U.S. Emergency and Development Aid Comes with Many Strings Attached

Interview with Tom Barry, policy director of Foreign Policy in Focus, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

In response to the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean that has claimed more than 140,000 lives, President Bush initially announced that the U.S. would contribute $15 million to the relief effort. But, after worldwide criticism of what many viewed as a meager amount, the U.S. contribution quickly climbed to $35 million and then $350 million. The money will come from the budget of the Agency for International Development, or USAID, as well as other accounts.

As of Jan. 3, the Bush administration had declined to request additional money from Congress as the funds will come from existing accounts. But there is growing concern that this could deplete funds earmarked for victims of future natural disasters, war or famine. Additionally, it's not uncommon that the announcement of a generous donation makes headlines, but the follow-through is weak or non-existent. Although Japan has contributed $500 million to aid in the tsunami disaster, exceeding the U.S. commitment by $150 million, President Bush can rightfully claim that the U.S. donates more total dollars than any other country to worldwide humanitarian relief. But it's also true that the U.S. is the stingiest of all developed nations in the charitable aid it provides annually as a percentage of its gross domestic product.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Tom Barry, policy director of Foreign Policy in Focus, which is a joint project of the Institute for Policy Studies and the International Relations Center. He discusses the substantial political and economic strings attached to U.S. foreign aid, and alternative policies that could enhance the nation's true security needs.

Tom Barry is policy director of Foreign Policy in Focus and co-author of "The Soft War, The Uses and Abuses of U.S. Economic Aid." For more information, call (505) 388-0208 or visit the group's website at www.fpif.org

Related links: "Is the U.S. Stingy?" by Jim Lobe, OneWorld.net, Jan. 4, 2005

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