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Response
The Squandered Presidency
Demanding More from the Commander-in-Chief
Richard N. Haass
U.S. foreign policy in the Clinton era
to what was, rather than what might
was not a disaster. In some respects, it was
have been.
even a modest success. Not surprisingly,
Clinton inherited a world of un-
therefore, the basic theme of those who
precedented American advantage and
defend the administration-those who
opportunity and did little with it. Few
give it reserved praise (Stephen M. Walt,
relationships or institutions bear his im-
"Two Cheers for Clinton's Foreign Policy,"
print; no consensus exists at home on
March/April 2000)-is that the Clinton
U.S. purposes in the world or how they
administration did not upset the pervasive
should be pursued. Indeed, the measure
peace and prosperity it began its tenure
of Clinton's tenure is less what he said and
with. This is true, but it is not the whole
did than what he failed to say and failed to
truth. Indeed, such a defense of the Clin-
do. As a result, he will bequeath his succes-
ton era misses the larger point: the
sor a dangerous international situation and
overriding theme of recent U.S. foreign
a difficult domestic one-situations more
policy is underachievement and squandered
dangerous and difficult than those Clinton
potential. Like investors crowing about
himself faced and than should have been
the returns of a money-market fund
allowed to develop.
when they could have been sharing in
Despite some noteworthy achievements
the greatest bull market in history, Clinton
in foreign as well as domestic policy, the
supporters are satisfied, rather than upset,
Clinton era was marked by a preference for
only because they compare their gains
symbolism over substance and short-term
RICHARD N. HAASS is Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy Studies
at the Brookings Institution and author of The Reluctant Sheriff: The United
States After the Cold War.
[136]
Reviews
CORBIS-BETTMANN
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Sarajevo, June 28, 1914
Two hundred years of ethnic forest
fires have destroyed the Balkans'
complex multiethnicity.
Sorting Out the Balkans Ivo Banac 152
The Squandered Presidency Richard N. Haass 136
Shame: Rationalizing Western Apathy on Rwanda Alison L. Des Forges et al. 141
Don't Panic: How Secure Is Globalization's Future? G. John Ikenberry 145
Recent Books on International Relations 158
Letters to the Editor 182
ATION
The Squandered Presidency
crisis management over long-term strate-
weapons to Russia. The Clinton admin-
gizing. Unlike domestic policy, however,
istration also helped persuade a reluctant
foreign policy suffered from a lack of
Senate to ratify the Chemical Weapons
presidential interest, attention, and respect.
Convention and put in place a framework
It suffered, in short, from malign neglect.
with North Korea that deferred and
possibly solved the threat posed by its
ONE CHEER
nuclear weapons program.
Several of Clinton's accomplishments
Finally, significant diplomatic progress
stand out in the economic realm. Clinton
was made in both Northern Ireland and
inherited agreements largely negotiated
the Middle East. In both instances, the
by his predecessor, but he still deserves
bulk of the credit should go to those local
credit for gaining congressional passage
leaders who showed courage and flexibility.
(albeit with mostly Republican votes)
But the Clinton administration played a
of both the North American Free Trade
crucial role through its sustained and often
Agreement and the World Trade Orga-
high-level diplomatic efforts. And the
nization. In its initial five years, NAFTA
government's large-scale humanitarian
contributed to a near doubling in trade
interventions brought some measure of
volume with America's two largest trading
stability-however fleeting or tenuous-
partners and helped insulate Mexico from
to Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
what would otherwise have been deep
recession and political instability. For its
BUT NO MORE
part, the WTO provided a set of rules to
These accomplishments, however, do not
govern important areas of world trade
add up to a foreign policy legacy, because
and a mechanism for resolving disputes
they did not alter the administration's
among member countries. The WTO is one
international environment in basic and
reason why world trade volume continued
lasting ways. A foreign policy legacy can
to grow steadily, despite the Asian eco-
result either from achieving something
nomic crisis. Other economic achievements
great on the ground (defeating major
include the Clinton administration's
rivals or building major institutions, for
concerted effort to cobble together the
example) or from changing the way
coalition of countries, banks, and inter-
people at home or abroad think about
national financial institutions that rescued
international relations. Clinton did
Mexico from an economic meltdown in
neither. Despite what Walt argues, such
1994. It should also be praised for its steady
an outcome was hardly inevitable. It
hand during the 1998 Asian economic
was a deliberate choice on the part of the
crisis, when it refused to apply proffered
president, who was not willing to spend
cures that would likely have been more
political capital for enduring results.
harmful than the disease.
For instance, for all the administration's
Arms control had important milestones
words on international trade, it made no
as well. Perhaps the most significant
serious effort to expand NAFTA to Chile
achievement was the agreement that
or elsewhere, or to initiate a new round
ensured Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan
for the WTO that would cover agriculture
would voluntarily give up their nuclear
or services. And despite knowing that
FOREIGN AFFAIRS May/June 20000
[137]
Richard N. Haass
Congress was dubious about extending
Unlike China, Russia benefited from
"fast track" negotiating authority, the
the administration's consistent approach
administration waited until the last minute
and regular high-level attention. It is
to press its case, allowing a crucial tool to
legitimate to question whether the ap-
slip not just from its own hands but
proach and attention focused too much
from those of its successors as well. The
on personalities and on trying to steer
administration chose to delay bringing
internal reform within Russia. But however
China into the WTO and allowed misguided
that question is answered, what is certain
economic sanctions to proliferate. And it
is that not enough was done to deal with
conceded so much to its labor and envi-
the residue of nuclear competition. The
ronmental constituencies on trade issues
U.S. nuclear posture-on both inventory
that its rhetoric increasingly echoed the
and policy-resembles nothing so much
sentiments of WTO critics rather than
as its Cold War stance, even though the
supporters. Nothing embodies the loss
world is fundamentally different today.
of momentum on trade as much as the
Furthermore, the decision to push NATO
December 1999 fiasco in Seattle, which
enlargement brought the administration
forced the president to acknowledge that
a symbolic victory at the cost of allowing
protectionist sentiment is stronger now
major difficulties with the alliance's chief
than when he assumed office.
adversary to persist.
China is a second area where Clinton
On Iraq, the administration's policy
could have staked a claim to a legacy
was marked by a confusion of purpose and
but failed. He entered office when Sino-
an inadequacy of means. By late 1998, years
American relations were at a low ebb
of Iraqi refusals to meet U.N. Security
because of the end of the Cold War (which
Council requirements governing its
removed the anti-Soviet rationale that had
weapons of mass destruction meant that
sustained the relationship) and because of
forceful measures by the United States and
the tensions caused by China's Tiananmen
its allies were long overdue. Yet instead
Square crackdown. But Clinton never
of attacking for a purpose-to coerce
decided how much of a priority to make
compliance or even prod Iraqi defense
China, going there only once, six years into
forces to turn on Saddam Hussein-the
his presidency. Nor did he decide which
Clinton administration dropped bombs
issues mattered most to him-wandering
for an arbitrary period of four days
among human rights, trade, Taiwan, and
during Operation Desert Fox and then
Korea-or how to blend carrots and sticks
stopped. The result was greater latitude
in his attempts at engagement. China
for Saddam to build and hide biological
thus oscillated from being portrayed as a
and other weapons without having to
human-rights outcast to a would-be strate-
worry about credible international
gic partner. The entire Asia-Pacific region
monitoring and inspections.
grew confused about American intentions.
Unlike most of these major relation-
In the end, Clinton forfeited control over
ships, a series of humanitarian interventions
the American debate on China and never
in situations where vital U.S. interests were
managed to establish a durable post-Cold
not at stake received extraordinary resources
War rationale for the relationship.
and efforts from the administration. Each
[138]
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Volume 79 No.3
NEW FROM CAMBRIDGE
Democracy by Force
Security, Identity and Interests
US Military Intervention in the
A Sociology of International Relations
Post-Cold War World
Bill McSweeney
Karin Von Hippel
us Military Intervention
Post Cold
The study of security has been dominated for four decades
Since the end of the Cold War
by a scientific perspective that has been under attack since the
the United States has intervened
end of the Cold War. In this book, Bill McSweeney discusses
milioarily in a number of civil
the inadequacy of this approach and criticizes the most recent
conflicts around the world, with
attempts to surmount it. Drawing on contemporary trends
varying degrees of success. This
in sociology, he develops a theory of the international order
book examines four US-sponsored
within which the idea of security takes on a broader range of
interventions (Panama, Somalia,
meaning, inviting a more interpretative approach to under-
Haiti and Bosnia), focusing on the
standing the concept and formulating security policy.
vital nation-building efforts which
Cambridge Studies in International Relations 69
have followed military action. The
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The Squandered Presidency
crisis may have deserved notice, but as a
complexity of post-Cold War international
whole, the operations were not linked by
relations, the need for flexibility, and so
any underlying rationale, nor were they
forth, but no such rationalizations can
followed through to a successful and
hide the fact that "ad hoc-racy" is no virtue.
sustainable outcome. The administration
It provides no basis for the allocation
never made clear why the Somalia mission
of material resources-whether for
expanded from narrow humanitarianism
defense, intelligence, foreign assistance,
to aggressive peacemaking directed at a
or diplomacy-or less tangible factors, such
particular local warlord-nor why, after a
as the time and energy of the president
single bloody skirmish, the operation was
and other senior officials. Only the absence
abandoned. The administration never
of such a framework could account for
explained why the United States elected
the extraordinary attention devoted to
to stay out of the Rwandan genocide, or
such projects as diplomacy in Northern
why it believed it could build a new Haiti,
Ireland and the Middle East and military
or why it stayed out of Bosnia, Kosovo,
involvement in humanitarian crises,
and East Timor for as long as it did and
together with the limited effort spent on
then intervened in the way it did. The
forging post-Cold War relationships
result is that despite all the activity (and
with major powers in a position to affect
strained defense resources), there are few
vital U.S. interests.
lasting results. And there is no coherent
Another factor accounting for Clinton's
"Clinton doctrine"-unless that means
behavior has been the administration's
a willingness to intervene when the
profound politicization of foreign affairs.
domestic political cost of standing aloof
Clinton was hardly the first president to
exceeds the cost of a carefully staged
approach foreign policy through a political
and limited operation.
lens, and he will not be the last. But he
did bring this approach to new heights-
NO PLUM IN THE PUDDING
or depths. Many of Clinton's major foreign
Clinton may not leave a legacy in foreign
policy decisions can be traced to domestic
affairs, but what he will leave is a void:
politics. The fear of domestic political
no clear priorities, no consistency or
backlash led to the ignominious pullout
thoroughness in the implementation of
from Somalia and the refusal to commit
strategies, and no true commitment to
ground forces to Kosovo or forces of
building a domestic consensus in support
any sort to Rwanda; a desire to placate
of internationalism.
organized labor led to the increasing
What accounts for this sorry state of
embrace of protectionism; the hope
affairs? In part, it reflects the absence of any
of attracting support from Americans of
overarching intellectual framework. The
eastern European descent was a crucial
administration's early experiments-
factor behind NATO enlargement; harsh
"democratic enlargement" for a goal and
economic sanctions were introduced
"assertive multilateralism" for a strategy-
against Haiti partly to assuage prominent
were quickly abandoned, with ad hoc
African-American critics of U.S. policy;
decision-making becoming the norm.
and U.S. troops were dispatched there
Administration supporters speak of the
when the sanctions contributed to a
FOREIGN AFFAIRS May June 2000
[139]
Richard N. Haass
massive and unpopular influx of refugees
political capital in the absence of political
into Florida.
pressure. With the demise of the Soviet
Domestic politics and "ad hoc-racy"
Union, no single force threatened America's
alone, however, cannot fully explain
existence or stirred public opinion. Con-
Clinton's foreign policy pattern. A final
gress was increasingly balkanized-many
part of the explanation lies in the extraor-
Democrats were less than convinced
dinarily low status that Clinton accorded
about the benefits of free trade, and many
international affairs. It is instructive to look
Republicans were uninterested in inter-
at how the president chose to use the bully
national issues and unwilling to trust a
pulpit during his term in office. Of some
leader from an opposing party. The mass
300 Saturday morning radio addresses
media, meanwhile, devoted less time and
he has delivered, perhaps 35-less than
space to international issues. Following
12 percent-were devoted to matters of
such trends rather than fighting them
foreign policy and national security. His
was the easiest course-and the one
inaugural and State of the Union addresses
Clinton chose. He gave the American
display a similar lack of emphasis on
people the foreign policy that polls
foreign policy, as do the administration's
suggested they wanted-unlike a truly
efforts at congressional relations.
great president, who would have tried
The result is that, after two terms in
to lead them toward the foreign policy
office, Clinton leaves behind not an
they needed.
isolationist America (since isolationists
care passionately about having no foreign
policy) but an uninterested one. Most
Americans are inclined toward interna-
tionalism but have little intensity or
commitment. As a result, U.S. foreign
relations are increasingly influenced by
special interests rather than any general in-
terest. And they are increasingly dominated
by symbolic gestures-such as economic
sanctions or paper commitments-that
substitute for the hard work of managing
complex relationships, nurturing institu-
tions, and building a support base for
necessary but unpopular actions. If the
current era of American primacy comes
to a premature close and is followed
by a time of greater violence and less
prosperity, it will be more because of U.S.
folly than the rise of a foe.
Giving foreign policy the attention it
deserved over the last several years would
have required a president willing to invest
[140]
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Volume 79 No.3
file frequipaly leadership
THE WORLD BANK
Washington, D.C. 20433
U.S.A.
