KIGALI, Rwanda — Bob Geldof has parachuted into the White House travel pool here in Rwanda, and will join us on the flight from Air Force One to Ghana tonight.
He’s going to interview President Bush for Time magazine and several European outlets, such as Liberacion, about aid to Africa for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and business development.
Mr. Geldof is an Irish rock and roll singer and longtime social activist who has helped, along with U2 rocker Bono, raise awareness about need in Africa. His most well known achievement is organizing the Live Aid concert in 1985, which raised money for debt relief for poor African countries.
But Mr. Geldof has remained closely engaged with African affairs since then, and he spoke off the cuff to reporters today who were waiting for a press conference with Mr. Bush and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Mr. Geldof praised Mr. Bush for his work in delivering billions to fight disease and poverty in Africa, and blasted the U.S. press for ignoring the achievement.
Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, “has done more than any other president so far.”
“This is the triumph of American policy really,” he said. “It was probably unexpected of the man. It was expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion.”
“What’s in it for [Mr. Bush]? Absolutely nothing,” Mr. Geldof said.
This is where reality entirely evaporates the leftwing critique of President Bush – which is either that he’s an idiot, or that he’s diabolical. Idiots and monsters don’t do what President Bush has done in Africa over the course of his Administration – and, lefties, this same President Bush who has worked so hard for the betterment of Africa? He’s the same President Bush who ordered the liberation of Iraq – and he did it, boys and girls, based upon the same requirements of morality. Fundamentally, as even Barack Obama recently opined, we are our brother’s keeper – President Bush understands this and during his whole Administration, he’s been motivated by this impulse.
While the left simply believes a string of lies about President Bush, the reality is that he did what he felt was best for the people of America, and the people of the world. Mistakes were made. Things didn’t go exactly as planned or hoped – but the reason he did what he did is because President Bush understands that the only proper policy for a Christian nation (such as the United States) is to do the right thing, regardless of the cost or the difficulty. As I’ve said many times of late, we’re going to miss this man President Bush when he leaves office – McCain is a fine patriot; Obama and Hillary believe in failed policies, but I’m sure they believe they have it right…but no matter which of them is sworn in on January 20th, 2009, none of them will have quite the combination of fortitude and love of humanity displayed by President Bush…all we can hope is that President Bush’s successor can grow into his shoes.
Blogs For Victory 
God bless President George W. Bush the Greatest President in U.S. history. Now matter what the lefties say about ya!
I’m afraid we’re going to be pressed to find that person this year, Mark.
The important thing now…hope for the best, pray for the best, and that whatever God allows to happen from the years 2009 to 2012 that He grant us the strength to weather it out, come what may. Not necessarily assuming the worst.
–Jeremiah–
That’s funny, I thought we weren’t supposed to listen to the opinions of singers, actors, and Hollywood in general. They’re buffoons and don’t have the knowledge to comment on politics.
Oh wait, this guy said something nice about Bush. He must be ok, we can listen to him.
What a hypocritical clown you are, Mark.
“That’s funny, I thought we weren’t supposed to listen to the opinions of singers, actors, and Hollywood in general.”
I dont think it takes a genius to see what we’ve accomplished for Africa during the Bush Administration.
Are you saying singers, actors etc are incapable of prasing good deeds? Are they too dumb for you steve?
Listening to Susan Sarandon rant on about foreign policy and throwing in her support to an anti-war candidate is bit different..Dont you think?
I’m sure you realize that there are context differences..I think you’re just trying to find an excuse to call Mark a name..again
I agree on the surface it looks like he did a lot for the AIDs situation in Africa. Bono has also praised the President. But let us remember diplomacy in Central Africa is not that complicated. Most are grateful for any type of aid they get. But with this administration’s record of past incompetence I would like to see a GAO report as to exactly how the billions in American taxpayer dollars were spent in Africa during his term.
Going to Africa and flashing a Smile will not counter george’s destruction of the Constitution under the American patriot Act, The spying on United States Citizens under the Spy on America Act, The creation of a Police State, The un-provoked war with Iraq. Oh yes, where are all the WMD??? Let us also not forget that when Clinton lied, no one died, and when george lied, over 3000 soldiers have died.
“The World Wonders” Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Pacific Theater, World War II 1945
Oh boy…
here we go again..
Hey Mag, better double up on your meds. They’re not working.
In earlier threads, libT and LiberalMind have lectured us on sacrificing our constitutional rights “that millions have died to defend” and that we lack the understanding of what America stands for. My questions were simple yet have been dodged at every turn. I really want to hear from one of our resident liberals, perferrably Magnum, since he exemplifies the liberal mindset, an answer to the following:
1. Why did so many have to die to preserve our Constitutional rights?
2. What does America stand for?
80% of all african aid money ends up in swiss bank accounts.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/32936.html
Countries that recieve the highest aid typically have the lowest growth rates since their governments focus all their efforts on recieving more western aid rather than their people.
African is over 60% agricultural, our farm subsidies for rich American farmers and trade barriers have caused massive devastaion for Africas poorest people.
Also, before you can give to corrupt African politicians, you must first steal that money from American citizens. Same with Iraq, before you give the Iraqis your political wisdom through military force, you must first steal money from Americans.
