This is a good symbolic move to help out the African nations, but we have to ask ourselves this one question: will it even end up in the hands of the people who need it the most. A major problem in Africa is access to potable water. We take it for granted here, but over there, most people don't have running water. Sources are highly unreliable and seasonal in nature. How could life and agriculture be sustained without water? We must understand foremost, when discussing undevelopment in the 3rd World, that they are at a different stage of development then we are. Direct aid to provide for water wells, medicines and other essentials along with investment on the Continent will go a long way in directly helping to improve the lot of Africa. Reality is that we've given billions in aid to Africa over the past 50 years that haven't reached the people. Just building a water well for a group of villages in Africa costs a couple thousand dollars. They don't need an entire centralized water works system like Chicago's or New York's. They just need a clean and reliable source of water to raise crops and sustain life. We have to work with them at the stage of development they are in. Otherwise we are just spinning our wheels giving money to governments who just end up sqandering it. NGO's and IGO's have to open their minds to the possibilities of development in the third world, it is much less costly than it may initially see. Really you have to target the problem at the individual level.

Certainly not a world-shattering event, but it is an important symbolic gesture. Realistically, $15 Billion is not going to solve the AIDS crisis in Africa, but it is an important first step that shows that the United States is willing to take the lead in fighting famine, disease and poverty in Africa. The rest of the world, regardless of political and economic considerations, should join us in this quest. Of course, the true challenge is lowering the cost of drugs that help ease the pain of this terrible disease and taking the intitiative in finding a cure.