JAMES D. WOLFENSOHN
President
March 5, 1996
Melanne Verveer
Office of the First Lady
The White House
Dear Melanne:
I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for arranging for the First Lady
to host the coffee yesterday for the heads of the foundations and my colleagues from the
Bank. The discussions with the First Lady energized the group and strengthened the
resolve of all of us to find new and better ways to work together.
The two days of meetings were extraordinarily positive and concluded this
morning with an agreement to concentrate our collaborative efforts in a number of areas.
One of these was of particular interest to the First Lady global interdependence and the
influencing of public opinion in support of development assistance. Rockefeller Brothers
Fund, W. Alton Jones and the Pew Charitable Trusts are expected to take the lead among
the foundations. I will send you a summary of the meetings and more detailed
information on the specific follow-up actions early next week.
Please express my deepest appreciation to the First Lady for taking the time to
meet with us and for sharing her views on the critical role that the foundations and the
World Bank must play in support of development.
With warmest regards.
The was a really 1000 vertiatine and a
tom with the First lady was a sund edent
Sincerely yours,
/in
James D. Wolfensohn
file freezing poly
Campaign To Preserve U.S. Global Leadership
April 16, 1999
Melanne Verveer
Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Old Executive Office Building
Room 100
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Melanne:
On behalf of the Campaign to Preserve U.S. Global Leadership, we want to thank you for
all of your help in arranging for the First Lady to address our coalition at the joint event
with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The First Lady's remarks about the importance of U.S. global leadership and the
resources necessary to ensure America's role as the world's sole remaining super power
were extraordinary. As our Washington Day participants went to Capitol Hill, her words
stayed with them as they met with members of Congress and explained to them the
importance of a strong international affairs budget.
We hope the First Lady will continue to speak out about the importance of a strong
international affairs budget as the FY2000 budget negotiations continue and that the
Administration continues to support international affairs programs as one of its top
budget priorities as the process continues.
If there is any information regarding our diverse coalition, or the international affairs
budget that we can provide for you, please do not hesitate to call Liz Schrayer the
Campaign Coordinator (202-955-1381.) Again, thank you for your help in making our
event a tremendous success.
Sincerely,
Thanks
Joel goel L. Johnson
President
Elizab M eth Schrayer
Campaign Coordinator
A Coalition to Support the International Affairs Budget
1920 L Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-955-1381
Fax: 202-861-0811
file foreign antice
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THOMAS J. DONOHUE
1615 H STREET. N.W.
PRESIDENT AND
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20062-2000
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
202/463-5300
202/463-5327 FAX
October 5, 1999
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
Strong U.S. leadership and active international engagement are critically
important for U.S. business in the age of globalization. To maintain our nation's
influence in the world this Administration must request and Congress must provide
adequate funding for both our National Defense (Function 050) and for International
Affairs (Function 150).
Congress is doing the right thing by the Defense Department. But,
Congress has failed to provide the funding necessary in the International Affairs
Budgets to maintain American leadership and influence in the world. Specifically, the
levels approved by the House/Senate Conference on the Foreign Operations Bill and
the proposed levels in both the Senate and House for the State Department
Appropriation are woefully inadequate. They do not measure up to the requirements
of our nation.
As you proceed to final resolution of this year's budget debate I strongly
urge you to revisit the levels being considered in these budgets. Specifically we should
provide adequate funding to:
Fully fund the Freedom Support Act, restoring, in particular, the amounts
requested for programs in Russia. Notwithstanding the difficult issues faced
in Russia, we have no greater foreign policy priority than assisting that nation
in its rocky transition to market democracy;
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
October 5, 1999
Page Two
Provide additional funding for reconstruction and development in Kosovo
and Southeastern Europe;
Provide the Secretary of State with sufficient Security Assistance funds (ESF
and FMF) and Voluntary Peacekeeping (PKO) funds necessary to give the
Administration the flexibility to respond to crises and promote democratic
transformation where and when needed in the world. These accounts have
been seriously underfunded in pending legislation;
Provide the Development Assistance funds and funds for organizations such
as the Asia Foundation with the wherewithal to facilitate economic recovery
in Asia;
Fully fund the trade agencies, OPIC, EximBank and TDA so that they can
continue to help create American jobs and maintain a level playing field in
international trade. And, provide the State Department with the small fund it
seeks to enable the Economic and Commercial Officers of U.S. Embassies,
at non-FCS missions, to promote American exports;
Match or exceed the Administration's request levels for embassy security and
antiterrorism and counter-terrorism programs. The counter terrorism
initiative is of particular interest to the business community. The lives of
Americans living and working overseas are at stake in these programs and it
is irresponsible not to fund them;
Fully fund the operating accounts of the Department of State and USAID.
Reductions in our capacity to project our influence overseas are crippling to
our foreign policy and national security.
Finally, we need to ensure that we meet our obligations to the United Nations
and other International Organizations. For too long we have shamed our country by
failing to pay our bills. There is no excuse for tying up this funding with politically
sensitive non-germane issues. We need to keep our promises.
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
October 5, 1999
Page Three
Mr. Speaker, no one knows better than do we the need to keep federal
spending in check. However, there are core functions that must be funded adequately
at the federal level. National Security and international engagement are preeminent
among these core functions. To underfund either is to do a great disservice to our
nation. I urge your support for restoring International Affairs funding to the levels
necessary to protect the interests of the American people.
6'm Sincerely
Thomas J. Donohue
The Honorable Thomas A. Daschle
Minority Leader
The Honorable Harry Reid
United States Senate
Minority Whip
United States Senate
Hart 509
Hart 528
Washington, DC 20510
T: 202.225.0600
Washington, DC 20510
T: 202.224.2158
The Honorable Don Nickles
The Honorable Trent Lott
Assistant Majority Leader
Majority Leader
United States Senate
United States Senate
Hart 133
Russell 487
Washington, DC 20510
Washington, DC 20510
T: 202.224.2708
T: 202.224.3135
The Honorable David E. Bonior
The Honorable Richard Gephardt
Minority Whip
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Rayburn 2207
Longworth 1226
Washington, DC 20515
Washington, DC 20515
T: 202.225.3130
T: 202.225.0100
The Honorable Tom Delay
The Honorable Richard Armey
Majority Whip
Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Cannon 341
Cannon 301
Washington, DC 20515
Washington, DC 20515
T: 202.225.0197
T: 202.225.4000
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
Rayburn 2263
Washington, DC 20515
T: 202.225.0600
APR-24-95 MON 1:45 PM 639. 96753. 36863284M
FAX NO. 212472 0508
P. 1
THE NEW WORLD FOUNDATION ONW
COLIN GREER
100 EAST 85TH STREET. NEW YORK. NPW YORK 10028
President
FAX (212) 472-0508
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file foreign
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onistance
TO:
Melanne Vervear
FROM:
Cd:- Green
DATE:
4-24-95
NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING THIS: 5
message:
Dear Melanne-
Here is the Kinstry arrive Also I've
checked(v) the Seets. 0 St-Vr I'm Irelly Sura would be
excited 8 he Dea.
love,
Gl.
If this transmission is garbled, please call 212-249-1023
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FROM : ALAN WADE
PHONE NO. : 212 619 1403
Apr. 24 1995 11:10AM P2
COMMENT
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With clegani, all-suite,
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THE INTELLECTUAL FREE LUNCH
SUN HUND CRUISES
Everybody's entitled to an opinion, right? Wrong.
THE CARIBBEAN
(5-12 Days)
From 84,350
T
IIE weekend before President
how big & share of the federal budget cur-
Clinton's State of the Union Ad-
197 previous exergency
renrly good to foreign aid. The median
dress, the Wall Street Journal as-
answer was fifteen per cent; the everage
THE AMAZON
44 0 w Days) New-Mas.
sembled a focus group of middle-class
answer was eighteen per cent. The correct
"Shore Excurations lacked on
white males-the demographic group du
answer is less than one per cent: the
Amazon Suibings
jour plumb the depth of their prover-
United States government spends about
From $10,275
bial anger. The results were highly satis-
fourreen billion dollars a year on foreign
PAY person double occupancy
factory. These guys are mad as hell.
aid (including military assistance), out of
THE
They're mad at welfare, they're mad RE
& usual budget of if trillion and R half. To
PANAMA CANAL
special-interest lobbyiets. "But perhaps
a question about how much foreign-aid
(10 6 13 days) January
the subject that produces the most agree-
spending would be "appropriate," the
From $10,220
ment among the group," the Journal re-
median answer was five por cent of the
per person double occurancy
ports, "is the view that Washington
budget. A question about how much
Call your travel ugent
should stop sending money abroad and
would be "ron little" produced a median
for details.
instead zero in on the domestic frunt."
answer of three per cent-morc than
For our free brochure all
A poll released last work by the Pro-
three times the current level of foreign-
(415)391-7444
gram on International Policy Attinudes at
aid spending.
(lid NVF rynvator - - this - *
New Yorker: The rublisher will that]
the University of Maryland contains
To the International Policy folks at
similar findings. According to this survey,
the University of Maryland, these results
THE FINE PRINT
Instaded to the price of your cruise KY Gove
seventy-five per cont of Americans be-
demomstrate "strong support for main-
property resindirip wish travel, isle right
lieve that the United States spends "too
mining foreign aid at current spending
delow hotel accommissions 10/
Insurance Per charges and handling fees are
much" on foreign aid, and sixty four per
levels or higher." That's just their liberal-
ear nal reaso bound 509 of M) per
cent want foreign-aid spending cut. Ap-
internationalist spin, of course. You
"STEARE" Program
Experience Sobearn with hicody
parently, * cevalier eleven per cent of
might say with equal justice that the re-
Americans think it's fine to spend "TOO
sults demonsurate at national wish to see
much" on foreign aid. But there is no de-
foreign aid cut by two-thirds. It's true that
nying the poll's larger finding that big
after the pollsters humiliated their sub-
majorities say they think the tab is too high.
jects with the correct answer to the
Respondents were also asked, though,
question about how much (or, rather,
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FROM : ALAN WADE
PHONE NO. : 212 619 1403
Apr. 24 1995 11:14AM P1
5
how little) the United States
spends on foreign aid, only
thirty-five per cent of the IV-
spondents had the fortinade to
say they still wanted to SCC it
cut. But what people will say
after being corrected by an au-
thority figure with a clipboard
hardly constitutes "strong
support."
This poll is less interesting
for what it shows about for-
cign aid than for what it
shows about American de-
mocracy. It's not just that
Americans are scandalously
ignorant. It's that they NOCITI to
believe they have a democratic
right to their ignorance. All
over the country-st dinner
tables, in focus groups, on
call-in Indio adrees, and, no
This cave is u very important are find, but is dates back only to the Impressionists."
doubt, occasionally on the
floor of Congress-citizens
are expressing outrage about
how much we spend on foreign aid, with-
rence. The premise of opinion polling is
cial policy decisions. Lippmann's belief
out having the faintest idea what ther
that people uru, and of right ought to bc,
WRS that modern life had rendered pub-
amount is. This is not, surely. a question
owni-opinionated-that they should
lic policy too complex for the everage
of being misinformed. No one-not
have views on all subjects at all times-
voter. But there is nothing especially
even Rush Limbangh-is out there
and that all such views are cqually valid.
complex about the factual question of
spreading the falsehood that we spend fif-
It's always remarkable haw few people say
how much the country spends on foreign
tuen per cent of the federal budget (two
they "aren't sure" about or "don't know"
aid. It may be too heavy # burden of civic
hundred and rwenry-five billion dollars)
the answer to some pollster's question.
responsibility 10 expect every citizen-
on foreign aid. People are forming and
("Never thought about it," "Couldn't cure
what with work and family and life our-
expressing passionate views about foreign
less," and "Let HAW gut back to you on that
wide politics-to carry this number
aid on the basis of no information at all.
after I've done some reading" aren't even
around in his or her head. But it is not
Or perhaps they think the the amount
options.) So, given the prominence of
seking too much to arpect a citizen to
being spent on foreign aid is a matter of
polls in our political culture, it's no sur-
recognize that be or she needs 10 know
opinion, like everything else.
prise that people have come to believe
that number, at least roughly, in order to
Populism, in its larest manifestation,
that their opinions on the issues of the
have a valid opinion about whether it is
celebrates ignorant opinion and undiffer-
day need not be fettered by either facts or
too large or 100 small. Americans are CA-
entisted rage. As long as you're mad as
reflection.
pable of making informed, reflective de-
hell and aren't going to take it anymore,
Add opinions to the list of symptoms of
cisions on policy questions. But they of-
no one will inquire very closely into what,
the froe-lunch disease that blights Ameri-
ten seem to be under the impression that
exactly, "it" is and whether you really
can politics. First, in the early nineteen-
they needn't bother.
ought to feel that way. Pandering politi-
eighties, came the fiscal free lunch: taxes
We need # new form of democratic
cians are partly to blame, TO be sure. So is
can be cut without cutting middle-class
piety. It shows respect, not contempt, for
the development christened "hyper-
government benefits. Then, with the end
"the people" to hold them to something
democracy by last week's Time: the way
of the Cold War, came the foreign-policy
approaching the intellectual standard you
the communications revolution iv creding
free lunch: America can strut 9A the world's
would apply to yourself or a friend. By
representative government by providing
superpower without putting blood or
contrast, it is contemptuous, not respect-
instant feedback between voters' whims
treasure at risk. Now there's the intellec-
ful, to excuse "the people" from all de-
and politicians' actions. But ubiquitous
rual free lunch: I'm entitled to vociferous
mands of intellectual rigor or honesry
opinion polls are part of the problem, too.
opinions on any subject, without having
on the ground that their judgments are
The typical opinion poll about, say,
to know, or even think, about it.
wise by definition. We honor our friends
foreign aid doesn't trouble to ask whether
All this may sound horribly snooty.
by challenging them when we think
the respondent knows the first thing
But It Isn't It in not the argument that
they're wrong. Ht shows that 'WC take
about the topic being opined upon, and
Walrer Lippmann made in "Public
them seriously. Believers in democracy
no conventional poll disqualifies an an-
Opinion," where he advocuted relying on
owe "the people" no less.
swer on the ground of mere total igno-
élite "burcaize" of wise men to make tru-
APR-24-95 MON 1:48 PM 639. 96753. 36863284M
FAX NO. 212472 0508
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NEW MEXICO (D)
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NASS OFFICERS AND
Mon. Stephanie Gonzales
Hon. Jim Miles
Hon. Ken Hechler
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
1994-1995
NASS EXECUTIVE
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MEMBERS - REGIONS
Santa Fe. NM 87503
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PRESIDENT - Hon. Rutus
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NEW YORK (R)
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President
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WISCONSIN (D)
State for North Carolina
Secretary of State
Hon. Joyce Hazeltine
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since 1989. Aide to U.S.
