Bush Urges Support For Africa AIDS Program

President Asks Congress To Renew HIV/Aids Program And Steer Money Into Abstinence Efforts

(AP)  President Bush said Sunday that Congress should renew his global AIDS program and preserve a requirement that steers money into abstinence efforts.

"We don't want people guessing on the continent of Africa whether the generosity of the American people will continue," Mr. Bush said in Tanzania, the second stop of his African trip.

Congress, in fact, strongly backs the program, which is credited with getting medicine and preventive treatment to millions of people - most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet its renewal has gotten hung up over ideology and political debate about disease prevention.

Some Democrats want to eliminate a provision in the bill that requires one-third of all prevention spending go to abstinence-until-marriage programs. Critics say that while they don't oppose abstinence programs, the inflexible requirement hampers the effort.

Bush said the time for debate is over, and that those seeking changes on both ends of the political spectrum should "stop the squabbling."

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, expires this year.

"My attitude toward Congress is, see what works," Mr. Bush said. "PEPFAR is working. It is a balanced program. It is an ABC program: abstinence, be faithful and condoms. It is a program that's been proven effective."

Tanzania is one of the countries targeted by Bush's emergency AIDS relief effort. More than two-thirds of all people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Standing with Mr. Bush, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete thanked U.S. lawmakers for the program, but prodded them to keep it moving. "If this program is discontinued or disrupted, there will be so many people who will lose hope," he said.

Bush is pushing to renew the program at $30 billion over five years, double his original commitment. Congress has put more than $18 billion into it so far and is expected to extend the program beyond the Bush presidency. It is the largest effort to ever target an infectious disease.

Mr. Bush, nearing the end of a presidency dominated by the war in Iraq, is targeting disease and poverty in his visits to five African nations. The president and first lady, Laura Bush, began their African trip in Benin in West Africa, then flew to the east coast of the continent to Tanzania. He also plans to visit Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.

Unlike in the United States, where his approval rating hovers near his record lows, Mr. Bush is treated here with reverence. A crowd of people, some wearing clothing bearing Mr. Bush's image, waved tiny U.S. and Tanzanian flags to welcome him as he walked down a red carpet toward the State House.

"People may have different views about you and your administration and your legacy," Kikwete said. "But we in Tanzania, if we are to speak for ourselves and for Africa, we know for sure that you, Mr. President, and your administration, have been good friends of our country."

Later, Mr. Bush met with HIV-positive patients and doctors at AIDS treatment wing of the city's Amana Hospital, funded in part with PEPFAR dollars.

"I'm very lucky,' said Tatu Msangi, who was tested for HIV while pregnant, received treatment and delivered a healthy baby, Faith, now 2.

Mr. Bush also signed a nearly $700 million aid pact with Kikwete to help Tanzania build up its infrastructure. It's the largest deal under a Bush program that offers economic aid to countries that treat their people fairly, rule justly and root out corruption.

"I'll just put it bluntly, America doesn't want to spend money on people who steal the money from the people," Mr. Bush said. "We like dealing with honest people, and compassionate people. We want our money to go to help human condition and to lift human lives as well as fighting corruption in marketplace economies."

At the news conference, both leaders dodged a question about the presidential race in the United States and the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

Mr. Bush, momentarily taken aback by a question about the excitement surrounding Obama's candidacy, said: "Seems like there was a lot of excitement for me."

Kikwete would say only: "Let him be as good a friend of Africa as President Bush has been."

Mr. Bush also Sunday visited the families of victims from the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy here. He said a silent prayer in front of a plaque in the garden of the new embassy before going inside for private talks. A total of 224 people were killed in the twin bombings in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.

[rowdytexan2]

Your fight against corruption is visible and easy for the people to see," Mr. Bush said. "This is such a good lesson ... because leaders around the world have got to understand that the United States wants to partner with leaders and the people, but we''re not going to do so with people that steal money, pure and simple."

...Good Gawd...out of the mouth of the Chief Thief in the US...

