the fulfillment of the promises he made in 2001 to fight malaria, AIDS, and poverty in the world’s poorest continent. Lives are being saved, and futures are being built. This element of the Bush foreign policy is both admirable and refreshing.
Bush cares about disease coming to america…not conflict.
George Bush has cut funding in his own country for many public services including health care. His motives in Africa are that he needs a legacy other than the Iraq war to be remembered by. Thus he wants to be seen on the world stage as something other than a war monger. The restraints on HIV education come from a fundamental Christian point of view and will never work as the use of condoms is not allowed to be taught. George Bush also never looks at where the money will come from, he just writes checks that are not covered and thus contributes to the deficit.
When Bush took office USA had a 300 billion dollar surplus and now we have a 3 trillion dollar deficit. (the war costs 250,000 per minute).
George Bush was good for Africa in that he didn’t start a war there, which is saying something for sure. The money is good, but what problems have our companies (particularly the oil and mining companies) caused in the region. He has developed an African Command for the military which to me says that if he had another 4 years he WOULD indeed start a war their.
The coming of president Bush to Africa is not bad, but he should have visited the countries of political crisis like Kenya, Sudan(Darfur) and many others.
The mere fact that we even ask the question should be an indicator that maybe he hasn’t. It is true that he has increased the amount of aid from the US to Africa, but for what purpose?
The better question should be: Is he waging a silent war against China’s increasingly dominant presence in Africa?
Does George Bush have a track record of being solicitous for Africa or has he had an epiphany; if it has been a recent epiphany, what was the catalyst… was it China’s Presence there?
George
We Africans are trying to forget one thing, America is not a lazy nation. America do what they can and they CANN what they do. Africa is blessed with man by things. I personnally think we ought to sit, and start to think.
USA doesn t care about democracy.look at there stance on uganda- good e.g they say yet a dictatorship-
Africans really don t know how to say thank you for any effort.
why are you not mentioning his blocking of aid towards contraception education!
While Bush has made a mess of Mid East he is making amends in Africa 4 his guilt.
Bush & his admnistration are up to no good. They just want our mineral wealth and give us gunz to fight each other.
We can see lite at end of the tunnel in Africa, but it could be a train.
Bush,his visit has no impact.Africa has many problems to be solued.
I have two points:
Point 1
I’m surprised to hear the distinct split between parties grateful and ungrateful for assistance in Africa. Regardless of whether it is part of some grand finale showmanship from Bush, it is still aid that they would otherwise not have. I guess it seems like they are looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Point 2
With the disaster still lingering in the South from hurricane Katrina, it makes me question the validity of this foreign aid when it might be better put to use and appreciated stateside.
All the people missing a point. By dumping millions of dollars in to the Africa you can not achieve any progress they become more dependent. They need self confidance and ability to stand on their feet. So they need jobs and work.
the international community need to make an agreement that every country will import certain percentages of African made products.
US imports most of their products from China, instead they should divert their imports to Africa(may be it is costly but better then dumping raw money).
To the guest who said that what Bush gives isn’t real, in that case, can I have it back? I could use the tax refund to pay off my student loans.
Otherwise, please ask her to retract her statement, unless she likes to lie in front of the entire world. That “not real” stuff you are referring to are my tax dollars. If you deny they exist, then please give them back to me. Thanks!
The whole continent is out of control. Why should Bush and the USA be responsible for keeping these countries afloat? The whole world needs to realise that the lack of gratitude might mean the US just turn their back on the rest of the world and try to fix their own domestic problems. Africa is Africas responsibility, not the US.
Africa, fix your own problems.
How nice to have your hand on the purse strings of America. However generous Bush has been with aid to Africa, it is the American taxpayer, not Bush who will have to pay the bill. We will have to pay this bill while we have the social problems we have here; an exploitive health insurance industry and a bandit pharmecuetical industry – not to mention a slough of other internal needs.
I am glad that you are having this discussion about the US’s involvement in Africa.
I don’t know if some of those supporters of Bush (whose comments you have read over the air) are just plain dumb or in “shock-and-awe” of the US’s muscle.
