Where credit is due

Bush Has Quietly Tripled Aid to Africa

Is there a catch? Well, it's still important to remember that US giving -- as a portion of GDP -- is very small. But still, Bush tripled it.

The Post quotes Nii Akuetteh, executive director of Africa Action:

"First of all, much of the aid is emergency food or medical aid, rather than true development assistance. Then there are conditions that are attached where the emphasis is more on countries that open up their markets so American companies can go in and privatize things like water and electrical service or have access to certain resources."