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Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Senator Sam Ervin, Jr.;
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free foreign
Jeffrey D. Sachs
What $8 a Year
Could Do for Africa
We've all heard a great deal by now about the diseases ravaging Af-
rica: AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, malaria. They are killing people by the
millions and destroying families and communities across large parts
of the continent. And while most of us would like to do something to
help, the problem seems so huge, the prospective cost of dealing with
it so immense, that one cannot even put a number on it.
Well. actually, one can put a number on it: about $8 a year from ev-
ery one of us in America-roughly the cost of going out to a movie.
Let us see how this number is arrived at. A reasonable estimate is
that sub-Saharan Africa will need at least $1 billion per year from do-
nors-in addition to cancellation of the international debt that drains
many treasuries-in order to cut sharply the burden of malaria on
the continent. A typical assumption is that the United States should
bear about 20 percent of any global effort, so the $1 billion from all
sources would require about $200 million per year from this coun-
try-75 cents per American per year to save millions of lives from
malaria.
Now add in the additional costs for greatly increased efforts to con-
trol AIDS. TB and the like. Even with the indirect expenses to the
United States of debt cancellation, the sums are still quite small. For
example, the United Nations recently estimated that around $4 bil-
lion per year is the amount needed worldwide to fight the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. A few billion dollars more could mount a similarly effective
effort against tuberculosis and other deadly infectious diseases.
So suppose the world's rich countries came up with $10 billion per
year to fight all these killer diseases-what would it cost us in Amer-
ica? Our $2 billion share of the contribution would require about $8
from every one of us.
And of course in the future, these costs could actually go down. not
up-if vaccines can be developed for the diseases. President Clinton.
with bipartisan support of Sens. Helms, Frist, Kerry, Roth and others,
has wisely called for a new tax incentive scheme to encourage phar-
maceutical firms to invest more heavily in research and development
of vaccines for malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS.
Africa's present crisis has multiple and interconnected parts: the
500 million clinical cases and more than 1 million deaths per year
from malaria; the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which now kills 2 million Af-
ricans per year; the tuberculosis crisis, re-surging on the back of
AIDS. and claiming more than a million African lives per year, and in-
terconnected crises of measles, diarrheal disease and undernourish-
ment, claiming millions more. Life expectancy on the continent is
around 50 years and falling.
Africa's disease burden not only causes untold human pain and suf-
fering; it also cripples economic development. Malaria alone costs
billions of dollars per year just in lost earnings and medical charges.
The cost is many times that when we consider the longer-term effects
of the disease such as suppressing foreign investment and educa-
tional attainment in the region.
Meanwhile, debt cancellation for Africa has come down to a matter
of life and death. African leaders know very well that for their own
countries to muster the internal resources to fight these dread dis-
eases, they will have to be permitted by the creditor nations to shift
the funds now spent on debt servicing into public health. The in-
creased domestic resources would help get public health centers op-
erating. The additional contributions from donor nations would be
needed to procure vitally needed supplies such as insecticides, bed
nets, anti-malarial medicines and the greatly expanded services of ex-
perts in fields such as entomology. immunology. parasitology and wa-
ter resource management.
I will ask the question bluntly: Would Americans invest an extra 75
cents per year to battle malaria? Would they be ready to provide $8
per year as part of a global camnaign to control and Augem
iduge or кшег diseases, thereby saving millions of lives in sub-
Saharan Africa?
In the America I know, the answer is surely yes-whether you are
a liberal Democrat or a conservative Republican. a well-paid profes-
sional or a working-class family. All of us want to know that we have
contributed to the good of humanity and to the lives of children ev-
erywhere. If given the opportunity, Americans would never allow it to
pass.
The writer is the director of the Center for International
Development at Harvard University.
The Washington Post
TUESDAY. MAY 23. 2000
South Africa's Silent Tragedy
S
OUTH AFRICA'S President Thabo Mbeki
paign of intellectual intimidation and terror-
is visiting Washington at what could be a
ism."
turning point in his country's struggle
Mr. Moeki needs to put aside this prickliness
against AIDS. Earlier this month. five major
and consider two practical measures. First, he
drug makers cut the price of AIDS drugs sold to
should note the clinical trials in Thailand, west
developing countries, and President Clinton is-
Africa and Uganda, which have shown that
sued an executive order increasing poor na-
short courses of antiretrovira! drugs, costing as
tions' access to cheap medicine. That progress
little as $4 per woman. can cut the transmission
came on top of April's World Bank-International
rate of HIV from pregnant mothers to their ba-
Monetary Fund meeting. at which the industri-
bies by nearly half. In the United States, nearly
alized countries emphasized their willingness to
all infected mothers receive this treatment:
finance the international fight against AIDS.
South Africa has so far refused to follow, saying
The rich nations' belated engagement. while
that the drugs might be toxic. Yesterday Mr.
still to be tested in practice, puts the onus on Mr.
Mbeki appeared to soften his doubts. He needs
Mbeki to start tackling the biggest challenge
to embrace this lifesaving option.
tacing his country. Around one in five adult
Second, Mr. Mbeki needs to make better use
South Africans are thought to be infected with
of the bully pulpit. He wears a red AIDS-
HTV, the virus that leads to AIDS. Yet rather
awareness pin, and he supports some health ed-
than ordering all available countermeasures,
ucation efforts. But rather than follow the ex-
Mr. Mbeki has until now preferred to complain
ample of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.
about the West's attitude to the crisis. He has
who has spoken out repeatedly about AIDS, Mr.
dismissed AIDS drugs as impossibly expensive;
Mbeki has retired to his office to study it. This
he has questioned whether the African version
seriousness, admirable in many fields, is tragic
of disease is really linked to the HIV virus: and
in this case. Some 1,600 South Africans are be
ne has accused foreign critics of waging a "cam-
ing infected every day. Time is pressing.
A Win for the Guzzlers
T
HE HOUSE OF Representatives voted
hit its lowest level since 1980.
last week to extend the era of the gas-
More efficient vehicles would reduce U.S.
guzzling sport-utility vehicle by at least
dependence on foreign oil; cars and light
another year. Members approved a trans-
trucks account for roughly 40 percent of U.S.
portation budget bill that. for the sixth year in
oil consumption. And the less gas a vehicle
a row, freezes fuel economy standards at exist-
consumes. the less carbon dioxide it emits and
ino levels and perpetuates a gap 111 require-
the less it contributes to global warming.
ments between cars and light trucks. including
When it comes to other pollutants. SUTs
minivans and SUVs. The action will now move
and light trucks will have to meet the same
to the Senate. where 40 members last year VCI-
standards as cars by 2009. thanks to reg.
ed for a nonbinding resolution opposing the
ulations imposed by EPA last year. But the
double standard. This year the Senate ought
transportation budget bill approved by the
to vote for better fuel economy.
House Friday would block the Department of
New cars have to average 27.5 miles per gal-
Transportation from even considering wheth-
lon. light trucks only 20.7. The differing levels
er to close the mileage gap in the same way:
were put in place when light trucks were a
Neither Democrats nor Renuhlicans to
sitiali percentage UI vehicles soid each year; as
make the hard but logical choice. and they
they have exploded in popularity, the overall
managed to pass the bill without even a vote
efficiency of the flect has declined. In 1999 it
on the guzzlers. It's a loss for the environment.
The Washington Post
TUESDAY, MAY 23. 2000
First Lady Urges American Public to Support Foreign Aid
Meeting With Reporters Is Part of Series Aimed at Focusing on 'Important' Issues; Role of Partnerships Stressed
By Thomas W. Lippman
stressing her personal commitment to
"I'm not sure as to the exact num-
manitarian flight Tuesday of "Opera-
Washington Post Staff Writer
maintaining and expanding the U.S.
bers," Hillary Clinton said, "but I was
tion Provide Hope," a joint State De-
role in global affairs.
told by several people who are old
partment-Defense Department pro-
It was one of those Washington
The meeting was the third in a series
hands in foreign affairs that a very large
gram to provide medical assistance-
events where what was said was less
she said she plans to conduct on issues
proportion of the Congress as constitut-
including entire hospitals-to the for-
arresting than who was saying it.
"that we believe to be important but
ed after the 1994 election had never
mer Soviet Union.
The message: Foreign aid is benefi-
don't have time to discuss at any
held a passport, had never traveled
Hillary Clinton, who visited Africa
cial not just to the recipients but to the
depth." She said she will "continue to
outside the United States.
earlier this year, said news media atten-
donors, and the United States should
speak out" on the importance of part-
"The numbers that were quoted to
tion to African crises has obscured the
give more of it. The messenger: first
nerships between government and pri-
me were shockingly high," she said,
fact that there are promising develop-
lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
vate industry, and between the United
without specifying them. "As people
ments in many parts of the continent.
She invited reporters to the Map
States and its allies, in addressing
have become more familiar with what
Just as it would have been misleading
Room of the official residence yester-
global problems that could become
the United States has done for the past
in the 1980s for Europeans to say North
day to hear her and a team of senior
security threats.
50 years, and as people have traveled
America was in turmoil because of
administration officials make a pitch for
The percentage of the U.S. budget
and had briefings and shaken hands
violence in Central America, she said, it
public support of U.S. assistance to
devoted to foreign assistance has de-
with and talked with not only people
is inaccurate today to depict all of Africa
developing countries and to the coun-
clined steadily for years, and the United
representing the administration but
as mired in backwardness.
tries of the former Soviet Union strug-
States ranks last among industrialized
business leaders here and abroad,
"There are bright spots in Africa,"
gling to make the transition to democ-
nations in the percentage of economic
there has been a real learning experi-
she said, just as "Cambodia and Singa-
racy and free markets.
output devoted to aid.
ence," she said.
pore are not the same" in assessments
REUTER
The conversation, she said, was
But the aid budget appears to have
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that
of progress in Southeast Asia.
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
"aimed at the American public," which
bottomed out, and Congress seems
she was expressing views that the
Asked about the apparent anomaly
she said needs to be convinced that aid
likely to give President Clinton nearly
administration has espoused from the
of promoting an increase in U.S. gov-
she will "continue to speak out"
is a valuable tool for stabilizing troubled
all of the $7.7 billion he sought for
beginning of her husband's first term,
ernment aid activity while the adminis-
societies, addressing problems such as
bilateral and multinational develop-
not offering anything new.
tration is stressing the global impor-
sponsibility, she said, "and I think that's
disease and overpopulation that threat-
ment programs for fiscal 1998.
But she said three events made it
tance of the free market, Hillary Clinton
a very healthy position to be in. Be-
en U.S. national security, and protect-
Hillary Clinton attributed that turn-
appropriate to restate the argument
said her husband is always seeking the
cause if you put all your eggs in the
ing the environment.
about to a growing recognition in the
yesterday: the recent celebration of the
proper balance, "always looking for the
government basket, we know the re-
Sipping tea from an oversized CNN
Republican-controlled Congress of the
50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan,
third way, the consensus."
sults of that. If you put all your eggs in
mug as she presided over the hour-
value of assistance programs, many of
the president's planned unveiling today
Much of Europe is going through a
the free market basket, we know that
long session, Clinton spoke more in
which involve government purchase of
of a trade and investment initiative for
similar search for the proper balance
inequalities can become severe and
philosophical terms than in specifics,
goods manufactured in this country.
sub-Saharan Africa and the 500th hu-
between government and private re-
threaten democratic institutions."
The Washington Post
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1997
Key Senate Democrats
Backing Roth Tax Bill
Shifts Complicate White House Strategy
By Clay Chandler
savings proposal they have been,
Washington Post Staff Writer
championing for several years. Un-
FINAL
der the Roth proposal, parents with,
The five-year tax cutting plan to be
children aged 12 and under would
unveiled today by Senate Finance
have the option of claiming a tax
Committee Chairman William V.
credit of up to $500 per child, while
Roth Jr. (R-Del.) has won the support
parents with children ages 13
of several of the panel's key Demo-
through 16 would receive a dollar for
crats, complicating the Clinton ad-
dollar credit of up to $500 for money
ministration's effort to portray GOP
invested in a special "Kidsave" ac-
tax plans as fiscally reckless give-
count that could be withdrawn tax-
aways to the rich.
free for their child's education ex-
"We're on course to having a
penses or retirement.
bipartisan mark." one of the Demo-
Roth's plan broadly follows the out-
crats on the panel. Sen. John Breaux
line of the House bill approved Friday,
(La.), said yesterday. "A lot of us
which calls for a different form of child
would like to be on the inside helping
credit, other tax incentives to save for
to write the tax bill rather than on the
education, reductions in capital gains
outside criticizing."
and estate taxes.
