With economy foundering, President Bush keeps pushing for foreign aid

The speech drew little attention in the midst of the presidential campaign news and the continued turmoil in the stock markets.

But with Americans struggling to pay bills and concerned that their jobs will disappear along with their retirement savings, President Bush is holding strong to his belief that whatever economic problems the United States is facing at the end of his term, the nation must put aside money for foreign assistance.

It's a tough battle, and it comes up against what pollsters regularly discover: Americans consistently vastly overstate the amount of foreign aid the United States dispenses and, in particular, the percentage of the federal budget that it represents.

So, here it is: Foreign aid amounts to less than 1% of the federal budget, and, according to the Center for Global Development, about two-tenths of 1% of national income, as of 2005.

Speaking at a White House conference on international development last week, Bush put it this way:

During times of economic crisis, some may be tempted to turn inward--focusing on our problems here at home, while ignoring our interests around the world. This would be a serious mistake. America is committed--and America must stay committed--to international development for reasons that remain true regardless of the ebb and flow of the markets.

The Washington Post took note of Bush's speech. It reported that the United Nations had figured that even before the market went south, higher food prices meant that 925 million people faced chronic hunger.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo: Ariana Cubillos / Associated Press 

Comments

[airplane]

He did not mention if this IS with or without the 20 million or so given to our 51 state ISRAEL. Upon my retirement i apply for SS that i paid into for 20 years, and they found a excuse to take 60% of my SS . Between my wife and i ,we get a total of 384.00 dollars a month, These JERKS in WASHINGTON need to rethink what the people needs are who did wotk and support the USA, BUT for sure as them trying to get elected are not saying. (I WILL KISS YOUR REAR TO GET YOUR VOTE...AND ONCE I GET IT YOU CAN KISS MY REAR..