Let's turn now away from issues of high politics towards something more humanitarian. As I mentioned in my first post, I hope to highlight the ways in which the U.S. is working to make this a better world through the strategic use of U.S. aid. Let's face it, when we think of the U.S. role in the world, we all hope that at the end of the day, America is making a positive difference. Whether this is in fact true or merely wishful thinking on the part of Americans is another matter, but I think that our history shows that we have at least tried to make a positive difference in the world. In this latest example, the U.S. is using our vast wealth to help fund the global fight against infectious diseases (AP – Bush signs bill to triple AIDS funding):
President Bush signed legislation Wednesday that triples U.S. funding to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis around the world. The five-year, $48 billion plan renews a program credited with saving millions of lives in Africa alone and is widely seen as one of the major achievements of the Bush presidency. Bush said the program, launched by him in 2003, “is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history.”
Time will tell if this initiative, named the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will join the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift as a notable example of U.S. aid. Already there are complaints that this effort ignores those suffering here at home. Still, as a means of alleviating suffering, supporting allies in Africa, and winning hearts and minds, this is a wise investment of U.S aid money and an exemplary application of soft power.