But it was unclear whether defec-
The committee's ranking Demo-
tions by Finance Committee Demo-
crat, Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
crats presaged broader bipartisan
(N.Y.), has said that he is encour-
support for the Roth plan in the
aged by Roth's proposal-notwith-
Senate as a whole.
standing Moynihan's oft-stated posi-
TheWashington Post
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1997
After a fierce White House effort
tion that the ideal balanced budget
to persuade Democrats on the tax-
plan would include no tax cuts at all.
writing panel to offer an alternative
"I don't know if this is good news or
to Roth's tax cut package, Clinton
bad news for the citizenry, but the
aides yesterday appeared to have
parties are getting along in Washing-
resigned themselves to rallying par-
ton-in the Senate," Moynihan said
tisan opposition to Roth's plan once it
last week.
reaches the floor of the Senate. "The
Senate sources said yesterday that
real question now is where the over-
several other Democrats on the pan-
all Democratic caucus is going to be
el appeared to be leaning in favor of
and whether Democrats are going to
endorsing the Roth plan. But at least
put forth alternatives and substi-
one Democrat on the committee,
tutes," a senior administration offi-
Sen. John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV
cial said.
(W.Va.), has indicated to colleagues
Democrats on the House Ways
that he is unlikely to support it.
and Means committee voted along
Roth has succeeded in wooing
strict party lines in favor of an alter-
Democratic converts where House
native tax plan that would have in-
Ways and Means Committee Chair-
cluded more breaks for lower in-
man Bill Archer (R-Tex.) failed, part-
come families and would have
ly because his plan rejects several
knocked out tax provisions benefit-
tax provisions that engendered the
ing the well-to-do.
most controversy in the House de-
But Senate Finance Committee
bate. The Roth bill does not include
Democrats-many of whom have
Archer's proposal to dilute the corpo-
been openly dismissive of the educa-
rate alternative minimum tax, de-
tion tax breaks that Clinton has
signed to ensure that all corporations
made a centerpiece of his second
pay some taxes.
term agenda-said yesterday they
Roth also dropped an Archer pro-
are not planning to present their own
posal to adjust profit from the sale of
alternative.
stock, property or other assets for
White House officials said they
inflation, and another that would
hoped a Democratic substitute
prevent families claiming an existing
would be presented later by in the
deduction for day care expenses
full Senate. "We expect a lot of
from fully benefiting from the pro-
Democrats in the Senate will want to
posed $500 per child tax credit.
get behind a more progressive alter-
While those modifications make
native when this comes to the floor,"
many aspects of Roth's plan more
an administration official said.
acceptable than Archer's to the
Breaux and his Finance Commit-
White House, Roth has offered the
tee colleague Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-
administration much less than the
Neb.) have praised Roth's plan be-
House plan for the education tax
cause it incorporates a scaled-down
incentives that Clinton has billed as
version of a tax-deferred education
one of his top priorities.
First lady promotes
Clashes in the West Bank
Report: U.S. to get
trade aid for Africa
Issue may give her a more active role
Saudi bomb suspect
By James Vicini
bombing. One U.S. law enforce-
By Lee Michael Katz
about the 53-nation continent,
Reuters
ment official privately ex-
USA TODAY
Clinton said, that one person
pressed doubts Sayegh would
asked her "What is the capital
WASHINGTON - A suspect
be that valuable to the investi-
WASHINGTON - Saying
of Africa?"
in last summer's bombing of a
gation. The official said he has
that too much attention is paid
After negative reaction to
U.S. military compound in
doubts about how much
to African trouble spots while
her role in health-care reform
Dahraln, Saudi Arabia, will be
Sayegh knows.
success stories are ignored,
during the president's first
brought to the United States
But CBS News reported
first lady Hillary Rodham Clin-
term, Clinton has had a less
from Canada today or Wednes-
Monday that Sayegh has cut a
ton plans to help unveil today a
substantive role on issues.
day, sources have told Reuters.
deal with U.S. authorities. He
new trade assistance program
But she traveled to Africa in
The bombing killed 19 U.S.
reportedly will plead guilty to a
for African nations.
March, a trip on which she
servicemen.
conspiracy charge relating to
in an unusual briefing for re-
pushed education and women's
The suspect, Hani Abdel-Ra-
the bombing, and give investi-
porters, the first lady may have
issues.
him Hussein al-Sayegh, is being
gators names and details about
also signaled a greater role for
Monday, Manked by high-
held in an Ottawa prison.
the attack.
herself in selling foreign policy
level U.S. foreign policy offi-
Asked if he would be deport-
In exchange, CBS reported,
to the American public. "There
cials, she seemed like the law-
ed to the United States, one
Sayegh will receive a minimal
still is not a very broad or deep
yer she is by trade, in contrast
source closely following the
CJOH News via AP
prison sentence that he would
constituency" for foreign aid,
to her other ceremonial duties.
case said, "That part is for
Bombing suspect Hani Abdel-
serve in a U.S. prison, not in
she said.
While warning that she
sure. It's going to happen be-
Rahim Hussein al-Sayegh
Saudi Arabia. There, even in
The initiative will extend fa-
didn't speak for the administra-
tween now and Wednesday
prison, his life might be in dan-
vored trade status to some Afri-
tion, Clinton volunteered that
We know it's imminent."
U.S. officials have long
ger because of his cooperation
can democracies, increasing
"we've missed some real op-
Other officials said today
sought to question Sayegh
with U.S. authorities.
their access to U.S. markets,
portunities" to aid Russia and
was the most likely date for
about the June 25, 1996 attack.
Canadian Citizenship and
and offer them some debt re-
its former eastern European
Sayegh's deportation, although
There was some uncertainty
Immigration spokesman Rene
lief, U.S. officials said.
satellite nations.
they acknowledged it still
Monday about the circum-
Mercier said the government
About $650 million in gov-
The first lady also plans to-
could be delayed by last-min-
stances surrounding Sayegh's
would only give out details af-
ernment-backed loan guaran-
day to mark the 500th airlift of
ute problems. FBI agents are
impending deportation. Offi-
ter Sayegh was gone. "We will
tees also will be announced, ac-
humanitarian supplies to for-
standing by in Ottawa to bring
cials told Reuters that criminal
not be talking about where he
cording to Rosa Whitaker, an
mer Soviet nations.
him to the United States.
charges may be brought
Is going or when he is going
aide to Rep. Charles Rangel, D-
The cost to supply and ad-
By David Sliverman, Reuters
Sayegh has been identified
against Sayegh in the United
(ahead of time)," Mercler sald.
N.Y. He has has introduced
minister civilian foreign aid is
Tension is building: An Israeli soldier arrests a Palestinian for
in Canadian court documents
States, although they declined
The two main unresolve
similar legislation.
billion a year. But "there is a
throwing rocks Monday in the West Bank town of Hebron. At
as the driver of a car involved
to give details on exactly what
points that previously he'
The first lady said "there are
real disconnect" with the
least 38 Palestinlans were wounded by rubber bullets. The
in the bombing, and the person
he might be charged with and
his deportation Involv
25 democracies," in Africa, but
American public about the cost
clashes come amid a deadlock in peace negotiations and
who gave the go-ahead signal
when the charges would be
gal status once he CO
they are overshadowed by
of foreign aid compared with
after a nonbinding resolution approved by the U.S. Congress
for the bomb-laden truck in-
made public.
United States and
clashes in the Congo and Sierra
the $1.7 trillion federal budget,
last week recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
volved in the attack on Khobar
They said it was unclear how
sions might be
Leone. There is such ignorance
the first lady said.
Towers.
much Sayegh knew about the
family, the oTc
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1997
European currency plans remain on track
By Katharine A. Schmidt
kets."
Special for USA TODAY
Allworthy said he believes
governments have invested too
STUTTGART, Germany - The
much political capital to let the
European Union reached a compro-
euro fail or be delayed, but
mise Monday at a summit meeting in
said markets have become jit-
Amsterdam that will keep plans for a
tery ever since Germany last
common European currency on
month announced plans to re-
schedule.
value gold reserves to help
The agreement lays to rest — for
meet financial criteria for the
now - a conflict between French
euro.
demands for job creation and Ger-
"I believe that his is just a
man concerns about the strength and
cease-fire, albeit one that could
stability of the new currency. But an-
last until the euro is introduced
alysts say they expect differences be-
in 1999," added Joachim Fels,
tween the two countries to flare
senior economist at Morgan
again.
Stanley in Frankfurt, Germa-
News of the agreement came as
ny. "The basic confilct hasn't
leaders of the European Union (EU)
been resolved and can't be re-
hegan a two-day meeting to write a
EU meeting: Commission members met
solved because the countries
successor to the 1992 Maastricht
in Amsterdam Monday to discuss move
involved have different views
Treaty, which called for closer Euro-
to a single European currency. Seated
as to the policies to be followed
pean integration.
from left: Commission President Jacques
once the euro is introduced."
Reflecting optimism that mone-
Santer, French President Jacques
France continues to want
tary union remains on track, EU
Chirac, French Prime Minister Lionel Jo-
more control over the Europe-
leaders unveiled the design of eight
spin, Portugese Prime Minister Antonio
an Central Bank and more em-
euro coins. The designs of seven euro
Guterres and Portugese Foreign Minister
phasis on employment ven-
notes were released at an EU sum-
Jaime Gama. The drawing above depicts
tures, while Germany is more
mit in December.
the 1 euro coin's design.
concerned with keeping Inda-
The monetary conflict had over-
By Jerome Delay, AP
tion low and the euro stable. All
shadowed plans to more closely co-
indications are that the Euro-
ordinate foreign and security policy
agreement, which still had not been
French and German leaders to tell
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl,
But analysts said the agreement
pean bank will not be as strict in
and streamline the 15-nation organi-
disclosed to the heads of state. But
their electorates that their respec-
who faces a campaign next year,
Monday would not put to rest the ba-
overseeing the euro as the German
zation in preparation for the admis-
EU monetary affairs commissioner
tive concerns have been met.
can reassure his electorate that the
sic conflict between France and Ger-
Bundesbank is with the deutsche
sion of new members.
Yves-Thibault de Silguy told report-
French Prime Minister Lionel Jo-
stability pact stipulating sanctions for
many.
mark, Fels said.
'We have reached complete
ers the accord provided for the Euro-
spin can tell voters, who put him into
violating strict financial criteria for
"I can't believe that we won't get
"Monetary policy will not be as
agreement on the stability pact and
pean Investment Bank to make loans
office last month, that the rest of Eu-
the euro has been saved.
future public disagreements on the
clear and unequivocal as it Is now,"
the resolution for growth and em-
to small businesses and high-technol-
rope has agreed to demands for a
The French government had an-
euro until day zero," said Brian All-
Fels said. "In the future there will be
ployment," said Dutch finance minis-
ogy companies. Silguy also said he
greater emphasis on stimulating em-
nounced last week that it needed
worthy, a European strategist with
more countries determining policy. I
ter Gerrit Zalm after a meeting of
believes there will be a special EU
ployment, through a resolution to be
time to reflect before signing the
Merrill Lynch In London. "The only
believe we will have a watered-down
the EU finance ministers.
jobs summit in the fall.
added to the Maastricht Treaty. Un-
pact, with a delay possible until after
thing that's guaranteed is that volatil-
version of the deutsche mark, a 'euro
Zalm refused to give details of the
The monetary agreement allows
employment in France is 12.8%.
this week's summit.
ity is back on European capital mar-
lite.''
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1997
13-96 TUE 00:01
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P.03
EYES ONLY
file-
USAID
U.S. AGENCY FOR
friend
INTERNATIONAL
meetice
DEVELOPMENT
FEB 8 1996
The Administrator
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In the almost three years I have served you as Administrator
of USAID, I have tried not to burden you with the travails of
defending foreign aid in a difficult budgetary environment. We
have thus far managed to preserve a crucial program against the
fiercest attacks possible while reengineering the agency to the
point where it has become- a model for government reinvention.
Now I need your help.
Upon my return yesterday from South Africa and Angola --
countries where our aid is making a real difference -- I learned
that OMB is proposing reducing our development assistance request
by $559 million. This is $120 million below what Congress
enacted in FY 96. They also propose reducing our operating
expense budget to a point wherein we would be unable to function
without drastic reductions of personnel. This would take us far
beyond our own reductions in spending and Below the severe cuts
in the FY 96 budget the Congress forced upon us.
Mr. President, I fear that submitting such a budget request
to Congress would signal to the world that both American
political parties are retreating from engagement. At the behest
of the Europeans, this year's G-7 meeting will focus on
development assistance. Because of Congressional cuts, we will
already be on the defensive. If we submit this proposed budget,
you may have a difficult time separating your position from that
of our isolationist Congress as you did SQ well during President
Chirac's visit. In addition, most importantly, Mr. President,
this budget would deny you the tools to engage the USG in
effective crisis prevention and transition management efforts in
Haiti, Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda/Burundi, and Angola, and
seriously undermine your initiative in the Greater Horn of Africa
initiative.
320 TWENTY-FIRST STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
PHONE: (202) 647-9620
FAX: (202) 647-1770
'-13-96 TUE 00:02
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P.04
-2-
Congress will cut at least 10 percent from the budget, so I
cannot conceive of protecting a straight-lining of even the FY 96
level unless we get at least that much leeway in your request.
Moreover, if the OMB passback proposal is sustained, the
important constituency that supports international population,
environment and democracy programs will see this as a retreat by
this Administration from supporting a sensible and effective aid
program crucial to achieving our foreign policy goals.
I urge you to step in to assure that this foreign aid
request reflects the values and approaches you have so forcefully
and effectively enunciated over the past three years. I would be
pleased to discuss this with you in more detail.
