Double Dipping

My political science class this semester requires that we type a "memo" on a foreign policy concern every Tuesday. I'll post them as soon as they're graded and returned to me...here's the first one, a short blurb on Laura Bush's comments concerning the African AIDS issue and US support for it...

The Washington Times
“Laura Fires Back”
By: Bill Sammon
January 16, 2006
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060116-124016-1477r.htm

In this article, First Lady Laura Bush addresses several issues. Firstly, she responds to criticism of President Bush’s AIDS/HIV initiative in Africa, a program designed to help prevent the deadly disease by encouraging abstinence as the best possible way to prevent STD’s. Mrs. Bush address concerns that pushing abstinence promotes ‘Christian morality’ stating, “I'm always a little bit irritated when I hear the criticism of abstinence, because abstinence is absolutely 100 percent effective in eradicating a sexually transmitted disease.”

In addition to HIV/AIDS, Bush commented on Vice President Dick Cheney’s health, saying he would not, as has been speculated by some in the press, step down from his job due to health reasons. She also discussed the eavesdropping program revealed by The New York Times.

HIV/AIDS prevention is an important international issue. The United States must be the champion in the fight against the spread of this horrid disease. However, the grief that the US gets for how they lead this fight is simply unacceptable (and probably based exclusively on the fact the George W. Bush is president and can, in the eyes of many, do nothing right). Frankly I find Mrs. Bush’s response to the ‘AIDS question’ to be correct and well over due. It seems that more often than not Bush’s African AIDS aid package receives unneeded criticism from the press simply on the basis that it pushes abstinence as the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and/or STD’s. This is just ludicrous.

While some argue that pushing abstinence is pushing “Christian morality,” I would say it is pushing common sense. To not pass on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, people should simply don’t have sex. Considering that Bush’s plan stipulates 15 Billion dollars to be sent to Africa over three years, I do not see it as being out of the question for the giving nation to ask that the money be spent on a program that has 100% efficiency. That’s not ‘Christian Morality,” it’s just common sense

That's all for today. I'll be back on Monday.