[formrusmcsgt]

He is dispatching Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to peel off from his entourage on Monday to make a quick trip to Nairobi, and said she would deliver his view.
---

That''ll do the trick, considering all of her diplomatic successes to date which are listed below:

[skyk-2009]

God what an embarrassment! I just wish our dictator would stay home. Here he is out there pretending to believe in Representative Democracy and he no more REPRESENTS the will of his OWN people any more than any other Third World Dictator. He thinks he''s so superior and is so Arrogant I guess he thinks no one else knows. LOL America has been telling this pathetic loser and his Administration they want all the lies ended and our occupation of Iraq ended and what does he do? He completely ignores them and does what HE want''s to do... him and god! We''ve become the biggest joke on the planet and he just doesn''t care I guess.

[keithle1]

You going to blame everything that''s going on in Africa on Dubya? I can''t stand Bush Jr but I''m not going to lay that on him. USA should jump in every time tribes are trying to kill each other?

Africa is genocide. Not to mention AIDS & malaria. Drought, famine, economies going down the tubes, major unemployment, etc. Too many two-bit, pathetically poor countries in Africa. Africa is wall-to-wall problems with a few exceptions. Zimbabwe has the world''s highest inflation rate & it keeps rising.

USA has to take care of every country''s problems? Help everyone out? We don''t have the resources for that. We couldn''t even do it properly when our country''s biggest natural disaster hit: Katrina.

[alexma50085]

Posted by skyk at 09:21 AM : Feb 16, 2008

I couldn''t have said it better myself. Great post!

[mbcsmith]

Waaaahh, cry, pi$$ and moan. Typical LIB traitor. Just toeing the moron.org party line. Go ahead LIB, call our ranking general in Iraq a traitor again, Show America what worthless pieces of shiite you really are.

[trillion1]

See the paid trolls are still here. Wow, I thought they stopped using the "traitor" line a couple years ago. I guess now over 70% of the country are "traitors".

[singingrick]

mbcsmith

What''s that? "Squawwk..squawwk..support ze Bush..squawwk..squawwk..kill ze traitorz to ze fazerland..squawwk..squawwk..zend yur childrenz to die for ze Bush..squawwk..squawwk!" I''m sorry we don''t speak chickenhawk. Can you say that in English?


lol!

[mbcsmith]

See the paid trolls are still here. Wow, I thought they stopped using the "traitor" line a couple years ago. I guess now over 70% of the country are "traitors".


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Posted by trillion1 at 10:09 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Nope. Just the ones that spew HATRED like yourself. Disagreement is fine, venom is not. Can you acknowledge that under Bush, America is the largest contributor to the fight against aids in Africa. The largest donor of food. The biggest contributor against malaria. Your HATRED blinds you.

[donbl1]

Actually, America''s efforts in Africa are the best example of our generosity since the Marshal Plan.

The Africa work has been done without major political fanfare and without chest pounding. A true selfless act of generosity and compassion.

Be proud of America in these efforts.

[jerry rubin]

Wake up, the only reason he is in Africa is to get some oil. He is not there to deal with the problems or his humanitarian concerns. He is loosing the oil reserves around the globe. Africa''s oil production is needed. That is the story!

[jerry rubin]

Wake up, the only reason he is in Africa is to get some oil. He is not there to deal with the problems or his humanitarian concerns. He is loosing the oil reserves around the globe. Africa''s oil production is needed. That is the story!

[donbl1]

jrubin, you are mistaken.

If that was the case, there would "not" have been HIV aid.

[mbcsmith]

Be proud of America in these efforts.


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Posted by donbl1 at 10:39 AM : Feb 16, 2008


Well said!

[mbcsmith]

Wake up, the only reason he is in Africa is to get some oil. He is not there to deal with the problems or his humanitarian concerns. He is loosing the oil reserves around the globe. Africa''''s oil production is needed. That is the story!


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Posted by jrubin998 at 10:45 AM : Feb 16, 2008
Can you acknowledge that under Bush, America is the largest contributor to the fight against aids in Africa. The largest donor of food. The biggest contributor against malaria. Your HATRED blinds you.

[joyous88]

Bush says the surge is working;

bush say the economy is in good shape;

bush says they had WMD;

bush says Orange Alert, Orange Alert;

bush sees oil in arica!