Best personal regards.
Sincerely,
Bein
J. Brian Atwood
mr President, your personal support
saved us, now OMB has to give
us enough to show see seen worth
saving!
3-96 TUE 00:03
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P. 06
8A THE DES MOINES REGISTER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8. 1996
The Des Moines Register
CHARLES C. EDWARDS JR., Publisher and President
A GANNETT NEWSPAPER
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J. AUSTIN RYAN, Vice President, Production
DIANE ORAHAM, Managing Eduor
SUSAN A. SMITH. Vice President, Finance
DAVE KHEIN, Deputy Managing Editor
SUE A. TEMPERO, Vice President Human Resources
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THE REGISTER'S EDITORIALS
Reinventing foreign aid
Streamlined and refocused, AID
has an important mission,
ATION
E
ven supporters called AID - the
chaos - from nations pulling themselves
United States Agency for Interna-
apart in extremist Christians, Jews and
tional Development - bloated,
Muslims condoning inter- and intra-faith
overloaded and mission-blind.
murder. Underlying these: AIDS, hunger
Its enemies wanted to eliminate the Hgen-
and famine - cachspreading like water.
cy and stop giving money to foreigners.
Jeered at as welfare for foreigners, AID
Enter Bill Clinton and AI Gore, a presi-
actually invests in 8 global infrastructure
dent. and vice president who said they
that the United States can't do without.
would reinvent government. In March
The agency supports stronger legal
1993. Gure kicked off a six-month National
systems in Latin America, better agribusi-
Performance Review of government that
ness in Russia and more public-health ini-
included AID.
tiatives in Africa. These and thousands of
Two months later, Brian Atwood took
AID's helm, looked around and made il the
other programs are part of the four areas
first government agency to declare itself a
- democracy, health and population, on-
"relnvention laboratory."
vironment and economic growth - that
The result: u business-style makeover.
AID emphasizes.
AID cut 1,800 staff people, 90 organiza-
And hy spending almost 80 percent of its
tional units, four bureaus and reams of red
money in all 50 states - some $29 million
tape to get a narrower hut sharper focus on
in Iowa in the '94 fiscal year - the agency
"sustrinable" development.
boosts the U.S. economy and stimulates
AID set up A regional strategic-plarning
overseas business for U.S. companies.
process, slashed paperwork, pushed ro-
Busily making more our of Ic8s, AID is
sults-oriented projects and built stronger
nonctheless hounded by financial anemia.
local partnerships to avoid duplications
Though the agency runs on less than 1 per-
and maximize impact.
rent of the federal budget, Congress cur Its
The change wasn't Just H White House
1996 fiscal year funding by 18 percent.
wish, it was a national necessity.
Revamping government is 8 start. But fu-
The Cold War against communism has
ture prosperity may soon demand the rein-
been eclipsed by a hot struggle Against
vention of inore generous support.
file
ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND
1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
Int'l
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10104-0233
Assistance Foreign
April 7, 1997
Aid
Office of the President
Dear Mrs. Clinton :
In March of 1996, when Jim Wolfensohn and a group of foundation presidents visited with you at the
White House, we had a lively conversation about American attitudes toward international engagement. As I
recall, we were all troubled by the fact that vital foreign assistance programs and pressing development needs
are not receiving the support and attention they deserve and badly need. You made abundantly clear your
personal commitment to helping to change that situation, which was most gratifying and encouraging.
Since that meeting, a number of us who met with you, joined by others deeply involved with
international issues, have been making a serious effort to determine how best to communicate with American
opinion leaders and the American public on this subject. That was the theme of a lively meeting sponsored
by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the World Bank at the Fund's Pocantico Conference Center last Fall.
I am enclosing a detailed outline of a paper I believe captures the essence of the Pocantico meeting as well as
of discussions that have taken place since then. We expect to issue the paper in early Summer and to
disseminate it widely. We have also formed a working group which is giving careful consideration to next
steps we might take. A list of the Pocantico participants, including members of the working group, is also
enclosed.
My purpose in writing at this time is twofold. First, it has occurred to several of us in the working
group that you would be interested in the follow-up to our conversation last Spring. Your comments on the
enclosed outline and any other thoughts you may want to share with us would be most welcome. Second,
wearing my hat as chairman of the Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development (an
organization with which you are particularly familiar), I want to urge you to accept, if at all possible, the recent
invitation from our president, Robert Thompson, to address Winrock's Global Team Meeting to be held on
Petit Jean Mountain on Friday, June 13, 1997. The 200 people who will attend this gathering embody the kind
of commitment to global issues that needs to be broadened and deepened throughout the nation. Your presence
would mean so much to those in attendance as well as to those elsewhere who are striving to alleviate rural
poverty and environmental degradation, in this country and abroad. I am confident that the linkages between
our original conversation a year ago and the upcoming meeting at Winrock International will be clear to you.
I hope very much that you will find room in your exceedingly busy schedule to join us in Arkansas in June.
With all good wishes.
Sincerely,
Colin Campbell
Colin G. Campbell
Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
TELEPHONE 212.373.4200 FACSIMILE 212-315-0996 EMAIL [email protected]
Building a Constituency for Cooperative International Engagement
Outline For Pocantico Paper #3
Susan Sechler and Laurie Mazur
March 4, 1997
I.
Preface
A.
Evolution of Pocantico meeting: diminishing U.S. support for some forms of
cooperative international engagement - e.g. humanitarian assistance,
economic development programs, peacekeeping, multilateral institutions
(including United Nations, World Bank). Disagreement about the causes and
extent of this phenomenon
B.
Purpose of the meeting:
1.
Clarification - summarize and discuss what is known, suspected or
hypothesized about the retreat from cooperative international
engagement:
Is public support diminishing?
If so, among whom, and why?
Do some forms of cooperative international engagement enjoy
more support than others?
2.
Strategy - Begin to design strategy to enhance support for cooperative
international engagement
C.
Process and participants: roundtable discussion, participants representing
diverse range of related international interests - foundations, multilateral
institutions, NGOs
D.
Sponsors and their interests:
1.
RBF: Outgrowth of One World program theme; RBF recognizes
increasing convergence of national and international frames of
reference, seeks to enhance understanding of global interdependence
2.
World Bank: Obvious institutional interest; also new leadership,
commitment to greater transparency; commitment to work with
foundations in areas of shared concern
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 2
II.
Defining the problem: The advance of globalization; the retreat from
cooperative international engagement
A.
Globalization and growing awareness of interdependence
1.
Globalization: Accelerated global trade has redrawn the map of
alliances, forging new economic ties across political boundaries. Free
flow of capital, ideas, people. Looming challenges - environmental
degradation, population growth, poverty - show similar disregard for
national borders
2.
Interdependence: Americans increasingly affected by
developments/conditions elsewhere. Interdependence not a new
phenomenon, but unprecedented in degree and in public awareness.
The "CNN Factor": in era of instantaneous global communication,
world seems smaller, more interconnected. Examples:
Population growth and inequity spur civil strife, with far-
reaching consequences, e.g. U.S. currency markets destabilized by
peso decline after uprising by a small band of rebels in Chiapas
(Homer-Dixon)
Textile workers in South Carolina lose jobs to lower-paid
workers in Manila; small-scale consumer revolt against goods
produced by sweatshop labor
Environmental problems transcend national borders: e.g.
deforestation threatens carbon dioxide "sinks"; "save the
rainforest" movement takes hold in U.S., where there are no
tropical rainforests
Surge of migration and refugee flows brings benefits and
challenges to U.S. citizens
Political chaos in Africa provides fertile breeding ground for
diseases that easily travel across continents - e.g. malaria in
southern U.S.; Ebola virus surfaces in Reston, VA and in the
popular imagination - books, movies, etc.
B.
Cooperative international engagement
1.
Paradox: Despite increasing globalization and awareness of
interdependence, there is today a "lowered ceiling" of support for most
public forms of cooperative international engagement. "Lowered
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 3
ceiling" refers to diminished financial support for policies and
programs of cooperative international engagement, and also to a
retreat from leadership, innovation
Public expenditure: Reductions in 150 account; IDA; U.S. in
arrears in support for Bretton Woods institutions. Deeper cuts
possible as budget pressures intensify. Foreign assistance is now
classified as "non-defense discretionary spending" and must
compete for funds with environment, education, health and
other high-priority domestic programs
Withdrawal of leadership: Dearth of strong leaders among
policymakers and other influentials who champion cooperative
international engagement. Failure in the structure of public
leadership, i.e., the Congress, the Administration and other
public officials and influentials to articulate a hopeful vision of a
new world order
Private giving: foundation interest in and support for
international issues appears to be waning [check]. Donations to
international charities declined by 9% in 1995 - too soon to
draw conclusions, but private giving often follows public
funding and leadership
Although the "lowered ceiling" is a broader phenomenon, this
discussion will focus on public policy arena, where evidence of reduced
support is most tangible
2.
Brief history of cooperative international engagement in the U.S.-
recurrent strains of both isolationism and internationalism
Calls for international engagement by Theodore
Roosevelt pre-world War I; Woodrow Wilson in 1919;
isolationism between the wars; Franklin Roosevelt in
1945
Cold War galvanized support - Marshall Plan, Bretton
Woods Institutions, bilateral aid agencies
Rationales: strategic; humanitarian; commercial -
presented in a normative framework that linked
American values and interests to involvement overseas
Cold War offered coherent paradigm for understanding
the relationship between national and global interests
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 4
In the wake of the Cold War, foreign policy has lost its
strategic and normative compass
3.
Why is support diminishing now? Why is the public sector retreating
from cooperative international engagement just as globalization makes
such engagement necessary? Is public opinion driving the retreat?
Opinion research suggests that there is considerable, if qualified,
public support for cooperative international engagement.
Polling and focus group research shows:
Americans want the U.S. to stay engaged in the world, for
humanitarian reasons and because they believe
engagement serves U.S. interests, global interests
However, the public has significant misunderstandings and
reservations about specific aspects of cooperative international
engagement:
Two false perceptions are common:
-
Americans think spending on international
programs, as a percentage of the federal budget, is
many times greater than it is in fact
Americans believe that, compared to other
developed countries, the U.S. carries a much larger
share of the burden of cooperative international
engagement than it does in fact
When misperceptions are corrected, most are
supportive of cooperative international
engagement
As always, global issues take a back seat to pressing
domestic concerns. More pronounced as budget pressures
intensify, pitting international programs against domestic
priorities; shapes public perception and debate
Support for government is at an all-time low; lack of
confidence in public sector solutions generally. Coupled
with perceptions that foreign aid is wasted/ineffective
(sometimes correct: aid institutions badly in need of
reform) and a growing gap between priorities of
public/policymakers, which feeds mistrust of
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 5
government. For example, Clinton and Congress
champion NAFTA, while Perot's protectionist appeals
resonate with public
Some forms of cooperative international engagement are
more popular than others - e.g. public favors short-term
humanitarian aid rather than long-term entanglements;
efforts to prevent genocide and care for survivors;
multilateral efforts
The public is receptive to cooperative international engagement,
if it is properly framed and conceived. Why, then, have
policymakers failed to articulate a paradigm for engagement that
the public can accept? Answer lies with the complex dynamics
of policymaking today:
Misreading of public opinion. The public's misgivings
about foreign aid are often misread as lack of support for
cooperative international engagement in general.
Post-Cold War policy drift. In the wake of the Cold War,
both the rationale and the constituency for cooperative
international engagement has broken down:
Programs/institutions of cooperative international
engagement can no longer use the Cold War
security rationale to claim resources
In the absence of a strategic/normative rationale,
cooperative international engagement is perceived
as charity - worthwhile but expendable - and is
likely to be jettisoned in favor of ever-present
domestic priorities
Serious questions of efficacy have been raised:
Since programs/institutions of cooperative
international engagement were designed, in part, to
serve Cold War ends, can they perform other
functions well? Also, Cold War imperatives are
seen as a taint on humanitarian programs
The policy community that historically supported
cooperation has been split. During the Cold War,
cooperative international engagement enjoyed the
support of a broad coalition that included the
military, the foreign policy community, and
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 6
humanitarian/development groups. Now, those
groups have divided into separate and sometimes
hostile camps, with competing visions and interests
When policy drifts, narrow interests prevail over the
public good:
The new influentials. The old guard supporters of
cooperative international engagement
(academicians, inside-the-Beltway policy analysts)
have seen their influence wane, supplanted by
hometown business interests and campaign
contributors. As a result, policy is often guided by
short-term commercial objectives, not by long-term
view of enlightened self-interest. Increasingly,
trade and commerce is the centerpiece of the
government's foreign policy
Policymakers don't hear the public. Lack of fora
(besides voting booth) for general public to
communicate priorities to policymakers, and
Americans do not base their votes on international
issues. Examples: oversampling shows that
policymakers don't hear the public; "town
meetings" stacked by the political right. Because
there is little active grassroots support for
cooperative international engagement,
policymakers derive no political benefit from
championing it. However, they may incur political
costs - e.g. from anti-abortion groups if they
support family planning
The news media don't help. Most media coverage
of international issues is superficial and pessimistic
about the efficacy of public solutions. Polling is
inadequate and misrepresented in media, so
policymakers get a skewed perspective on public
opinion. Americans increasingly reliant on
broadcast news, which offers superficial treatment
of international issues
4.
Conclusion: The retreat from cooperative international engagement
does not mirror public opinion. Indeed, there is a substantial gap
between public opinion and policy, which results from the dynamics of
policymaking and - fundamentally - from a foreign policy that has
lost its strategic and normative compass. Therefore, public education
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 7
alone will not remedy the problem; a multifaceted effort will be needed
to build support for cooperative international engagement
III.
