[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Saving debtors

President George W. Bush has not actively agreed with a plan from Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain to cancel debts for the world’s poorest countries.
Mr. Bush has a target of $674 million in relief and not a penny more. On the other hand, Mr. Blair, who will be the host of the G-8 summit, is trying to line up pledges to raise aid for Africa over the next 10 years. Even though the United States signed the UN declaration to increase rich countries’ aid to 0.7 percent by 2015, it still gives just 0.16 percent of its GDP.
However, Britain, France and Germany will discuss how to get to 0.7 percent. Actually, 0.7 percent of the American economy means $80 billion. That is about the amount the Senate just approved for additional military spending in Iraq
It is shameful for Mr.. Bush to oppose Blair’s plan. Military spending which takes a lot of the U.S. national income is not the right answer to making America much more influential in the world. To become a real super power, the U.S. should participate in Mr. Blair’s Africa debt plan.

by Lee Seo-hyun