[hotpaulie]

Thank God King George didn''t send troops to Darfur...can you imagine the chaos that would have ensued?

[mbcsmith]

Posted by joyous88 at 11:04 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Another moron.org HATER. What''s your point.

[jowand]

Bush says the surge is working;

bush say the economy is in good shape;

bush says they had WMD;

bush says Orange Alert, Orange Alert;

bush sees oil in arica!
Posted by joyous88 at 11:04 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Face it you just hate Bush personally, you have a problem, call 666 666 6666 and ask for Lucy Furr.

[jowand]

Thank God King George didn''''t send troops to Darfur...can you imagine the chaos that would have ensued?
Posted by hotpaulie at 11:06 AM : Feb 16, 2008

There is already chaos in Darfur, the alphabet media just doesn''t report it, a quarter of million people dead from Islamist caused violence.

[perception5]

Our President has done more for Aids Relief in Africia than anyother person on the planet.

His PEPFAR program, which I have personnally seen in Uganda, is a huge success.

I have seen eighty year old looking people be transformed back to their teens after being on "brand name" ARV drugs supplied by "Big Drug" companies at extremely reduced pricing. More recently we have been working on approving generic drugs which will reduce montly costs per patient treatments even further.

The "Big Drug" companies are completely plugged into this program and we work with them on forcecasting future requirements as our President''s plan continue to expand to thousands of more patients.

America''s most corrupt institution, our mostly liberal MSM wolfpack press has been almost "silent" about this program now in it''s fourth year.

WHY? Maybe because it would ruin the sterotype propaganda that Republicans don''t care about poor people and only care about rich folks and corporations.

Really sad indeed..................GREAT JOB Mr. Bush for taking the lead on this issue.

POOR JOB corrupt MSM wolfpack at letting the American people know the truth.

Just more par for the course I guess.

[joyous88]

perception 5- is lieing

republicans only care about money for the wealthy

just check out the last eight years of

GREED DRIVEN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS

[newz4i]

Why is Bush in Africa?

[mbcsmith]

GREED DRIVEN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS


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Posted by joyous88 at 11:33 AM : Feb 16, 2008


Can you acknowledge that under Bush, America is the largest contributor to the fight against aids in Africa. The largest donor of food. The biggest contributor against malaria. Your HATRED blinds you.

[mbcsmith]

Why is Bush in Africa?


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Posted by newz4i at 11:46 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Do you READ the articles or just go straight to the posts.

[kaviz]

I''ve noticed Georgie making more trips lately. I''m sure he realized his days on airforce one are running out and he might as well see the world on the taxpayers dime.

[trillion1]

This country is falling apart thanks to bush and his bots. I couldn''t care less about AIDS in Africa. Simple, inexpensive solution. Condoms. It is not America''s fault they are too stupid to use them. American''s have already seen too much of bushs true "compassion".

[mbcsmith]

Posted by trillion1 at 11:53 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Wow, you LIBS just don''t get it.

[mbcsmith]

I''''ve noticed Georgie making more trips lately. I''''m sure he realized his days on airforce one are running out and he might as well see the world on the taxpayers dime.


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Posted by kaviz at 11:48 AM : Feb 16, 2008


Yeah right, that''s the first place I''d want to go. A dust bowl of disease ridden starving humanity. Your idea of a great vacation.

[kaviz]

I''m sure when the reports from Africa come out, that GW will will be seen suffering the elements like the rest of the general population that lives there - NOT.

[ajaxtheleast]

SEE GEORGE RUN . .SEE GEORGE RUN FASTER . .SEE GEORGE

RUN DESPERATELY . . AWAY FROM HIS REAL LEGACY AND TO

A PRAYED-FOR REAL-LEGACY-NEGATING LEGACY.

[joyous88]

mbcs smith; are you kidding??

what planet are you from ?

if you think Bush is doing any suffering on his little vacation to Africa you are crazy,
by the way there are some nice places in africa
just as there are in the southern US,

you just need lots of money to go to them

[mbcsmith]

Posted by joyous88 at 12:20 PM : Feb 16, 2008


Just another fa**ot LIB. Waaaaahh, cry, pi$$ and moan. Probably lives in Jersey. LOL...LOL again. Bye tinkerbell.

