Bush seeks $30 billion for AIDS program

[The Judge]

WASHINGTON - President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to authorize an additional $30 billion to fight AIDS in Africa over five years, doubling the current U.S. commitment.

The money would provide treatment for 2.5 million people under the President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief, Bush said.

Through March 31, the program has supported treatment for 1.1 million people in 15 countries, including more than 1 million in Africa, he said. The program's original five-year mandate, which called for spending $15 billion, expires in September 2008 and Bush asked Congress to renew it.

"When I took office, an HIV diagnosis in Africa's poorest communities was usually a death sentence. Parents watched their babies die needlessly because local clinics lacked effective treatments," the president said. "Once again, the generosity of the American people is one of the great untold stories of our time."

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the specific goals for the next five years ? after Bush leaves office ? call for treatment of 2.5 million people, prevention of more than 12 million new infections and the care of more than 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and children.

The president said the money "this money will be spent wisely," in nations where it can have the greatest possible impact and be sustainable.

Bush also announced that his wife, Laura, will visit four African countries ? Zambia, Mali, Mozambique and Senegal ? that have benefited from the U.S. program and report back to him on her findings. The trip will take place June 25-29.

The president's announcement comes before next week's annual summit of industrialized nations in Heiligendamm, Germany. Germany is pledging to make Africa a central issue and is calling for more aid, further debt relief and improved financial oversight.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I'm on his ass with you on this one--hope congress has sense enough to vote no.

 

[The Judge]

Where is the money going to come from, Wayne?

 

[The Sponge]

1 trillion in Iraq, 30 billion in Africa. Boy this guy knows how to spend our money and nothing to show for it. Here is a thought. How about spending something over here? Let someone else worry about Africa. Last chunk of change he got for Iraq he was mad the bill had some spending for our country.:shrug:

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Its absolutely insane Gregg--no question about it.

If were going to fund a war at current rate you'd think they would be cutting un-neccessary foreign aid--rather than conjuring up new throw away plans--

 

[kosar]

I'm on his ass with you on this one--hope congress has sense enough to vote no.

Gotta draw the line somewhere with W's unheard of spending. Might as well start with the mooks.

 

[kosar]

Its absolutely insane Gregg--no question about it.

If were going to fund a war at current rate you'd think they would be cutting un-neccessary foreign aid--rather than conjuring up new throw away plans--

'Unecessary foreign aid?'

WTF do you call what we're doing in Iraq?

 

[smurphy]

Maybe DTB would feel better about it if we simply called it "War on AIDS". ...You know, "better to bring the fight to them than wait for the attack at home", etc. It's really just a matter of perspective. If we can sell the idea that AIDS is a WMD, then surely people will accept it more.

All in all, I suppose it's OK to spend at least 1/15 of what we do blowing things up on something progressive and helpful.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Matt lets just say we agree on spending on aids and disagree on Iraq.

Smurph --on aids
Before I donate a penny someone here is going to have to make an effort to use common sense before I throw money--

Can you tell me a better conduit to spread an infectuous disease than hide identity of carriers and turn em loose carte blanc on the world. If you get the PC police out of the pic and get serious about stopping it i'll contribute.

Could you imagine the keeping the guy on the plane with TB today identity anonomous and releasing him--instead of quarantine.

You could cut spread of aids 75% in U.S. with a simple mandatory physical and identification of carriers--why don't they?

 

[smurphy]

Smurph --on aids
Before I donate a penny someone here is going to have to make an effort to use common sense before I throw money--

Huh, now all of a sudden you want to use common sense when it comes to our spending?

 

[buddy]

You could cut spread of aids 75% in U.S. with a simple mandatory physical and identification of carriers--why don't they?

That might be an infringement on personal "freedom". After all, we need to avoid any tendency or appearance of "socialized" behavior.

"Three, six, nine
The goose drank wine
The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line
And they all chimed a chorus of
"I, me, mine".

 

[JCDunkDogs]

This is one of those rare instances that I agree with Dubbya on something.

AIDS spreads faster amongst blacks than it does in other populations. World-wide, it is not a gay disease, it is a disease that scourges people of color.

Whereas AIDS will only affect an unfortunate few in the US, and mostly in isolated sub-ethos located in urban areas (read "Gay communties"), in Africa it is out of control. Entire villages have been nearly wiped out. A huge segment of the cheap-labor force for the region is affected. There are serious implications for the world economy.

If it continues at this rate, it has the potential to render entire countries null and void. We are talking about failed states that may be future havens for terrorism.

If not for the sake of humanitarian concern, we should at least be interested in protecting world economies. It seems that AIDS is spreading eastward. Africa is already diseased, India is sick, and China is starting to get a scratchy throat. That is why our government must do everything it can to try to contain the mass spread of this thing.

