Bush, Blair Talk African Aid
Says Africa Aid Needs 'A Lot More' Than $674 Million Offered By Bush
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Play CBS Video Video Blair Pushes For Africa Aid British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who supported the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq, came to D.C. looking for some political payback, reports Bill Plante.
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Video Blair: More African Aid President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have marched together over the war in Iraq. But they disagreed on aid for Africa and Global Warming. Aleen Sirgany reports.
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U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair talk to press Tuesday afternoon at the White House. (AP)
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Tony Blair arrives at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington on Tuesday. (AP)
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Interactive Fast Facts: North Africa Learn about the people, economy and history of North Africa.
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Interactive Fast Facts : Central Africa Learn about the people, economy and history of Central Africa.
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Interactive Fast Facts : Southern Africa Learn about the people, economy and history of Southern Africa.
In addition to agreeing to work to forgive African debt, Bush promised to provide $674 million (euro548.64 million) for more immediate African famine relief.
The prime minister's staunch support for Bush on the Iraq war has prompted criticism of him as lacking influence and has driven down his standing among some Britons. Tuesday's talks were the first since Blair narrowly won re-election in voting that also saw his Labour Party sustain heavy losses.
Blair's support has earned him little reward from the Bush administration. Differences over Mideast peace strategy, Guantanamo Bay detentions and other issues have abounded.
The Bush administration disagrees with Blair's plan for how to finance debt relief. Blair has proposed raising some of the money by selling bonds on the world's capital markets — an approach Bush dismissed out of hand last week. Bush also opposes a British proposal that the IMF sell some of its massive gold reserves to fund increased aid.
The leaders demonstrated that their biggest differences were over global warming.
Bush didn't even mention it in his opening statement.
Blair has said that "clear and immediate action" to address rising temperatures is one of the world's most pressing priorities. But the Bush administration opposes government-mandated action, arguing there still are questions about global warming and possible causes.
©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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