Which American president has the best record of helping the world's poor and oppressed? The chief contender may surprise you. According to the data in this BBC article George W. Bush has a record that I can't imagine any other president exceeding.
Here are the facts the BBC article lists:
- Bush pumped $18 billion into fighting HIV/Aids, much of it in Africa.
- He backed canceling $34 billion worth of debt for 27 African states.
- He launched initiative that has halved Malaria in 15 African countries.
- He led condemnation of Sudan's record in Darfur as genocide.
- He pressed for north-south peace deal in Sudan.
- He "saved millions of lives", according to aid activist Bob Geldof.
- He backed Ethiopia's invasion of Somalia to battle Islamists.
Add to these achievements the fact that Bush liberated 50 million people from tyranny in Afghanistan and Iraq, and you'd think he'd receive every humanitarian award there is, particularly the Nobel Peace Prize. Indeed, he may be the greatest humanitarian ever to lead a nation.
Unfortunately, the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't go to people who've advanced the cause of the poor and oppressed and "saved millions of lives." It goes rather to people who make videos on global warming and people of African ancestry who give nice speeches and get elected president.
Let no one say that the Nobel committee lacks a keen sensitivity to the winds of political fashion, even if they're completely oblivious to what constitutes great achievements on behalf of humanity.
RLC