[liberalme]

"When you herald success, it helps others realize what it possible.

The key is that the leaders hear from her firsthand U.S desires to see that there be no violence.

Hahahahahahaha

The only sucess GI George has HAD is being a fear-warmongering vomit of America.

The US desires no violence? This coming from someone who is responsible for invading an unarmed country murdering thousands?

I suppose Bush saw Bini Yiyi''s soul too!

Actually, Bush should be up for sainthood--no mere mortal has ever seen someone elses soul.

He is one very sick subhuman--sith no soul.

[j-whitman]

mbcsmith,,, Here we go again ---- Everythings ''Rosey'' & a ''Success'' -------- Haven''t you had enough of Bush dishonoring our country with his lies ????

[liberalme]

This is a large place with a lot of nations and no question not everything is perfect.

How many nations are there in Africa?

[j-whitman]

liberalme,,,, Question is, which state does Bush think he''s in other than the state of total delusions ??

[liberalme]

Actually there are 53--just looked it up.

[joyous88]

another greed driven conservative, just one more of the same that is what bush is and if you want;

FOUR MORE OF THE SAME VOTE INSANE McCAIN;

LETS ALL THANK THE MINDLESS CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR BRINGING US THESE GREED DRIVEN CAPITALIST PIGS

THERE IS NO GOD WHEN THIS CAN HAPPEN

[ontheleft]

If Bush says something is a success, I know for sure it''s a failure.

[liberalme]

Your fight against corruption is visible and easy for the people to see," Mr. Bush said. "This is such a good lesson ... because leaders around the world have got to understand that the United States wants to partner with leaders and the people, but we''re not going to do so with people that steal money, pure and simple."

This whole article is a knee slapper!

[joyous88]

you can not believe anything these guys in the administration tell you

all conservative liars

[pilgrimsway-2009]

I am very proud of Obama! Why because He plans to help and support more than any other president by far third world countries. How, by using our economy to do this. The people in America on our city streets, the people with no hope, the people who cannot afford food week to week, the people who have no housing, the people with large families, the people with no jobs right here in America will sponsor Obama to help people in other countries. This is beyond belief if He was to be elected by people who need the help themselves in which they do not understand that He will give their help to someone in another country!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

I am very proud of Obama! Why because He plans to help and support more than any other president by far third world countries. How, by using our economy to do this. The people in America on our city streets, the people with no hope, the people who cannot afford food week to week, the people who have no housing, the people with large families, the people with no jobs right here in America will sponsor Obama to help people in other countries. This is beyond belief if He was to be elected by people who need the help themselves in which they do not understand that He will give their help away to someone in another country!

[jwind11]

Libs!!! there you are.... you never answered my question...it is simple question...why cant you answer it.... why do you need the president to make you "all better"?

[jwind11]

just an fyi to everyone here.....yesterday, liberalme posted that she needs the president to make her "all better", she posted that then denied it later, not thinking that you just needed to scroll down to see her post when she said it. do all the liberals here feel the same as her? you need the president to make you "all better" ? if so why? why cant you take care of yourselves?

[mbcsmith]

all conservative liars


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Posted by joyous88 at 12:56 PM : Feb 16, 2008


I never had *** with that woman (wagging finger included)

[j-whitman]

jwind11,,,,, We need a President who can make this country better ---- Another republican will continue to make us more unsafe as this idiot has

[mbcsmith]

Libs!!! there you are.... you never answered my question...it is simple question...why cant you answer it.... why do you need the president to make you "all better"?


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Posted by jwind11 at 01:56 PM : Feb 16, 2008


That''s the LIB way. LIBS want government to run every aspect of their lives and provide everything to them. The JFK "ask not what your country can do for you..." has gone by the wayside to give me more FEMA trailers and welfare so I don''t have to work.

[j-whitman]

mbcsmith,,,,, We don''t need another republican -- That''s a No-Brainer & we certainly don''t need your Pro-Life agenda