Two veterans of U.S. foreign aid efforts, who will speak in Santa Barbara this week, examine the value of global development efforts to American national interests.
JR, THANK YOU for turning me on to Vistas wonderfully informative program presented by some truly impressive USAID alums. Their passionate desire to make this world a better place (“from the American people”) was inspiring. These were folks who over decades made important change in Iraq (where they were embedded with our military), Abu Ghraib, Belarus and West Africa/Egypt where we single-handedly ended the pain and death of small pox (yes, it travels) that had existed since Ramses V—now that’s what I call meaningful soft power (vs. China’s Belt and Road-scam)! These folks were Foreign Service patriots (my friends in the FS drink coffee from porcelain cups in Embassies) who spread the best ideals of America directly and selflessly. We should all live lives that are remotely comparable.
From what we have seen, USAID supports non essential programs overseas. Often with political overtones that reflect State DEpt/CIA influence, or US corporate and even globalist interests. Billions going to fund social engineering in Somalia, or drag shows in Rwanda, or LGBTQ advancment in Croatia, or enhancing marxist voter turnout in Sudan are not critical missions for the US to be spending taxpayer dollars on. IMO.
JR, THANK YOU for turning me on to Vistas wonderfully informative program presented by some truly impressive USAID alums. Their passionate desire to make this world a better place (“from the American people”) was inspiring. These were folks who over decades made important change in Iraq (where they were embedded with our military), Abu Ghraib, Belarus and West Africa/Egypt where we single-handedly ended the pain and death of small pox (yes, it travels) that had existed since Ramses V—now that’s what I call meaningful soft power (vs. China’s Belt and Road-scam)! These folks were Foreign Service patriots (my friends in the FS drink coffee from porcelain cups in Embassies) who spread the best ideals of America directly and selflessly. We should all live lives that are remotely comparable.
From what we have seen, USAID supports non essential programs overseas. Often with political overtones that reflect State DEpt/CIA influence, or US corporate and even globalist interests. Billions going to fund social engineering in Somalia, or drag shows in Rwanda, or LGBTQ advancment in Croatia, or enhancing marxist voter turnout in Sudan are not critical missions for the US to be spending taxpayer dollars on. IMO.
Maybe you should register for the presentation - you might learn something!