Notice Bush could have allowed Benin an excemption for their cotton
ex****ts but chose instead to give them aid, which long term is not as
good. Notice how Bush dodges the question about ex****ts by asking an
impossible: that Benin increase their manufacturing sector.
Bush knows the US cotton farmers sup****t the Republicans. Politics at
play.
RL
Bush's first stop on the six-day tour was Benin, where he arrived
Saturday.
There, President Thomas Yayi Boni inducted Bush into the National
Order of Benin and gave the American president a sash, cross medallion
and lapel pin. He also thanked Bush for U.S. aid aimed at fighting
poverty, malaria and HIV/AIDS, and he asked for help for Benin's
struggling cotton ex****ts.
Boni said it was tough for Benin to compete with Asian cotton
producers because of their superior infrastructure and with U.S.
cotton growers because of government subsidies.
Bush responded that the U.S. is willing to make concessions, but
suggested that Benin might be better served to develop a cotton-
products industry rather than trying to ex****t raw cotton.
Boni said Benin needs international help bolstering its electricity,
water, communication and trans****tation systems before expanding its
manufacturing sector.
Bush said he chose Benin to start his African tour because its leaders
were determined to fight corruption and were careful to make sure U.S.
aid dollars were properly spent.
"The United States wants to partner with leaders and their people, but
we're not going to do so with people who steal money, pure and
simple," Bush said.
The United States has given Benin $307 million in a five-year grant to
fight poverty, part of Bush's Millennium Challenge Account, which
provides aid to countries that practice democratic principles and
sound economic policy.
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