Tophat665

Seems to be doing alright for Russia, Georgia, and Turkey. Worked for a while with Liberia (without it, there would be no Liberia). Also Israel. Now, bear in mind, what I mean by humility is to give the benefit of the doubt where cultures differ. We haven't really tested it anywhere that the culture differs too much, though, because then you get into cultural and moral relativism, and that doesn't wash with the electorate at large. Doesn't even wash with me all the time, even though I had some anthropolgy training. Also, this country is notably short on humility. I'd prefer it if you would take that last sentance as an observation, not an indictment.

Now, before getting locked into a really bitter argument, thanks for the article. The whole Sahel is more or less like that, and it's a damn shame. Obviously we need to do something about it, but depopulating a strip of Africa east to west across the widest point is not a viable solution, and that's pretty much what it would take with war or containment. So finacial judo is the best we can do. We don't need to give these folks a ton of money to get them going. Low interest targeted mirco loans would be a good way to raise living standards. Provide some capital and let what entrepreneurial spirit there is in the area come out. In about 10 years, when Bechtel and Halliburton are finished with major reconstruction in Iraq, they'll have a ton of experience in infrastructure repair in high risk areas. Slide 'em 4 or 5 billion dollars and get them working on infrastructure south of the Sahara.

Let's not be so accepting of the Mobutus and Abasajos and Taylors and Kabilas running their little kleptocracies, though. Let it be known we'll help them improve their countries, but they don't get a dime if they want to administer the projects themselves, because then half the roads will lead to private compounds, and the other half to numbered Swiss accounts. Get some prime contractors out there who know how to run a project, and then train the locals to do the work. It could work. It worked for the French up to the point that they forgot that they were helping out and started moving in (leading to Viet Nam and Algeria. It was going so well, then they fucked it all up.)

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