Past efforts to address the problem
A.
What hasn't worked: Some efforts to build public support for
cooperative international engagement have failed, in part because it is
notoriously difficult to develop understanding about international
issues. Problem: issues global in scope, but - as the saying goes - "all
politics is local"
Development education:
-
Too diffuse
-
Ambivalence about policy targets; could not use AID
money to advocate for more money to AID, so only
privately-funded projects pushed advocacy
-
Subject to competing loyalties and divergent analyses of
what was needed
-
Engaged specialist publics, but never broad base of support
B.
What works: More recent efforts to build support for specific
components of international engagement have enjoyed success. What
are elements of successful efforts?
1.
General principles:
Good research: Proceed from solid base of research on
substantive issues and public opinion
Set clear policy targets
Use media effectively
Build coalitions: use division of labor that capitalizes on
different capabilities of member groups
Follow "head, heart, hands" formula:
Head: Persuade constituents that there is a
compelling reason to take action
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 8
-
Heart: Craft messages that have emotional appeal,
appeal to core values, generate hope
-
Hands: Engage public's good will; make sure
constituents have empowering ways to contribute
to the cause
2.
Lessons of experience: Case studies of successful efforts on
international issues
Two successful approaches which have been employed singly or
in combination:
Establish a normative framework: Compelling arguments
for cooperative international engagement "linked the
pursuit of American interests to a transformative vision
of world order that appealed to the American public."
(Ruggie) Case study: FDR and the U.N., Marshall Plan
Short-term, single-issue education/mobilization efforts
with clear policy targets. Examples:
International Women's Health Coalition
-
Campaign set out to learn about reality of
women's lives, market solutions
-
After UNCED in 1992, turned attention to
Cairo
-
Goal: paradigm shift; new emphasis on
reproductive health, while acknowledging
concerns about population growth
-
Initiated campaign, picked people who were
key in networks, worked to transcend
oppositional politics
-
Strategy: strengthen the middle; marginalize
extremes
-
Campaign was Southern-led; women of color
at table from beginning
-
Used focus groups as an organizing tool
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 9
-
Targeted receptive subgroups of the
population, e.g. women. Did not conduct
general public education, but crafted message
with broad appeal
-
Distilled message: family planning is
necessary, but not sufficient - common-
ground message that all partners could
endorse
-
Used media effectively
Greenpeace
-
Began with vision, clear goals; public
followed; government followed public
-
First campaign: protesting atom bomb testing
in the Pacific, 1982-3; sailed small boat into
testing zone
-
David and Goliath approach: chose symbolic
issues; told stories with mythical appeal; used
media to capture public imagination and
heart
-
Transcended coalition politics, helped spur
significant changes in public opinion and
policy
InterAction
-
In 1993, received USAID funds to conduct
public education campaign: sought to assess
public's receptivity to cooperative
international engagement and develop
messages
-
After University of Maryland poll showed
public misperception about foreign aid
budget, launched "1% campaign"
Successfully targeted new members of
Congress in 1994; corrected misperceptions,
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 10
short-circuited attempts to use budget deficit
as rationale to cut foreign aid
-
Appealed to specialized group: policymakers.
Armed them with information to take
leadership role with constituents
-
Unlike Greenpeace, chose to affirm successes,
not target enemies
-
Developed "wholesale" messages and
materials for organizations to "retail" to their
members
-
Used polling and focus groups effectively
World Vision
-
Largest relief organization in the world,
faith-based
-
Goal: reconciliation as a foundation for
world peace - not a clear policy target
-
Most difficult campaign: Bosnia - complex,
confusing, seemingly intractable, no "good
guys"
-
Viewed staff as crucial constituency -
challenged them by framing as test of ability
to work on intractable issue and move
beyond relief to reconciliation
-
Appealed to donors by presenting break in
the fighting as a chance for breakthrough;
convinced them that their contributions
would not be wasted
-
Tools: direct mail; videos, which conveyed
scope of destruction to donors; presentations
by Bosnian women; children's artwork
-
Targeted receptive group: women donors
-
Appealed to heart, appropriate for faith-based
group with broader mission of reconciliation
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 11
Success: Fund raising jumped from $0 to $10
million
3.
Conclusion - Targeted efforts that address specific elements of
international engagement have obvious strengths: they can
mobilize constituencies and generate passion. But can such
efforts add up to more than the sum of their parts? Will
organizations working on separate issues work together to "raise
the ceiling" of support for cooperative international engagement
generally, and inject a recognition of interdependence into the
policymaking process? Can the constituents of single-issue
organizations be mobilized on behalf of the larger objective?
These are key challenges. If not, may continue to win occasional
battles, but will ultimately lose the war - as overall support
continues to shrink, and public/policymaker understanding of
global interdependence fails to grow
IV. Elements of a campaign for cooperative international engagement -
Recommendations
Evidence suggests that elements of the problem are amenable to change; that
the public can be mobilized to support cooperative international engagement;
and that it is possible to organize a coalition of single-issue efforts that is larger
than the sum of its parts
A.
Goals
1.
To "raise the ceiling" of support for cooperative international
engagement - including foreign assistance, private donations,
multilateral institutions, and forms of international governance
that promote investments in human well being and moderate
the harmful effects of globalization
2.
To articulate a common values framework that can mobilize
constituents of related issues (health, development, population,
human rights) on behalf of cooperative international
engagement
3.
To help constituent organizations, media, and the public make
conceptual links among different elements of cooperative
international engagement, in order to increase support for each
of those elements
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 12
B.
Strategy
1.
Elaborate a new strategic and normative paradigm for
cooperative international engagement that resonates with the
public's values and sense of national purpose
Promote appropriate institutional reform
Energize a constituency for the new paradigm
2.
Correct distortions in the policymaking process that enable
narrow interests to prevail over the public good
Identify and educate the new influentials; engage and
reward those who support cooperative international
engagement
Create opportunities for policymakers to hear the public's
concerns
Educate policymakers about the nuances of public
opinion; give policymakers the tools and information
they need to take leadership role, make case to public
Broaden and deepen mainstream media coverage of
global interdependence/cooperative international
engagement
C.
Structure
Coalition of targeted, single-issue efforts, linked by umbrella group that
can:
Orchestrate strategy, streamline efforts, find common ground
and strengthen the middle
Articulate a new rationale for cooperative international
engagement, and a common values framework that resonates
with public opinion. Framework should be inclusive without
sacrificing clarity of purpose. A single drumbeat message (global
interdependence; the need for cooperative international
engagement) reinforced by many specific examples (population
growth, environment, health, jobs, human rights, peacekeeping,
etc.) that illuminate the same theme
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 13
D.
Messages
Develop messages that resonate with the public's values and beliefs.
Opinion research suggests that these messages would be effective:
Enlightened self interest: global investments in human well-
being promote prosperity, stability, democracy - and they are in
keeping with American values
Responsibility to contribute our fair share to multilateral efforts
Links between international and domestic issues
Stewardship: obligation to current, future generations
Need for comprehensive, holistic approaches
Role for public institutions/limitations of private sector
Success stories: investments in human well being have been
shown to improve the quality of people's lives
Transparency/measures to reduce corruption
U.S. leadership still important
E.
Partners/stakeholders
A multifaceted effort will require cultivating partnerships with several
sectors, each of which brings a unique set of strengths and liabilities
1.
NGOs:
Role/s:
Vehicle for campaigns, policy advocacy
Service provision
Explore solutions
Integrate approaches
Assets:
Commitment, passion for issue
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 14
Expertise/substantive understanding
Constituencies/networks
Credibility from work in the field
Liabilities:
Competition - dependence on shrinking donor support
forces groups to compete, protect market share, avoid
cooperation
Fear of politics - also a product of dependence on
foundation and government donors
Different visions/agendas
Specialization/tunnel vision
Lack of sophistication about strategy and communications
Some organizations lack credibility
2.
Foundations:
Role/s:
Provide funding for NGO efforts
Leadership/priority-setting
Explore solutions, approaches
Support for policy change
Assets:
More flexibility than public donors
Capacity for innovation, leadership
Often knowledgeable about international issues
Potential for greater continuity than policymakers; can see
beyond next election
Access to influentials
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 15
Liabilities:
Fear of politics
Competitive with other funders, averse to cooperation
Have trouble staying the course
Lack of public trust
3.
Public
Role/s:
Grassroots support
Assets:
Voters have ultimate control over policymakers, policy
Liabilities:
Hard to gauge public opinion
Too numerous to target broadly
Even broad-based public education efforts must segment the
public in order to craft appropriate messages. Within targeted
subsets, must identify influentials, opinion leaders. Need to
target three key groups:
Women - Polls show a "gender gap" on humanitarian
aid; women are generally more supportive than men (e.g.
World Vision Bosnia campaign, IWHC)
People of faith - Religious Americans give generously to
charities that work overseas, yet represent a largely
untapped source of support for cooperative international
engagement
Youth - Young people are more idealistic and more
likely to "think globally" than their elders, but many are
unsure whether the U.S. can afford cooperative
international engagement. Aging donor base of charities
that work overseas: average CARE donor is 65. Raises
concern for the future: Is it simply that younger people
have not yet developed the habit of giving, or does this
trend represent a more significant attitudinal shift?
4.
Government - Administration, Congress and bureaucracy:
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 16
Role/s:
Leadership (legitimization and authority): set agenda,
articulate rationale
Energize and implement reform efforts
Liaison to other governments
Assets:
Despite distrust in government, leadership still crucial -
public expects leadership on foreign relations issues
Controls substantial funding; can leverage more
Liabilities:
Institutional inertia: resistant to reform
International issues not a priority
Lack of public trust
Relies on superficial reading of public opinion to guide
policy
Reluctance to assume leadership on issues thought to be
unpopular
5.
Multilateral institutions
Role/s:
Implement reform efforts: offer greater transparency,
accountability in return for increased funding
Define shared global agenda
Assets:
Public supports concept of multilateral efforts, shared
responsibility
Liabilities:
Institutional inertia: resistant to reform
Seen (sometimes correctly) as part of the problem
6.
Business community
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 17
Role/s:
Influence Congress, Administration
Identify market-based solutions
Develop "rules of the road" that set normative values for
economic life
Assets:
Political clout
Interested in expanding markets abroad, creating stable
environment for trade
Greater understanding of economic interdependence than
general public
Controls private capital flows that dwarf government
spending overseas
Multinational presence
More flexibility than public sector
Liabilities:
Often thinks narrowly about the issues
No agency, framework for involvement
Resistant to public priority-setting
Investment flows to very few countries; little investment
in countries where need is greatest
7.
Media
Role/s:
Arbiters of salience, shape people's experience of the
world
Assets:
Unparalleled access to hearts and minds
Multinational presence
Pocantico Paper #3/Outline, Draft 3
Page 18
Liabilities:
Superficial understanding, coverage
Preoccupation with domestic concerns
Tendency to focus on bad news internationally; reinforces
hopelessness
Can't control coverage, and difficult to counter
mainstream media imagery with small-scale public
education campaign
IV. Conclusion
The seeds of support for cooperative international engagement exist,
although in dormant form; could be channeled and mobilized
For that support to blossom, must create new paradigm for cooperative
international engagement - in reality and in public perception - and
address distortions in the policymaking process that do not serve the
public interest
Challenges ahead: scope of issue will require great mobilization of
resources, both direct expenditures and resources leveraged through
cooperation with other sources; second-tier issue; weight of
institutional and individual inertia in both public and private sectors
But growing commitment to address problem; recognition that in an
era of increasing interdependence, domestic and international issues
must be addressed in a global framework
F -13-96 TUE 00:01
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P.02
fillsier
USAID
fregr
U.S. AGENCY FOR
INTERNATIONAL
FEB 8 1996
DEVELOPMENT
The Administrator
EYES ONLY
NOTE TO MELANNE VERVEER
Dear Melanne,
I would very much appreciate it if you would show the
attached letter to the President to the First Lady. It relates
to a rather shocking OMB passback on foreign aid. I of course
realize that budget times are tough, but this proposed request
would not even enable us to preserve a status quo that is itself
unacceptably low.
Please thank Mrs. Clinton for her ongoing support of our
programs. Without her, we would be history. Many thanks to you
as well.
Bhis
J. Brian Atwood
Attachment: A/S
320 TWENTY-FIRST STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
PHONE: (202) 647-9620
FAX: (202) 647-1770
'-13-96 TUE 00:01
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P.03
EYES ONLY
USAID
U.S. AGENCY FOR
INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
FEB 8 1996
The Administrator
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
In the almost three years I have served you as Administrator
of USAID, I have tried not to burden you with the travails of
defending foreign aid in a difficult budgetary environment. We
have thus far managed to preserve a crucial program against the
fiercest attacks possible while reengineering the agency to the
point where it has become a model for government reinvention.
Now I need your help.
Upon my return yesterday from South Africa and Angola --
countries where our aid is making a real difference -- I learned
that OMB is proposing reducing our development assistance request
by $559 million. This is $120 million below what Congress
enacted in FY 96. They also propose reducing our operating
expense budget to a point wherein we would be unable to function
without drastic reductions of personnel. This would take us far
beyond our own reductions in spending and below the severe cuts
in the FY 96 budget the Congress forced upon us.
Mr. President, I fear that submitting such a budget request
to Congress would signal to the world that both American
political parties are retreating from engagement. At the behest
of the Europeans, this year's G-7 meeting will focus on
development assistance. Because of Congressional cuts, we will
already be on the defensive. If we submit this proposed budget,
you may have a difficult time separating your position from that
of our isolationist Congress as you did SO well during President
Chirac's visit. In addition, most importantly, Mr. President,
this budget would deny you the tools to engage the USG in
effective crisis prevention and transition management efforts in
Haiti, Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda/Burundi, and Angola, and
seriously undermine your initiative in the Greater Horn of Africa
initiative.