When did republicans begin to embrace international socialism?
ana,
Your article and accompanying statistical analysis is from 2005; the same time as when Bush announced the new aid package ($8.6B). If you have something a little more current I’d be interested in reading it. Until then, you’re using old news to make a new point.
I really want to hear from one of our resident liberals, perferrably Magnum, since he exemplifies the liberal mindset, an answer to the following:
1. Why did so many have to die to preserve our Constitutional rights?
2. What does America stand for?
Neocon, you don’t really expect to get a reasoned, comprehensive answer to those 2 questions, do you?
Hey Mark, I have been trying to find news coverage of President Bush’s trip to Africa and except for a few seconds on Fox news channel, there is no coverage. It’s like there is a news black out of the trip. Where is CSPAN? Thousands of people are cheering for President Bush, wearing his picture and throwing flowers in the street and there is no coverage. The only coverage was 3 people holding an obama sign in the street. Where is the coverage!!
1. Why did so many have to die to preserve our Constitutional rights?
Lying military recruiters duping poor uneducated inner-city kids with no hope into imperialist wars designed to enhance profits for corporations and dynastic families.
2. What does America stand for?
Imposing an idology of consumerism upon peaceful peoples in an ever expanding web of oppression. And corporations … being all … corporationie … and making money for … Bush and his … croneys!
There! I said it and I’m not ashamed; in fact I’m proud of America for the first time in 200 years, except that slavery thing, and Disco … and everything that happened in the 70’s.
Viva Che!
I would just like to ask how much of the money that Mr Bush has given Africa, has returned to the coffers of the big American and European banks in the form of national loan interest.
You see giving a country money in aid is only half the issue, whilever they have been loaned billions of dollars by the IMF or international banks, often at crippling rates.
There is absolutely no point in giving money with one hand, and demanding it back in interest on loans granted decades ago with the other. Yet Mr Bush, in common with other “rich” nations leaders, has not made any significant progress in getting the interest payments written off.
The end result is that those millions come right back as interest payments, and they don’t benefit the people at all. It’s a straw man argument. And while the politicians proudly trumpet the amounts ‘given’, they are all strangely silent on the amounts taken back.
If Mr Bush could get those interest payments scrapped, so that every cent given would actually end up helping the people it’s supposedly given too – THAT would be a legacy to leave behind that would be a target other Presidents would have a hard time matching in the future.
Hollow argument fox,
The UN has acted to do just that in 2004; Russia the US, France and Great Britain have already “forgiven” debts totalling billions, those not yet negotiated are not being collected. Next!
And the G8, too Herk.
“On June 10, 2005, President Bush announced his agreement to join other G8 nation leaders in forgiving billions of debt dollars to select African nations.”
Does this mean that Arctic Fox will join the chorus and sing the praises of George W. Bush?
Nah! Liberals aren’t capable of admitting they’ve misjudged him.
I agree Bush has done great things for Africa. I cannot recall one time during either of his terms where he threatened to invade an African nation.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
No your right, he just had his Geography messed up, he thought it was New Orleans.
I’ve traveled through east Africa from Sudan to Zimbabwe, and I can tell you it doesn’t take much by American standards to do a whole lot for such a poor place. If Bush thinks he can patch up his legacy by tossing a few bucks into the collection plate for the poor and needy – sure, they can use it and every bit helps, but it’s a cheap way to look like a swell guy.
And for a little reality check, stack up how much American aid goes to Africa against the nearly $2 billion we burn up in Iraq every week. Consider that for one year’s cost of the Iraq war we could cut world hunger in half, plus cover AIDS medicine, childhood immunizations and clean water for the entire developing world for more than TWO years.
I don’t begrudge help for Africa at all, regardless where it comes from. But don’t try to make Bush out as some kind of hero. Just look at what he might have done for the world but didn’t. Just look at the increasing gap between the richest and poorest right here at home. Watch what he does after leaving office for clues as to his real character. You can bet he won’t be dedicating any of his personal wealth, energy or what little prestige might remain to humanitarian causes.
Mark, you say “Bush who ordered the liberation of Iraq – and he did it, boys and girls, based upon the same requirements of morality.”
Liberation? There is less freedom now in Iraq than there was under Saddam – freedom to move about safely, freedom of women to hold professions and dress as they wished, freedom of religion, freedom of Sunni and Shia to live in peaceful integration. All gone now.
And what “requirements of morality” are you speaking of? Alan Greenspan told it like it was in his recent memoir: the removal of Saddam was essential to secure oil supplies. How nice for you to paint this ugly and completely gratuitous war with pretty humanitarian colors, so you can feel good about your hero deciderer.
our farm subsidies for rich American farmers – anarchist
You really do not know what you are talking about making such a statement. There are a few large farming corporations with foreign ownership that are rich, but let me assure, as one coming from a farming community, most farmers are not rich. They work very hard, 365 days a year, in all kinds of weather and conditions to put good, wholesome food on your table. The risks are great with the weather conditions and the government controling the price of their goods. So, before you go disparaging farmers, know of what you speak. The farmers would love to get the government out of their business and have the opportunity to sell their products in a free and open market.