------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Feb. 27, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
EDITORIAL: WHERE'S THE AIDS MONEY? Last month when Bush was trying to sell his war on Iraq together with a budget of giveaways to the rich in his State of Union speech, he surprised everyone by including a humanitarian gesture. He pledged $10 billion in new funds to fight AIDS in Africa. That was a first for the Bush administration and was supposed to make everything else okay. You'll pardon us if we weren't convinced at the time. The guy who says that bombing Iraq will save it--military experts now say that at least a million Iraqi children are sure to be killed by any U.S. bombing campaign--is going to help fight AIDS in Africa. Of course, $10 billion and much more should be pledged to fight AIDS in Africa. But, as they say, show us the money. When Bush's real budget was presented to Congress, it had only $550 million in new funds to fight AIDS, and that is offset by his proposed cuts in international health- care programs for children. Add to that the move this week by the Bush administration to block inexpensive drugs for people in developing countries. At World Trade Organization talks in Geneva the U.S. blocked efforts to reduce the costs for drugs, including AIDS medications. If asked about this, Bush's answer would probably be something along the line of "let them eat cake." - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
