NationStates Jolt Archive

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=April&x=20070420152206AKllennoCcM0.4823572

Even former President Clinton is behind the idea.

The question remains, whether or not this will pass Congress.

Apparently, the way that USAID has to deliver food aid is from American suppliers and through American shippers.

According to the GAO, this results in only 37 percent of the dollars set aside for food aid actually being spent on food.

The Bush proposal would change that figure to the better, and the aid would arrive in time to help someone (instead of arriving six months later).

This is definately a brilliant idea, though somehow I have doubts that Congress will approve. After all, they have their local constituents..i mean farmers to protect.

I get the feeling it wasn't his own idea... He couldn't hit a cow if it stood on his foot.

In any case, it would do much good if it actually passed. It's nice the government considers these kinds of improvements.

i wouldnt say that bush had a good idea. he recognized a good idea when he (and someone else in his administration before him) heard it.

im impressed. its an excellent idea that supports the notion that humanitarian aid should be humanitarian, not just a vehicle for buying US crops and shipping them overseas.

Well, the idea seems good in theory.

Furthermore, for the places that do not have any food nearby (and thus need the food), they would still get emergency aid.

For the places that do have food nearby, the farmers would be encouraged to grow food crops, thus meaning that an emergency food aid to the region would actually help local farmers develop further and eventually reduce the emergency long-term wise.

So yeah, I am going to support this idea 100%

Btw, it's not Bush, but his adminstration, that got this idea. Give credit where credit is due.