Obama refines aid philosophy in U.N. address - Denton Record-Chronicle

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 09:40 AM PDT

11:45 AM CDT on Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ben Feller, The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS – President Barack Obama on Wednesday defended U.S. aid to impoverished people even during sour economic times but promised a sterner approach, favoring nations that commit to democracy and economic revival.

Addressing world leaders, Obama offered no new commitments of U.S. dollars but rather a blueprint of the development policy that will drive his government's efforts and determine where the money flows. His message was that the United States wants to help countries help themselves, not offer aid that provides short-term relief without reforming societies.

"That's not development, that's dependence," Obama said. "And it's a cycle we need to break. Instead of just managing poverty, we have to offer nations and people a path out of poverty."

Obama spoke at an anti-poverty summit convened by the United Nations, one day ahead of his main speech to the U.N. General Assembly. The president is in the midst of a three-day trip to the U.N. for its annual meeting.

World leaders on Wednesday were wrapping up a review of the poverty reduction goals adopted 10 years ago, a highly ambitious effort that has yielded mixed results. The mission is to cut extreme poverty, reduce child and maternal mortality, and expand primary education, among other objectives, by 2015.

Noting that Americans are hurting at home, where millions have lost jobs, Obama defended spending tax dollars to help others build up their agriculture, transportation and health systems. He called such help not just a moral imperative but an investment that can help the global economy and reduce the threats of instability and extremism.

"Let's put to rest the old myth that development is mere charity that does not serve our interests," Obama said.

Obama said development should no longer be measured by how much money or medicine is delivered, but by the extent to which the U.S. helps countries build up themselves.

The centerpiece of Obama's trip comes today, when he addresses the General Assembly in a speech to defend his efforts to advance Mideast peace and combat nuclear threats in Iran and North Korea.

Ben Feller, The Associated Press

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Philosophy

Friday, September 24, 2010