African Aid - Money for Murderers

Wes Pruden hits another home run in his usual clear-headed fashion. African aid is a waste of time and money until true democracies reign across the continent:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/pruden.htm

The Millenium Challenge (where US aid is tied to pro-democracy, anti-corruption efforts by African countries) is a great idea from the Bush Administration, but we have to have the will to implement it properly. That means NO other aid will go to a nation that is ruled by corrupt leaders, that has no effective means for punishing crime and terrorism, who ignore human rights violations, and who refuse to care for their own people. The net effect of this implementation will be highlighting the corruption of Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, etc. - just about EVERY country on that continent.

Too bad the UN can't seem to bring attention to the massive corruption in Africa. That is, after all, a large part of the job they're supposed to be doing. Maybe it's because those corrupt nations take American aid and use it to bribe UN officials for committe appointments, blind eyes, and positive PR campaigns?

The very large downside to The Millenium Challenge idea is that the criminals who currently run most African nations WILL NOT be reformed, they must be removed. And consequently, the poor will continue to suffer and die. The MC can have no success if it has no teeth. It will have no teeth unless the world can agree that we need to unite against African corruption - tough love as Pruden says. The world will never agree under the current criminals at the UN. I don't see any hope for Africa until the UN is fixed or replaced.

Now if The Millenium Challenge is administered by the US, and under strict adherence, it could work. No other country in the world is as generous as the US, and none will give money or resources if the US says it will be wasted. One would hope anway. No other country can give on the scale of the US, and lesser amounts are pretty much useless.

Of course this is what the UN is supposed to do - if the US does it why do we need the UN again?

The Live 8 concerts are good for raising awareness, but Bono and the rest have no clue how to actually solve the problem. It makes the millionaire musicians and their pampered following feel good and brings attention to the problem, but it is otherwise a waste of time. Bono and his pals should try bringing attention to the corruption in Africa - THAT's the real problem, not lack of aid. Throwing good money after bad is not something Americans are willing to do anymore. Especially when Zimbabwe, Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and many more African nations repeatedly show the world nothing but genocide, racism, slavery, greed, rape, murder, terrorism, and exploitation.

Adios MF,

Doug