US Foreign Aid increasingly incoherent, ad hoc, charge NGOs

A coalition representing more than 160 non-governmental development and humanitarian organizations (NGOs) are calling for a “full-scale review” of US assistance for poor countries under the administration of President George W. Bush. A 5-page policy paper “Foreign Assistance in Focus: Emerging Trends,” released Friday, Oct 31, by InterAction, a coalition of virtually all major private US aid groups, charged that aid programs are increasingly fragmented among a growing number of new and existing US agencies, creating new layers of bureaucracy that defy coordination. The result, according to the groups, is that in some cases as many as five different agencies are in the field working on the same problem, sometimes without the knowledge of the local US ambassador or aid director. The administration’s decision to change foreign aid structures and operations or create new ones are often implemented “in an ad hoc manner, often with little transparency and consultation with stakeholders, or consideration of lessons learned from the United States’ long experience in foreign aid,” the report said. The focus on the war on terrorism also risks diverting both attention and international support from other needy regions, according to the report, which stressed its concern that ultimately the priority given to front-line countries will reduce the amount of aid available to other regions. (Independent UK)

US will deny aid to countries that refuse court immunity deals

The United States aims to secure agreements “with every country in the world” guaranteeing immunity for its citizens from any prosecution from the new International Criminal Court (ICC), and will cut off military aid to countries which do not comply. Under Secretary of State John Bolton, speaking at the conservative thinktank, the American Enterprise Institute on November 3, indicated that Washington’s biggest objection is not to the risk that the court poses to American soldiers, diplomats and other officials, but that it would encourage attempts to prosecute top figures in US government, past and present, for war crimes.(Independent UK)

Army ready to back oil companies against Indian resistance

In early October, Ecuadorian Minister of Energy and Mines Carlos Arboleda announced that soldiers might be sent to the rural area of Sarayacu, where the Kichwa community lives, to enable the Compañia General de Combustibles (CGC), an Argentine oil firm, to explore for oil. Minister Arboleda complained that the local Indians in Sarayacu have acted “illegally’’ with the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that he said were “fomenting chaos’’. The company has not been able to begin exploration operations due to resistance put up by local indigenous residents. Environmental damages and health troubles are the complaints put forward by 88 people representing 30,000 Siona, Secoya, Cofan and Huaorani Indians and local peasant farmers in the northeastern provinces of Sucumbios and Orellana, in a high-profile lawsuit against California-based ChevronTexaco. The trial is being held in Ecuador, and Wednesday, Oct 29 was the last day for the plaintiffs to present their evidence. They want ChevronTexaco to pay for a clean-up of the contamination and health care for the people affected by the pollution. (IPS)

Pentagon considers battling Islamic schools abroad

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his top deputy, Paul D. Wolfowitz, have begun raising the issue of whether the United States, either openly or covertly, should combat madrassas, Islamic schools in Muslim countries. In his private Oct. 16 memo to top aides about the current war on terrorism Rumsfeld wrote, “Does the US. need to fashion a broad, integrated plan to stop the next generation of terrorists?” He then suggested that the CIA might need a “finding” — a presidential authorization to undertake a covert action — and asked, “Should we create a private foundation to entice radical madrassas to a more moderate course?” Senior intelligence officials believe there would be a need to hide the US role in such an activity because the Muslim populace would mistrust and thus not accept open Washington support for its religious schools. In addition, as Wolfowitz noted, “this country isn’t very good at supporting religious schools; we have some constitutional difficulties there.” (Washington Post)

Israel to use bulldozer remote control

The giant Caterpillar bulldozer, used by the Israeli military to destroy Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, now comes with a controversial new feature: remote control.

Israel says its remote-control technology will lower risks to soldiers. But Palestinians fear it will lead to more frequent raids using the machines and make the three-year conflict even bloodier.

The remote-controlled D-9 bulldozer and a remote-control version of the Humvee, equipped with machine guns, were developed by the Israeli army and the Technion Institute of Technology. Both machines are US-made, with Israeli modifications. They are expected to go into service in the next few weeks. Describing a day of field trials, a Technion statement quoted an Israeli army officer as asserting the thousands of dollars invested in each machine would save lives. “Today the bulldozer drivers are exposed to great danger when they knock down buildings that have militants hiding in them,” the statement quoted the officer as saying. US Embassy spokesman Paul Patin would not comment on the specific vehicles. He said that when Israel modifies US products, the Pentagon makes sure “they are used in a manner acceptable to our laws.” No D-9 driver has been killed in the last three years of Israeli-Palestinian violence. (AP)