First to the historical angle. Isn’t it incandescently clear that the US business interests have had an odious relationship with Africa, beginning with the slave trade which were used to built the US. In more recent times, the US appears to have been on the opposite side of the popular struggles. I am thinking of the apartheid state of South Africa. How about the elimination of Patrice Lumumba and Kwame Nkrumah? How about Bill Clinton’s deafening silence when the genocide was occurring in Rwanda? Yes, there are interests in the US who decry the situation in Darfur–and kudos to them–but it appears to be cynical (read: Sudan has oil). What about the situation in eastern Congo, where over 5 million people have perished since 1998 and the genocide continues today. Not even as much as a peep from the US administration.
Wasn’t it telling when he was asked in Tanzania about why so late in his tenure he was visiting Africa? Could it be that with things heating in the Middle East and the apparent scarcity of oil, that the US is looking strategically in securing oil supplies in Africa. Then, it would make sense that an African Command be established on the continent so that American forces would look out for US’s business interests. That is what AfriCom is all about. It certainly isn’t about “controlling terrorism” on the continent.
Lastly, American trade policy has worked against ordinary African farmers especially with the subsidies given to American agribusinesses. This has been even more devastating than any overt military act. The situation is so bad that leaders of Mali and Burkina Faso sent an Op-Ed to the NY Times entitled, “Your Farm Subsidies Are Strangling Us.” Also, what about Vice President Gore’s visit to South Africa (when he was in Office) warning that country about having cheap generic HIV drugs which were “illegally” made?
It is difficult to see how the US could have a change of heart and really be concerned about the situations in African countries. I am not buying it.
Thanks,
The US has increased its spending on aids prevention in africa, unfortuneatly contriceptive promotion monies were cut and replaced with abstinence only programs. Because of this, the drops in the 90’s we have recently seen a aids increase in many african counries
Im deeply upset about Bush visit to Africa.Athough he has never stepped on kenyan soil we pray for Obama to succeed him,so that he can visit Kenya.Bush go back and concentrate on economic of your country.Ibrahim Adan from Nairobi.
The problem with Africa is a failure to govern in a way that improve the lives of the people of Africa. Stop fighting and produce your way out of poverty that is what you all need to do forget Mr. Bush you are you own problems.
Bush is clearly trying to establish himself a positive image to somehow compliment his tarnished image before his departure from office. He went into Iraq with guns blazing wall while ignoring conflicts in Sudan, Congo, etc.
This is an obvious ploy to add some shine to a heavily tarnished presidential legacy.
For me in Tanzania i think President Bush has done a recommendable job by helping some of the countries to fight HIV/AIDS,TB, and Malaria. In Zanzibar for instance, malaria has been reduced to 10 per cent…which is a success through President Malaria Initiative (PMI) which started in 2003.
Human suffering in Africa should be blamed on African politicians like Mugabe and not the developed world, and Africans should learn to solve their own problems instead of looking to the west. Africans should stop thinking the west is responsible for their development.
I’m happy that Bush worked hard to have both warring parties in Sudan to reconcile and attain relative peace. This effort started years back. But people should understand that each US president is faced by different priorities upon taking office.
The problems in Africa should be solved by African leaders with the help of the western leaders but it should not be seen as the latter’s sole responsibility.
I think it is safe to say that outside of Darfur and the election troubles in Kenya, most Americans are pretty unaware of what Bush has done for Africa. The “good” things being done don’t get any press here in the U. S. I would also ask who is responsible for the programs being funded in Africa. While Bush gets the credit, was it really him and his staff that placed those items in the budget or was Congress that put it there. What kind of deal was struck to get funding to the current levels. While he should be credited for signing the budget funding these programs we can’t be sure that this was his idea.
Cheers,
The only reason George Bush is in Africa is to try to prop up his failed Legacy.
American policies under the Bush Administration withhold condoms from African countries and money to countries that won’t adopt the Religious Right’s “Abstinance-Only” programs. Since Condoms are the best protection against HIV/AIDS, Bush policies have actually contributed to many thousands of unneeded deaths due to AIDS.