 

[SixFive]

sponge, spytheweb, et al, is there oil in Africa? Must be, as surely Bush doesn't do anything without oil motivation.

Bono should be doing cartwheels at hearing this announcement.

I have mixed feelings about it. I would rather see it spent in the Carribean where there is as much need I'm sure %wise and where we can obviously monitor it better, AND where we are working with Christian nations.

 

[smurphy]

Very logical points, JC. You, Bush, Bono, and Gates are probably correct.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

J.C. Got a question and not trying to be a smart ass but have been curious on matter and maybe Clint might have some insight also as he does social work in some of these countries.

Aids in U.S. is spead by IV drug use and lifestlye almost entirely--is there a different mode of transfer in these other countries? I would think there is little IV drug use leaving just one basic transfer method.I am thinking lack of knowedge on prevention could be contributing factor. Any thoughts.

---article of interest on subject

Wed May 30, 4:28 PM ET

ALGIERS (AFP) - Algeria has 10 million free condoms to distribute but there are no takers, a senior medical official in the conservative Muslim country said Wednesday.


"In Algeria, where AIDS spreads mainly through sexual contact, 10 million free condoms are waiting in warehouses of the national pharmacy but there are no takers," said Mohamed Mesbah.

Some 19,000 of this north African country's 33 million people -- 0.05 percent of the population -- live with AIDS, according to the UN agency UNAIDS.

Algerian authorities offer dramatically lower estimates. At the end of last year, it said there were 746 AIDS cases and 2,175 people living with HIV.

After experts began talking about the benefits of condoms as barriers to spreading HIV/AIDS, the government began soliciting imams to preach about the virus and the risks of unprotected sex during Friday prayers.

They face an uphill task. Many Algerians in television interviews claimed AIDS can be transmitted simply by being in contact with someone who had it. Others, swayed by hard-line clerics, argue the virus aims to punish sexual deviants, including homosexuals.

A striking 40 percent of Algerian youth know "nothing about AIDS," nor about how to prevent it, according to an official survey published in November.

 

[The Sponge]

sponge, spytheweb, et al, is there oil in Africa? Must be, as surely Bush doesn't do anything without oil motivation.

Bono should be doing cartwheels at hearing this announcement.

I have mixed feelings about it. I would rather see it spent in the Carribean where there is as much need I'm sure %wise and where we can obviously monitor it better, AND where we are working with Christian nations.

Oh I see after six years of lying, stealing, and scamming he now has a good heart? Please, you are so far out of touch when it comes to this thieving asshole it is not even funny. By the way i have had an about face on this subject. Lets spend the money. Like Smurph said maybe something good will come out of this. An idiot even knows nothing good comes out of any other money he spends unless you are a millionaire. Nothing good is coming out of our wasted money in Irag, the energy bill or that lame giveaway to the Pharmaceuticals. Oh and trust me if this goes thru somehow somewhere someone he knows will be making a nice profit with this. Kinda like his brother Neil who makes a hefty sum with the testing that goes on at schools. Imagine that.

 

[JCDunkDogs]

Interesting article, DTB. Yes, from what I understand, it is spread through sexual contact in these regions. Amongst the many problems authorities are having is lack of condom use. And that occurs for several reasons. One is the sex trade, another is poverty, another are cultural attitutes towards sex and children, and on and on...

 

[Chadman]

The monkey chewed tobacco on the street car line.

That is definitely taking personal freedoms too far. You cannot allow the monkeys this much freedom. Aids will spread much quicker if we allow them to act this way.

And I assume Jehova is against that, as well. Word.

 

[Happy Hippo]

I have mixed feelings about it. I would rather see it spent in the Carribean where there is as much need I'm sure %wise and where we can obviously monitor it better, AND where we are working with Christian nations.

Why does it matter if the money is spent in Christian nations? Doesn't the bible say "love thine enemy"? (If you consider those of other religions your enemy...)

And sub-Saharan Africa has 24.7 million people affected by aids - which is 5.9% of their populations ages 15-49 (2.1 million died in 2006 - a staggering 5753 PEOPLE per day).

whereas

the Caribbean has 250,000 affected - 1.2% of their population ages 15-49 (19,000 died in 2006).

While Africa has 24.7 million people affected by aids, the rest of the world has 9.8 million.

I think they deserve help from the most powerful country in the world that throws money around for MUCH less valid causes.

 

[ImFeklhr]

I'm greedy... spend it here, where we have taxpayers already suffereing from that disease (or going broke from the medication).

or cancer if that appeals to more people.