Liberty Maven

In the latest press release from the Bob Barr campaign Barr minces no words in condemning the call by the Bush administration and others on Capitol Hill to send an expensive aid package to Georgia to help them rebuild after their hostilities with Russia.

“The Bush administration is talking about pumping aid into the damaged Georgian economy, after that nation’s short war with Russia,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “The conflict between Georgia and Russia was tragic, but it’s time officials in Washington stopped treating the Treasury Department like an ATM for the world. The deficit rose last month after Uncle Sam had to bail out several failed banks and the total federal deficit this year is going to run about $400 billion.  It’s time to say enough!”

“The U.S. spent $21 billion on foreign aid last year, not counting money for Iraq,” explains Barr.  “Over the years Washington has shipped hundreds of billions of dollars overseas, with much of it wasted.  The Third World remains poor, only with a larger debt.  Indeed, U.S. aid programs often subsidized socialist and undemocratic regimes.”

“The Saakashvili government in Georgia made a foolish mistake by initiating hostilities in its breakaway province of South Ossetia,” notes Barr.  “American taxpayers should not have to pay for that mistake.  After all, they already are paying $10 billion a month for the administration’s mistaken invasion and occupation of Iraq.  They cannot afford to pay the price for other people’s wars as well,” says Barr.

“Instead of increasing foreign aid, the U.S. government needs to cut the amount of taxpayer money that it sends overseas,” insists Barr.  “Most important, it is time to start saying no more.  No more international welfare clients.  No more foreign governments treating America as a cash cow.   We need to put our own fiscal house in order rather than constantly bail out irresponsible governments around the world.”

It is comforting to know that Barr is quick to point out what the press and the Bush administration seem to want to sweep under the rug: Georgia instigated this conflict. Even if the Russian response was disproportionate that fact remains.