I have been listening to the radio program today. I must admit, it always amazes me to hear the African mindset. I rent house in Senegal and travel there quite frequently. We use the house to minister to the health needs of a small community there. We don’t have to do this, but feel that it is a good thing to do. Yet, the community always acts as if we should give more and that we don’t do enough and that they are somehow entitled to the fruit of my labor. It is the same on a Continental scale. The African Continent somehow has convinced themselves that they are entitled to aide from america. In fact, they should be grateful, not hateful!
hi,
You can’t question George bush’s generosity to Tanzania and Africa; he definitely has been so good. He promised almost 700 million dolar in five years time. Dr Lwaitama has taught me at the University of Dar es Salaam. Since I´ve known him it is a first time now I don’t understand what he is saying. I don’t want to believe that he can’t see what Bush did last week when he visited Tanzania. All Tanzanians need say is Thank you George Bush, Thank you America for your support.
Africa as a continent has innumerable areas requiring aid and improvement. To discount the accomplishments and positive policy of President Bush(or rather US policy he represents) simply because of his/our record and flaws. For those receiving support the most important issue is support. The politics and policies of the US are secondary (if they are not the aid should be refused to make a point). American mistakes should not blind us to positive actions this country can, and has made.
Aid to help stop the prevention of AIDS should not be based on the Christian Rights view of morals, Uganda is working and getting more money because the have agreed to promote abstinence, your Pro-Bush spin-master says its working so they should get more money…no, the money needs to go to the areas where AIDS is still spreading rapidly. These prudish policies are killing people…Condoms work!! and can help improve the situation throughout Africa, not just in countries that will bow to the will of Christian evangelicals.
Hi Ross,
I want to comment on what Mary has said, that why Bush skipped Kenya to go to Tanzania just when there is conflict! We all should remember that one of the qualifiers for the aid is GOOD governance. There is no way he could visit all the countries of Africa!
Furthermore, Bush has done great to provide that much aid to Africa. My only concern is that all the money that was promised will not be provided entirely as the aid package claims. The truth is, the money that is usually promised is never given in its entirety!
After watching the documentary, The Road to Guantanamo, and hearing his speeches this week in Africa, it saddens me to think people actually believe what he says. One the positive side, if his speeches give people hope, that’s good. But it’s also very misleading. Pres. Bush has not offered anything to Africa that has not been in place before. Bush is not responsible for providing lifesaving drugs to Africa. He has not signed one bill to support that. I personally know the programs the leading drug manufacturers have had in place for years to provide drugs at cost for malaria and HIV/Aids. Millions and millions of dollars have been spent on drugs sent to Africa and in the past they never were distributed (at all or very far) because of local bureaucracies or policies. I’m not sure if or how that situation has changed.
In addition, Bush does not back up his speeches with any resources. He pledges millions of dollars but it is never provided, or never tracked, or given to a private organization with no oversight as to how the money is used. I can’t tell you how many programs he’s done this to in the US and have had terrible and lasting consequences. “Leave No Child Behind” education initiative now has teachers and students studying to pass a test instead of learning. And teachers are being let go or driven from their field for being unfairly held accountable for test scores – when the schools don’t even have money to buy text books for everyone. This Administration is well known for that. His success is a result of simple language, repeated often and the context of what people want to hear.
I just wish he would cut his losses and let the people in the government who have an ounce of historical knowledge, who do their homework, who listen and weigh the pro’s and con’s – let them do the job.
And finally, the biggest, most embarrassing part of his hyped PR trip – not doing one blasted thing for the Darfur people. He strangely wastes time on the high priority issues with studies and commissions and then chooses not to follow their recommendations. How many months did this administration take to agree that what was happening in Sudan constituted genocide? And his argument that that was an important distinction was to be in line with the Geneva Convention, and we know he doesn’t follow that revered agreement.
Bush denying military bases. Ha! Bush also said specifically that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction! Bush simply has no credibility.
A military headquarters is de facto a military base!
Sheesh!
Harry in San Francisco (KALW) writes:
I’m surprised you continually have these right-wing apologists for American imperialism on your program (such as the guy from Pepperdine University).
Secondly, left unmentioned is the Bush administration’s use of totalitarian client-state Ethiopia to further destabilize Somalia.
Not to mention the illlicit US airstrikes on Somalia.
An excellent resource is the recent book “Untapped” about oil in Africa.
“What lobby benefits from ramped up aid to Africa?” Answer: Big Pharma.
