In an effort to get re-elected and show that he had “done something” after 9-11, with the added bonus of establishing Mid East presence and relying less on Saudi oil, George invaded Iraq. One of his problems now is that Iraq has a debt to the World Bank of $90Bn.
So George asks the G8: “Can we all agree to write 90% of it off?”
“Hold on there” says Tony Blair. “Look, why don’t we, you know, write it all off?” George: “Atta boy, Tony. You see that, you bunch of miserable Commies? Our shoulders are goddam chafing with all the shoulder-to-shoulder action me and Tony have been… Tony: “Err, no, look, actually George, I meant all of it. The 41 Highly Indebted Poor Countries, you know? All of their debt.” George pales visibly. “But that would cost us $1Bn per year, for ever!” Tony grins, his atrocious teeth making his manic smile all the more disturbing. George sags. He knows he’s been out-manoeuvred. Would he ever have agreed to such wide-ranging debt relief if he hadn’t needed the favour of UN backing for his ‘plan’ in Iraq? Why, he’d be a monkey’s uncle!
Backed into a corner, he has been manipulated into actually making the world a better place. Who knows, in the long run, from a utilitarian perspective, the Iraq invasion might even overall be a good thing!
Suck it up, debt-relief opponents. “National interest” has, on this occasion at least, been beaten by the Greater Good. No doubt it will soon be back, whoring its fat derriere around the world stage while right-wing politicians rush to violate all of its many orifices. But let us, for one brief, shining moment, celebrate its defeat.
While I enjoyed the little faux-dialogue, why would Bush neccesarily be ‘tricked’ into doing this? He is blowing 15 billion on AIDS in Africa, along with other goofy social programs.
I didn’t say “trickes”, I said ‘manouevred’ and ‘manipulated’. This genuinely was a last-minute climbdown on his part. If he thought it was such a good idea all along, he would have agreed instantly or suggested it himself.
Now, look, surely you can’t be implying that Bush changed his mind on this, can you? Surely you’re not saying he altered his position? When we all know he stays the course with steely determination and unwavering rigidity.
You can’t possibly be suggesting our Unyielding Leader has flip-flopped? :dubious:
Trying to prevent untold numbers of deaths is a “goofy social program”?
Not that W deserves a great deal of credit for the $15B for AIDS plan anyway, much of the money is just being shifted from other programs and there’s that whole “no money for groups who discuss birth control or abortion” gag rule and all.
I thought that money was going to his buddies in big pharma. Interesting that the head of that program is a former CEO of a big pharma company with no experience in public health or AIDS whatsoever.
I think Brutus is just having a little sport, trying to lessen the enjoyment of this brief victory of Greater Good over the National Interest with some sour grapes - he’ll only take perverse comfort from you indulging him.
Ya, that is all that matters. Trying. God forbid that we lay down the law, since that would be ‘cultural imperialism’. Nope, we need to let Africa run itself into the ground, then show up during halftime to try to clean up the mess. (In a consequence-free manner, of course.)
As long as we are ‘trying’, golly, 15 billion is a small price to pay!
