Bono: Mr. President, Africa Needs Us

Washington Post ^ | 01/27/03 | Bono

[Pokey78]

Harry Truman once said, "I trust the people because when they know the facts, they do the right thing." The facts about AIDS in the poorest countries -- especially Africa -- are now clearly in focus. They show not just an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy, but a clear and present danger to the United States.

In Africa today, 9,500 people will contract HIV and 6,500 will lose their lives to AIDS, dying for want of medicines that we take for granted. When they die, they take with them their earning power, their human capital -- and they leave behind their children. Unless we, as an international community, go to war against this killer, there will be at least 25 million AIDS orphans in Africa by the end of this decade. It's hard not to be evangelical about the facts.

When President Bush delivers his State of the Union address tomorrow, he will focus on the military threats to national security: Iraq, North Korea, terrorism. But I hope that for a few minutes the president will talk about the global AIDS crisis -- and define a historic American response.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Hey Bono, kiss my arse! While you're at it why not go back to Ireland.

[LibWhacker]

What a bonehead.

[dighton]

Bono, old boy, my cat's brain is more highly developed than yours. Why should I tune her out and listen to you?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

The reason he's not in Ireland is because he can't stand his wife and is constantly cheating on her. He likes models, was with Winona Ryder for a while...

He's a H Y P O C R I T E!!!

[dighton]

He likes models, was with Winona Ryder for a while...

Ugh, I've never been *that* desperate.

[Weimdog]

Hey Bono, call Chirac. I believe the French imperialist pig dogs have more influence on that god-forsaken continent than we do.

Oh, and by the way, those sunglasses are really lame.

[SerfsUp]

Can the Leftists calling for all this money to be thrown at any problem that gnaws at their self-absorbed consciences answer a simple question: How much is enough?

It's a rhetorical question, because I already know the answer: No amount is enough. If we give $100 million, they come back for $200 million. If we write off $500 million in debt, they want another billion to follow.

Whatever we give, it's never enough. The only thing that stays constant is their desire for our money -- more, more, more.

In the meantime, Americans trying to raise families and save for retirement have their money taken from them and dumped into these black hole pet projects of millionaire limousine liberals.

How stupid can we be?

[hunter112]

Bono, old boy, my cat's brain is more highly developed than yours.

That's not saying much, you should apologize to your cat! Seriously, Western nations send Africa missionaries that among other things, teach them monogamy. Its not our fault that they will screw anything with a pulse.

[Mulder]

Africa is a third-world sh!thole.

The north consists of depraved and insane worshippers of the sand troll known as allah.

The south and central regions are infested with the twin scourges of tribalism and communism.

The best thing we Americans could do for Africa is to conquer it (starting with the regions richest in natural resources), and impose Western culture and values upon those living there now.

The diseases of islam, tribalism, and communism should also be eradicated from the continent.

Unless this occurs, Africa will continue to be the pimple on the ass of the world. Throwing money at the problem will do nothing except help corrupt politicians buy votes.

[marron]

May I make a suggestion, then? And this might be helpful to anyone, really, who is interested in helping Africa.

First, hold a fundraising concert. Invite some really big names, to attract good attention. Sell a lot of tickets. Issue a CD.

Take a portionof the profits from this venture, and invest them in a band of professionals to take down Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

Take another portion, and use it to fund military trainers, to push back the monsters roaming the back hills of Sierra Leone.

Take the rest, and invest it in missionaries, and try to convert the rest of Africa to Christianity.

[DallasJ7]

I don't fully agree with Bono's position, but at least I can respect him for being constructive about the situation and not mindlessly bashing the Administration, like so many other celebrities/musicians love to do.

[Lurker]

Dear Bono,

You're a freaking millionaire. Get out your checkbook and keep your hands off my wallet.

America already 'gave' a couple of billion dollars to 'Africa' to fight Aids. It ended up in Swiss bank accounts controlled by thugs and tyrants.

We've had enough. It's your turn now. Go pester the Irish Government.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

L

[Aaron0617]

Bipartisan health experts agree that from the United States at least $2.5 billion is required this year to kick-start the war against HIV and AIDS...

If $2.5bil is a kick start I wonder what the total package price will be?

Also, what does he mean Bush 'promised' money? I heard only O'Neil made a deal and that deal should've went with him.

[SerfsUp]

Conquest and colonization are the only proven remedies for backwards societies.

The British took a primitive culture like India and forced civilization onto it. Now India is competing with the West for high-tech capital investment.

[IncPen]

Mr. President, Africa Needs Us

Hold on, Bono. Iraq needs us first.

[Godel]

Bono should donate his own millions instead of demanding ours.

Africa does not need my money, they are currently experiencing a population boom, meanwhile the USA and Europe are suffering a massive genocidal population decrease. Our money is needed at home.

[The Great Satan]

Shut up, Bono.

[dennisw]

Trying to ressurect that old AIDS bogeyman. Right after reports that some wacky gays activley seek out AIDS via sex. US economy is not so hot so I don't see us blowing wads in Africa. Money never seems to get to the right places.

[cyborg]

Point well taken, and no society already on the downward slide to hell, doesn't need help from bedwetting liberals. Why is Uganda(right country?) the liberal's dirty little secret? If I have the right african country, they are the only African country experiencing a decrease in AIDS, illegitimate births, and other social maladies. Why? Because the president became a christian, and demanded that the nation follow christian values.

There probably would have been a time I would have cursed out such a statement as you made, but I'm getting to realize that civilized culture was one of the good things that God wrought out of slavery. I didn't read any racist books to figure that out. Given the fact that we are in a fallen, imperfect world, good things sometimes happen through imperfect means.

Bono is a pipsqueak that needs to pimp the poor african countries to make himself feel good. His music sucks and so does his politics.