Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Editorials Regarding Bush’s Trip to Africa
Several newspapers have recently published editorials discussing their views regarding President Bush's trip to Africa this week. The following is a summary of some of the editorials:
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution: While Bush expressed a "laudable commitment" to AIDS in his State of the Union address, "his actions at home indicate he has no intention of keeping that promise, at least not in the near term," a Journal-Constitution editorial says. It is the president's "moral dut[y] ... after scoring a tremendous public relations coup," to "follow through" on his promise and amend his budget request to increase spending on AIDS treatment and prevention to $3 billion, the editorial concludes (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/7).
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Baltimore Sun: Bush's promise on HIV/AIDS will "ring hollow unless he moves quickly to make good on it," a Sun editorial says. Bush's request of only two-thirds of the $3 billion anticipated for the first year of the initiative and his appointment of Tobias as head of the global AIDS program have caused AIDS advocates to "warily watc[h]" and "question why the administration isn't taking a more urgent approach to get the initiative going," according to the Sun. The editorial concludes that Bush must show his support by urging the passage of a bipartisan effort expected to come before Congress this summer to raise AIDS spending for next year to the full $3 billion (Baltimore Sun, 7/7).
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Memphis Commercial Appeal: While Bush's proposals for aid to African nations may be "insufficient to make a dent in the continent's agony, ... U.S.-supported programs could make a difference in hundreds of thousands of African lives," and the president's support could be the "start of a far greater awareness about Africa -- and also of a sustained systemic approach" to the region, a Commercial Appeal editorial says. While "the misery in Africa ... is such that it will be many years before the worst of it is alleviated," the president's visit could "enliven" hope on the continent and could "signal a commitment that will not disappear when some other issue pulls at us," the editorial says. The editorial concludes that it is not for "prudential reasons alone" that the administration aims to spend $15 billion in the fight against AIDS, but "[b]y helping Africa, the United States can help itself" (Memphis Commercial Appeal, 7/5).
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Sub-Saharan Africa generally deserves a greater commitment than successive U.S. presidents have given it," and while "Bush has done better than most," the continent "will never get sustained, high-level attention unless domestic political pressure can be brought to bear on Congress and the White House," a Journal Sentinel editorial says. African-Americans and others must "mobilize public opinion and generate political pressure on behalf" of Africa in order to prevent the continent from "languish[ing] in neglect as well as poverty and conflict," the editorial concludes (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/6).
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New York Times: Bush must "press Congress to provide ample financing for his multiyear AIDS and development initiatives ... [and] speak plainly with African leaders about steps they themselves need to take," a Times editorial says. He must persuade South African President Thabo Mbeki, whose failure to properly confront HIV/AIDS has "caused public health damage [in South Africa] and hurt efforts elsewhere to overcome the stigmatization that undermines effective prevention and treatment, ... to follow a more enlightened course, [which would help] America's AIDS assistance programs" save more lives, the Times says. In addition, Bush must push Botswanan President Festus Mogae to expand on his country's efforts to fight the disease, modeling the program on Uganda's AIDS programs, the editorial concludes (New York Times, 7/7).
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Tennesean: While "Bush has indicated that he understands the need to tend to the problems of Africa ... [h]e must now dedicate himself to seeing that Congress shares his vision," a Tennessean editorial says. Because Congress is "far removed from the poverty and distress the president will witness" on his trip and is "wrestling with a budget that has become increasingly complex," Bush must "remind Congress that nothing would help the cause of stamping out terrorism, the cause of boosting the global economy and the cause of peace on earth more surely than addressing the issues that plague Africa," the editorial concludes (Tennessean, 7/7).
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Washington Post: "In a world where 'failed states' and regions of perpetual conflict are breeding grounds for terrorism ... like it or not, [Africa's] conflicts are now America's problem, too," a Post editorial says. While the president's trip will "force the world to focus ... on some of the good news coming from the continent ... the bad news will be hard to avoid," the editorial says. Bush's visits to South Africa, Botswana and Uganda will put him at the "center of the AIDS crisis," and while he "has lately been active" on the issue, "the strength and endurance of [his] commitment remain questionable," according to the Post. The president must involve drug companies, ensure efficient and effective programs and invest "political time and effort" in the initiative, the editorial concludes (Washington Post, 7/7).
- Washington Times: Bush is "wise to make Africa a priority ... [and] must soon make efforts to ensure that Congress agrees," a Times editorial says. Upon returning from his trip, Bush must "make the case clear to Congress ... that Africa is important to U.S. interests" in order to get financial backing for foreign aid programs, including his global AIDS initiative, the Times concludes (Washington Times, 7/5).
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