Remember that all of our aid for AIDS is tied to “abstinence”
I’m not a Bush supporter at all, but you can hardly blame him for Africa’s shortcomings. I hear story after story about the billions of dollars of aid that have made their way to Africa over the last 50 years, yet all I see on TV and in magazines is the continuation of human suffering due to conflict, starvation, and disease. I always thought of Kenya as one of the most stable places in Africa, now look at it. Bush probably could have done more, but it would have been pointless, because little of 50 years of aid has brought lasting change.
Bush is pushing “abstinence” which is really Conservative Christian Evangelicalism AKA government Religion!.
George Bush is using the USA credit card to buy an “indulgence”
(in the Middle Ages Catholic Church sense of indulgence).
What if?
Al Capone robbed Chicago City Hall to build an orphanage in Mexico.
.
Regardless of what Mr Bush does, those on the left side of politics are busy criticising him and portraying him as a failed president. He made some mistakes?? So what .. Decisions were made based on the information available to him at the time. The only way for a president not to make a mistake is to DO NOTHING!! .. I personnally think we ought to sit, and start to think what will happen to the world , if his replacement is someone who has nothing to offer but slogans and motherhood statements.
Let’s get one thing straight:
Bush only does what he’s told to do. He’s a moron.
Yeah, it’s great that money is going to help things out in Africa, but
much of the “aid” he’s earmarking is also going to enrich the pharmaceutical industry in the States and suck more out of the Federal Treasury. And as mentioned before, there’s minerals and oil in them there hills.
Remember: Republicans do absolutely nothing without Corporate greed and profit in mind; if it involves Free Money from US taxpayers it’s just icing on the cake.
No.
And it’s interesting that Africa, Israeli-Palestinian peace, the economy, and the environment have only just become important in these last months of his 8 years in office.
R.B. – Cleveland, USA
From bears to wolves, from North and Latin Americans to Afghanis, Iraqis and you-name-it, from faithful to infidel,
from Christian to Muslim, the world is a far worse place for Mr. Bush’s presence than it was before, perhaps ever
before. Certainly he shares, sponsors and has advanced the mind-set of warmongering and killing, of cruelty and
torture, injustice and deceit, destruction and decimation, of profiteering and run-away FEAR with a dedication and
intensification the world had not known since Hitler, till he came along.
May God bless and teach him and those whose policies he enacts, for the world has cried and died, tried, protested
and utterly failed.
Cristina
Morocco is one of the first countries to recognise the independence of the USA. Their relations date back to 1787. It is one of its strategic allies. Up to now, no American president in office has ever visited Morocco since its independence, except for Roosevelt in 1943for the Anfa Conference to map out a strategy for the ongoing Second World War and Bill Clinton for the funeral of late King Hassan the Second. They visited it only when they left office as tourists. It is not included in their agenda when they make an official tour of the Middle East or Africa.
Morocco has a long fishing coast rich with fish of many varieties. George Bush ,on his tour of Africa, offered mosquito nets. I hope that when he comes to Morocco he will offer fishermen modern fishing nets!
Both Bob Geldof and Bono both say Bush has done a great job helping Africa with millions of lives saved. Why would they lie ? If Bush was a democrat you would see lots of video on the news programs showing African people hugging him and cheering him. As Geldof pointed out the American media has chosen to ignore it.
America and Europe pleeeeeeeeze Stay away from africa!!
Actually Africa dont need any help from you,Africa is verry rich and is able to help it self.
I think the whole storry about democratization was just a excuse to enter the mind of african people.People in Africa need to know the truth about USA and West and their intentions.Their interest is non but resouces.Do not forget this, actually USA was bihind Aids experiments and distributed it to control the population growth in third world countries.
A british DNA scientist said africans are not with level with white man in iq!!It means that they are cold bloody recists.
How can you make trade with a racist!!!
SURE. No significant attacks since 9/11. Is it by accident? I think not. Bash the man all you want, but keep in mind that feedom is NOT free. We’ve been spending ourselves into oblivion to keep ourselves and others free to carry about and not think about the consequences of liberal stupidity.
Europeans especially should stop and think about what happened to you in the late 30’s because you failed to recognize evil when it stared you down.