320 TWENTY-FIRST STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
PHONE: (202) 647-9620
FAX: (202) 647-1770
'-13-96 TUE 00:02
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P.04
-2-
Congress will cut at least 10 percent from the budget, so I
cannot conceive of protecting a straight-lining of even the FY 96
level unless we get at least that much leeway in your request.
Moreover, if the OMB passback proposal is sustained, the
important constituency that supports international population,
environment and democracy programs will see this as a retreat by
this Administration from supporting a sensible and effective aid
program crucial to achieving our foreign policy goals.
I urge you to step in to assure that this foreign aid
request reflects the values and approaches you have so forcefully
and effectively enunciated over the past three years. I would be
pleased to discuss this with you in more detail.
Best personal regards.
Sincerely,
Bein
J. Brian Atwood
mr President, your personal support
saved us, now OMB has to give
wo enough to show see serve worth
saving!
FEB-13-96 TUE 00:03
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
$A THE DES MOINES REGISTER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8. 1996
P. 06
The Bcs Moines Register
CHARLES C. EDWARDS JR., Publisher and President
A OANNETT NEWSPAPER
DENNIS R RYERSON. Ediust and Visa Prevident
RICHARD DOAK Eduor of the Editorial Fages
DIANE OLASS, Yes Presidens Marketing
LINDA LANTOR FANDEL. Deputy Billior of the Edisorial Pases
HENRY C. PHILLIPS, Vice President, Advertising
J. AUSTIN RYAN, Vice Production
DIANE ORAHAM, Managing Editor
SUSAN A. SMITH. Viac President, Finance
DAVE KHEIN, Deputy Managing Edicor
SUE A. TEMPERO, Vice President, Human Resources
MICHAEL L. PAULY, Genior devisiant Managing Eduor
TERRY THOMPSON, Wec Prevident, Circulation
LYLE BOONZ, Assistant Managing Editor/Oraphios
RANDY EVANS, Assistant Managing Editor
THE REGISTER'S EDITORIALS
Reinventing foreign aid
Streamlined and refocused, AID
has an important mission,
E
ven supporters called AID - the
chaos - from nations pulling themselves
United States Agency for Interna-
apart to extremist Christians, Jews and
tional Development - bloated,
Muslims condoning inter- and intra-faith
overloaded and mission-blind.
murder. Underlying these: AIDS, hunger
Its enemies wanted to eliminate the agen-
and famine cach spreading like water.
cy and stop giving money to foreigners.
Jeered at as welfare for foreigners, AID
Enter Bill Clinton and AI Gore, a presi-
actually invests in a global infrastructure
dent and vice president who said they
that the United States can't do without.
would reinvent government. In March
1993, Gore kicked off a six-month National
The agency supports stronger legal
Performance Reviow of government that
systems in Latin America, better agribusi.
included AID.
ness In Russia and more public-health ini-
Two months later, Brian Atwood took
tiatives in Africa. These and thousands of
AID's helm, looked around and made it the
other programs are part of the four areas
first government agency to declare itself a
- democracy. health and population, on-
"relnvention laboratory."
vironment and economic growth - that
The result: a business-style makeover.
AID emphasizes.
AID cut 1,800 staff people, 90 organiza-
And by spending almost 80 percent of its
tional units, four bureaus and reams of rèd
money in all 50 states - some $29 million
tape to get a narrower but sharper focus on
in Iowa in the '94 fiscal year - the agency
"sustrinable" development.
boosts the U.S. economy and stimulates
AID set up a regional strategic-plarning
overseas business for U.S. companies.
process, slashed paperwork, pushed ro-
Busily making more out of Ic8s, AID is
sults-oriented projects and built stronger
nonetheless hounded by financial anemia.
local partnerships to avoid duplications
Though the agency runs on less than 1 per-
and maximize impact.
rent of the federal budget, Congress cut Its
The change wasn't just H White House
1996 fiscal year funding by 18 percent.
wish, it was a national necessity.
Revamping government is a start. But fu-
The Cold War against communism has
ture prosperity may soon demand the rcin.
been eclipsed by a hot struggle aguinst
vention of more generous support.
FEB-13-96 TUE 00:02
A/AID
FAX NO. 2026470148
P. 05
USAID
U.S. AGENCY FOR
INTERNATIONAL
FEB 9 1995
DEVELOPMENT
The Administrator
NOTE TO MELANNE VERVEER
Dear Melanne,
Per my note of yesterday concerning the OMB passback for
USAID, I thought you might find the attached editorial in the
Des Moines Register of interest. This is what the Republican
candidates for President read Thursday morning. This was pure
serendipity -- and timely.
Bira
J. Brian Atwood
Attachment: A/S
320 TWENTY-FIRST STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
PHONE: (202) 647-9620
FAX: (202) 647-1770
PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
foreignard
and
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 01 OF 05
PRT: HRC
SIT: NSC SCHWARTZ
<PREC> PRIORITY <CLAS> UNCLASSIFIED <DTG> 031724Z OCT 95
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEADWW/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
RUEHXQ/ALLEU COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 010280
WHITE HOUSE SITROOM FOR MRS. CLINTON'S STAFF AND
NSC/ERIC SCHWARTZ
USAID FOR A/ATWOOD, BHR/STAFFORD, BHR/FFP KRAMER
STATE FOR PRM/OAKLEY AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PREF, UNHCR, ICRC, WFP, SP
SUBJECT: BONINO ADVANCES PLANS FOR EXCEPTIONAL MADRID
MEETING OF HUMANITARIAN LEADERS
REF: USEU BRUSSELS 10191
1. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. SEE PARA 13 BELOW.
2. BEGIN SUMMARY. COMMISSIONER EMMA BONINO CONTINUES
TO DRIVE PLANS FORWARD FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF
THE HANDFUL OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE LEADERS IN MADRID
DECEMBER 14, ON THE EVE OF THE EU SUMMIT. SHE WANTS
HIGH-LEVEL U.S. PARTICIPATION TO DRAMATIZE THE
SOLIDARITY OF THE TWO DONORS -- THE U.S. AND EU -- THAT
PROVIDE 86 PERCENT OF HUMANITARIAN AID WORLDWIDE.
VISITING USAID FOOD FOR PEACE DIRECTOR ROBERT KRAMER AND
MISSION OFFICERS TOOK PART IN A PREPARATORY SESSION LAST
MONTH. BONINO RAISED THE MADRID MEETING WITH USAID
ADMINISTRATOR ATWOOD DURING HIS SEPTEMBER 21-22
CONSULTATIONS IN BRUSSELS, NOTING THE EVENT'S POTENTIAL
IMPORTANCE AS A MEANS TO DRAW INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND URGING HIM TO ATTEND. BONINO
UNDERSTANDS WHY MRS. CLINTON IS UNABLE TO TAKE PART IN
PERSON, BUT HAS RENEWED HER REQUEST FOR MRS. CLINTON TO
PROVIDE A VIDEOTAPE MESSAGE. BONINO ALSO BELIEVES THE
*
MADRID MEETING SHOULD BE PART OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 02 OF 05
TRANSATLANTIC INITIATIVE UNDER PREPARATION FOR THE
U.S.-EU SUMMIT. ACTION ITEMS FOLLOW IN PARA 13. END
SUMMARY.
ATWOOD-BONINO
3. DURING CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE EU COMMISSIONER
WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, EMMA
BONINO, AND USAID ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN ATWOOD ON
SEPTEMBER 22, BONINO EXPLAINED HER THINKING ON THE
DECEMBER 14 MEETING OF HUMANITARIAN LEADERS IN MADRID.
THIS MEETING, SHE SAID, WILL BE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY
TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF HUMANITARIAN ISSUES IN BOTH
EUROPE AND THE U.S. SHE HOPES IT WILL ENCOURAGE PRIVATE
FUND-RAISING AND HELP FORESTALL CUTS TO PUBLIC
HUMANITARIAN BUDGETS. THE QUEEN OF SPAIN, HERSELF ONCE
A REFUGEE, IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HUMANITARIAN CAUSES,
BONINO EXPLAINED, AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING.
4. BONINO SAID SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MEETING
REFERENCED IN THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE DECEMBER 3
TRANSATLANTIC SUMMIT. SHE IS WORKING WITH THE EUROPEAN
COUNCIL TO SEE HOW BOTH THE U.S.-EU SUMMIT (DECEMBER 3)
AND THE EU'S OWN SUMMIT (DECEMBER 15-16) MIGHT "PUT THE
POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT" ON THE HUMANITARIAN MEETING.
FOLLOW-UP TO THE MADRID MEETING COULD BE ARRANGED UNDER
THE ITALIAN PRESIDENCY NEXT YEAR, SHE SUGGESTED.
(EUROPEAN COMMUNITY HUMANITARIAN OFFICE -- ECHO --
DIRECTOR GOMEZ-REINO HAD EARLIER MENTIONED TO
MISSIONOFFS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FOLLOW-UP SESSION TO
THE MADRID MEETING IN 1996, POSSIBLY HOSTED BY THE
UNITED STATES.)
5. BONINO SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE
POSSIBLE FOR MRS. CLINTON TO ATTEND THE MADRID MEETING
BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING DIFFICULTIES. ATWOOD AND BONINO
DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING MRS. CLINTON TAPE A
VIDEO FOR THE EVENT WHICH COULD BE SHOWN AT AN
APPROPRIATE MOMENT IN THE PROGRAM. ATWOOD MADE NO
COMMITMENT, BUT SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT WHEN HE
RETURNED TO WASHINGTON. BONINO ALSO SAID THE COMMISSION
WAS CONSIDERING MAKING A BRIEF FILM ABOUT REFUGEES TO
SHOW DURING A RECEPTION ON THE NIGHT OF THE 14TH.
6. ATWOOD STATED THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF CITIZENS ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC HAD A BETTER IDEA OF THE
EXTRAORDINARY RANGE OF NEEDS WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED.
UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 03 OF 05
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE MADRID COMMUNIQUE LIST THE MAJOR
HUMANITARIAN CRISES, WITH A FOCUS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN
VICTIMS.
7. BONINO OFFERED TO ARRANGE A BRIE
F PREPARATORY
MEETING OF SENIOR OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK ON/ABOUT OCTOBER
22 ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.N.
TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM FOR MADRID. ATWOOD NOTED THAT
SCHEDULING WOULD BE TIGHT AT THAT TIME, BUT SAID THAT HE
WOULD DISCUSS IT WITH CONCERNED PARTIES IN WASHINGTON TO
SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE ON THE U.S. SIDE.
WORKING GROUP MEETING
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 BRUSSELS 010280
WHITE HOUSE SITROOM FOR MRS. CLINTON'S STAFF AND
NSC/ERIC SCHWARTZ
USAID FOR A/ATWOOD, BHR/STAFFORD, BHR/FFP KRAMER
STATE FOR PRM/OAKLEY AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PREF, UNHCR, ICRC, WFP, SP
SUBJECT: BONINO ADVANCES PLANS FOR EXCEPTIONAL MADRID
MEETING OF HUMANITARIAN LEADERS
8. ECHO CONVENED A MEETING IN BRUSSELS SEPT 18 TO
PURSUE WORK ON THE SPECIFICS FOR THE MADRID MEETING. IT
WAS AGREED THAT THE THEME OF THE SESSION WILL BE
"HUMANITARIAN ACTION - ITS ROLE AND LIMITS." ATTENDEES
WILL INCLUDE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES OGATA,
WORLD FOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR BERTINI, UNICEF DIRECTOR
BELLAMY, ICRC PRESIDENT SOMMARUGA, PETER HANSEN FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, EU COMMISSIONER
BONINO, AND A SENIOR LEVEL DELEGATION FROM THE USG,
EXPECTED TO BE LED BY USAID ADMINISTRATOR ATWOOD.
9. IT WAS AGREED THAT EACH PARTICIPANT WOULD MAKE A
BRIEF STATEMENT OF NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES (AS THE
MEETING WILL ONLY LAST THREE HOURS, THE TIME LIMIT MUST
BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO) COMMISSIONER BONINO WILL THEN
CHAIR A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION. AT THE END OF THE
MEETING, A "MADRID DECLARATION" WILL BE RELEASED. A
DRAFTING SESSION FOR THAT DECLARATION WILL BE HELD IN
BRUSSELS OCTOBER 16 (THE POL MINCOUNSELOR AND USAID AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 04 OF 05
STATE/PRM MISSIONOFFS WILL ATTEND) IN ADDITION, ECHO
HAS REQUESTED THAT EACH PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION
SUBMIT A BRIEF PAPER BY OCTOBER 9 ON KEY ISSUES TO BE
DISCUSSED IN MADRID.
10. FURTHER AD HOC AGREEMENT WAS REACHED THAT THERE
WILL BE A PRESS BRIEFING ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 13,
A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS ON THE
14TH, AS WELL AS A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE MEETING.
JOURNALISTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING
ITSELF. A PREPARATORY MEETING FOR PRESS OFFICERS FROM
PARTICIPANTS' ORGANIZATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN BRUSSELS
ON OCTOBER 18 (OUR MINCOUNSELOR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS WILL
ATTEND).
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
11. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, IT WAS AGREED THAT THREE NGO
REPRESENTATIVES WOULD "SIT AT THE TABLE" WITH
PRINCIPALS: A REPRESENTATIVE OF "CLONG" (A EUROPEAN NGO
UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION), A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AN NGO
WHICH IS NOT IN CLONG, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.S.
