Atlanta, GA - “Americans are a generous people, but they should not be
expected to bail out governments which start wars,” observes Bob Barr, the
Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee. “Vice President Richard Cheney has
gone to the country of Georgia with the promise of $1 billion in U.S. foreign
aid. While we should sympathize with the Georgian people, it isn’t fair to
stick Americans with the bill.
“First, their government cannot be trusted with the money. Foreign aid has
an awful record. For more than a half century the U.S. has subsidized foreign
governments, mostly subsidizing socialist economies and petty dictators.
Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili was democratically elected, but he is an
authoritarian nationalist who triggered the Russian invasion by irresponsibly
launching his own attack on the disputed territory of South Ossetia. Providing
Tbilisi with $1 billion would reward him for the very policies that have caused
his people such distress.
“Moreover, money is fungible. The Georgian government plans on rebuilding
its military to again confront Russia. Any U.S. funds will indirectly subsidize
a Georgian military build-up. The U.S. has no reason to take sides in this
complicated territorial dispute, let alone against a nuclear-armed power upon
whose help we depend for dealing with Iran and resolving other important
international issues.
“Americans who want to help the Georgian people should contribute to private
groups, outside of the control of the Georgian government. But the U.S.
government should not underwrite President Saakashvili’s government, thereby
relieving him of responsibility for his bad decisions. Americans are generous,
but they expect people—and governments—to be held accountable for their
actions. It is especially important to do so in this case, given the human and
financial costs of this unnecessary and tragic war."
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th
District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to
2003.