GROUP INTERACTION. IT WILL BE UP TO THE NGO'S,
PARTICIPANTS AGREED, TO SELECT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
ATTEND.
12. GOMEZ-REINO FROM ECHO SAID HE HAD HEARD RUMORS THAT
NGO'S WERE PLANNING A PARALLEL "ALTERNATIVE MEETING" IN
MADRID. GOMEZ-REINO SAID HE HOPED THAT THIS WOULD NOT
HAPPEN ONCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT NGO REPRESENTATIVES
COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING "AS EQUALS."
ACTION REQUESTED
13. PLEASE PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
-- THE COMPOSITION OF U.S. DELEGATION FOR MADRID;
WHETHER THE WHITE HOUSE CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE FOR
MRS. CLINTON TO TAPE A VIDEO FOR THE MEETING;
-- IF SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS ARE INTERESTED IN MEETING
WITH COMMISSIONER BONINO AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON/ABOUT
OCTOBER 22; AND
UNCLASSIFIED
PRIORITY
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 05 OF 05
-- THE TEXT OF A DRAFT PAPER FOR SUBMISSION TO ECHO BY
OCTOBER 9.
(DRAFTED : POL : NKENNELLY ; CLEARED : POL/AID : JCLOUTIER,
USIS : SDUBROW (SUBS) ; APPROVED : POL : JGREENWALD)
EIZENSTAT
BT
#0280
NNNN
<MSGID> M1884836
UNCLASSIFIED
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
undp
file freegrand
Time for a Reunion:
The UN, the US, and Development Cooperation
James Gustave Speth
Administrator
United Nations Development Programme
Final Text
Foreign Policy Association
New York City
19 September 1996
fire foreign
FINCA®
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1101 14th Street, N.W.
11th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-682-1510
FAX 202-682-1535
EMAIL: [email protected]
21 October 1999
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
INITIALS: get DATE: 1/30/2014
CONFIDENTIAL TO:
Ms. Melanne Verveer
Office of the First Lady
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Subject: FINCA Programs in Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia
Dear Melanne:
As you requested, I am outlining below some of the issues we are facing with USAID/Kosovo in
implementing our program. I have also taken the liberty to discuss an even graver problem in
Azerbaijan. Phone calls from your office stating the White House's interest in the programs may
be sufficient to move things in the right direction. Finally, I thought I would share with you the
exceptional progress we are making in Kyrygzstan and Russia.
Kosovo
Earlier this month, FINCA signed a cooperative agreement with USAID for $4 million to
implement a village banking program to provide self-employment loans to over 7,000 families in
the next three years. Melissa Brinkerhoff, the USAID Microenterprise Officer for Eastern Europe
and the Newly Independent States, supported our efforts to develop the program, because of our
ability to deploy microfinance programs rapidly in difficult operating environments. She had the
complete support of her superiors, including Don Pressley, Assistant Administrator. Republicans
and Democrats on the House International Relations Committee also expressed a keen interest in
the program as an example of the kind of activity they wanted to fund through the supplemental
funds allocated to Kosovo.
Notwithstanding the support of Congress and USAID/Washington management, Craig Buck, the
newly appointed mission director for Kosovo made many administrative moves to nix the
program. Although he supported it in public, USAID/Washington conceded that he was doing
everything to stop the program behind the scenes. Mr. Buck, an economist, is widely criticized in
the NGO community for the way he managed USAID's program in Bosnia, when he was mission
director there. A priori, he does not support the work of NGOs and prefers to finance large-scale
macroeconomic programs. NGOs suggest that the bulk of USAID financing in Bosnia was
channeled through for-profit consulting firms. You may remember that Mr. Buck was also
recently interviewed in the New York Times about the loss of large amounts of funds through
USAID/Bosnia's large scale banking project.
Most importantly, Mr. Buck does not support microenterprise. Despite the efforts of many
NGOs, the World Bank and Mrs. Clinton herself to promote microenterprise in Bosnia, Mr. Buck
Foundation for International Community Assistance
Banking on the Poor SM
categorically refused to support microenterprise in the country. He left it to the World Bank. The
Bank proved that it could work, but did not have the mechanisms to support the development of a
strong microfinance institution.
Now that the FINCA agreement has been signed, Mr. Buck has already suggested that he will be
making things difficult for FINCA. He has said that he does want FINCA to finance the small
trading activities of market women; rather, he just wants us to support activities that he deems
"value-added", such as manufacturing and services. As you know, trade is the principal activity
in which women and the poorest entrepreneurs engage because of its low capital requirements.
Moreover, market vendors in Kosovar are now paying over 10% per month to moneylenders to
finance their capital requirements. We hope to argue with him on these points, but his negative
disposition towards the program will make it all the more difficult to implement as FINCA faces
its most formidable operating environment to date.
We are wary of sharing these concerns because Mr. Buck is very powerful. The most we would
ask for from your office is that maybe you speak to the NSC about the program and that they
would then convey the importance that the White House places on supporting the FINCA
program and helping to make it a success.
Azerbaijan
After a very promising start in Azerbaijan, where FINCA was able to provide credit to over 3,000
families, the Azeri government ruled that FINCA must cease lending operations pending the
issuance of a non-bank financial institution lending license. (While FINCA is locally registered
as an NGO, such a license has never been required in any country in which we operate.) Since
July, FINCA Azerbaijan has suspended lending leaving the families without recourse to other
sources of capital. If and when this license is issued, FINCA and other NGOs still face the threat
of taxation both of their grants and on the incomes of expatriate personnel.
We, and the rest of the NGO community, would be grateful if the White House could convince
the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan to take up our concerns directly with the President of
Azerbaijan. At this point, FINCA is appealing to the British Ambassador because the U.S.
Ambassador has not made the issue a priority for reasons we do not understand. The details of the
taxation situation, which poses the gravest threat, are outlined below.
Currently in Azerbaijan, there is no bi-lateral agreement in place between the United States and
Azerbaijan, due to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which states that "United
States assistance under this or any other Act may not be provided to the Government of
Azerbaijan (GOA) until the President determines, and so reports to the Congress, that the GOA
has taken demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against
Armenia and Norgorno-Karabakh."
For FINCA and other NGOs, this means USAID funded projects, such as ours, are not exempt
from taxes in Azerbaijan. In the past nine months, a tax-working group has diligently pressed
forth the issue and has drafted a presidential decree asking for issuance of a moratorium on taxes
for humanitarian organizations. The U.S. Embassy pledged to convey the group's efforts to the
relevant officials of the GOA. Representatives of the World Bank and International Monetary
Fund advised taking the issue to the President of Azerbaijan, to avoid the intermediate levels of
bureaucracy. To date, the tax issue has not been presented to the President, or to any officials of
the Government who have the authority to make relevant decisions regarding taxation.
2
We believe that we could make considerable progress if the U.S. Ambassador were to impress
upon the President the importance of both resolving these taxation issues and of expediting
licensing of microfinance institutions like FINCA.
Kyrgyzstan
We are happy to report that FINCA Kyrgyzstan has been extremely successful reaching over
15,000 clients. The IFC of the World Bank is now interested in assisting FINCA Kyrgyzstan to
convert into a commercial bank. This would be the first microfinance bank focused on the poor
in the former Soviet Union.
Moreover, President Akayev sent a letter last December to President Clinton lauding him for the
program. I am attaching a copy of the letter. If President Clinton ever responded to President
Akayev, we were never sent a copy.
Russia
Finally, FINCA's program in Samara just opened this summer and we have been able to reach
over 200 clients thus far. The regulatory barriers which poor microentrepreneurs face are
enormous. In January or February, FINCA will be organizing with Ohio State University a
conference on regulatory issues faced by the microenterprise sector in Russia. We would
welcome the participation of any interested White House officials.
Sincerely,
J-4
Research
3
translation of
LeTTer to FINCA
From PRESIDENT
ASKAR AKAYEV
Dear Mr. President:
(Kyrgyzstan)
Let me express my sincere gratitude to you and to all
American people for the invaluable support of political and
economic reforms in Kyrgyzstan. We feel the continuous
support of the United States of our ideas and undertakings.
The initiatives of the United States in the area of
advancement and development of microcrediting projects
received wide recognition and are of great success in many
countries. We admire the tireless efforts of First Lady
Hillary Clinton in implementing the projects under which
the state creates such financial conditions for groups of
poor people, under which they can independently improve
their well-being and use their skills, contributing to the
progressive development of the entire nation.
In Kyrgyzstan, as in many other countries of the world,
there is a problem of poverty. At present 60% of the
population live below the poverty level. During the short
period of independence of our state, we succeeded in laying
a foundation for reforms in the social sector, directed at
the alleviation of poverty and today we already have the
first successful results on a number of projects
implemented with the participation of USAID, the World Bank
and other financial organizations. We strongly believe
that involvement of socially disadvantaged groups into a
microcrediting program will be the right policy in the
conditions of Kyrgyzstan.
Specifically, I would like to commend the contribution of
the Foundation for International Community Assistance
(FINCA). The branch of this project funded by the USAID was
established in our country over three years ago and was
given the name of FINCA-Kyrgyzstan. The activity of FINCA-
Kyrgyzstan received the highest evaluation of First Lady
Hillary Clinton during her visit to our country.
Presently, more than 10 thousand people have received
approval of their projects in regional branches of FINCA-
Kyrgyzstan. Over 46,000 loans totaling USD 5.5 mln were
allocated to Kyrgyzstani citizens. The people of
Kyrgyzstan fully support the introduction of microcrediting
and have high expectations for microcrediting in the Kyrgyz
Republic. We believe that the activities of FINCA-
Kyrgyzstan will facilitate further progress in
microcrediting.
Esteemed Mr. President, the people of Kyrgyzstan regard you
as the guarantor of further strengthening of the process of
economic reforms in our country. We are looking forward to
your understanding and personal support regarding the
possibility of expanding the activities of FINCA-Kyrgyzstan
within the framework of the U.S. strategy of increased
financial assistance to CIS.
We are sure that this
support will produce the most favorable impact upon
deepening and further development of a market economy in
the Kyrgyz Republic.
With best regards.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed)
Askar Akayev
Common КЫРГЫЗ
КЫРГЫЗ РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫНЫН ПРЕЗИДЕНТИ
ПРЕЗИДЕНТ КЫРГЫЗСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ
РЕСПУБЛИКАЦЫ
Уважаемый господин Президент!
Позвольте выразить BaM и BceMy американскому народу глубокую
благодарность 3a неоценимую поддержку политических и экономических реформ B
Кыргызстане. Мы чувствуем постоянную заботу CO стороны США И
заинтересованность K нашим идеям И начинаниям.
Инициативы США B деле продвижения и развития проектов
микрокредитования получили широкую известность и огромный успех BO многих
cTpaHax. Мы восхищены неутомимой работой первой леди Хиллари Клинтон по
воплощению идеи o TOM, что государство должно создать такие финансовые
условия для бедных слоев населения, при которых они сами самостоятельно могли
бы поднять свой уровень благосостояния, использовать cBoe MacTepcTBo и, TeM
самым, стать составляющей pocTa благосостояния всей нации.
B Кыргызстане, KaK и BO многих cTpaHax мира, существует проблема бедности.
B настоящее время 60% населения находится 3a чертой бедности. 3a KopoTKoe
время независимости нашего государства мы сумели заложить основы реформ B
социальном ceKTope, направленные Ha снижение уровня бедности, и сегодня уже
получены первые успешные результаты ряда проектов, осуществляемых при
содействии ЮСАИД, Всемирного банка и других финансовых организаций. Мы
глубоко убеждены, что вовлечение социально-уязвимых слоев населения B
программу микрокредитования. будет верной политикой B условиях Кыргызстана.
Особо хочу отметить весомый вклад Фонда по содействию международному
сообществу (ФИНКА). Прошло более Tpex лет C Tex пор, KaK y Hac B cTpaHe было
открыто ero подразделение, получившее название ФИНКА-Кыргызстан, KoTopoe
финансирует ЮСАИД. Деятельность ФИНКА-Кыргызстан получила самую высокую
оценку первой леди США X. Клинтон BO время ee визита B нашу cTpaHy.
B настоящее время свыше 10 тысяч человек смогли получить одобрение
своих проектов B региональных филиалах ФИНКА-Кыргызстан. Более чем 46 000
кредитов Ha общую cyMMy 5,5 млн. долл. США было выдано кыргызским гражданам.
Народ Кыргызстана всецело поддерживает процесс внедрения OCHOB
микрокредитования И возлагает большие надежды Ha развитие микрокредитования
B Кыргызской Республике. Мы уверены, что работа ФИНКА-Кыргызстан будет
способствовать дальнейшему развитию этого процесса.
Уважаемый господин Президент, B Вашем лице народ Кыргызстана всегда
будет видеть ΓapaHTa дальнейшего укрепления процесса экономических реформ B
нашей республике. Мы надеемся Ha Ваше понимание и личную поддержку B
рассмотрении вопроса O возможности расширения деятельности ФИНКА-
Кыргызстан 3a счет увеличения финансирования B paMKax стратегии помощи США
cTpaHaM CHΓ. Мы уверены, что эта поддержка окажет caMoe плодотворное влияние
Ha углубление и будущее развитие рыночных ocHoB B Кыргызской Республике.
C уважением И наилучшими пожеланиями,
Hep
ACKAP AKAEB
EΓO ПРЕВОСХОДИТЕЛЬСТВУ
ПРЕЗИДЕНТУ
СОЕДИНЕННЫХ ШТАТОВ АМЕРИКИ
УИЛЬЯМУ КЛИНТОНУ
7-2288
17.12.98.