U2 lead singer Bono joined diplomats and aid experts on Tuesday to appeal for U.S. Senate support for a "Marshall Plan" to provide aid to the Middle East much like the massive relief the United States provided for Europe after World War Two.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) welcomes U2 lead
singer Bono to testify before a Senate Appropriations State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing
U2 lead singer Bono arrives to testify before a Senate Appropriations
State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on
"Causes and consequences of violent extremism and the role of foreign
assistance" on Capitol Hill in Washington April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri
Gripas
U2 lead singer Bono attends a Senate Appropriations State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on Ã’causes and
consequences of violent extremism and the role of foreign assistanceÓ
on Capitol Hill in Washington April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
U2 lead singer Bono listens to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) before a
Senate Appropriations State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Subcommittee hearing
U2 lead singer Bono attends a Senate Appropriations State, Foreign
Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on "Causes and
consequences of violent extremism and the role of foreign assistance" on
Capitol Hill in Washington April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
U2 lead singer Bono testifies before a Senate Appropriations State,
Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on "Causes
and consequences of violent extremism and the role of foreign
assistance" on Capitol Hill in Washington April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri
Gripas
WASHINGTON: U2 lead singer Bono joined diplomats and aid
experts on Tuesday to appeal for U.S. Senate support for a "Marshall
Plan" to provide aid to the Middle East much like the massive relief the
United States provided for Europe after World War Two.
"Aid in 2016 is not charity; it is national security," the
rock star, who is also an active anti-poverty campaigner, testified to
the Senate subcommittee that oversees foreign aid.
"It could be the best bulwark we have against violent extremism," Bono said.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, the chairman of the
Senate panel, and a few other lawmakers, have called for a
multibillion-dollar aid programme to address the crisis in the Middle
East and the need for aid for millions of refugees fleeing violence in
Syria, Iraq and other countries.
They argued that defeating Islamic State and other militant
groups, and preventing the rise of new ones, will require humanitarian
aid and economic development, including trade and loan programs.
"I'm a pretty hawkish fellow, but I learnt a long time ago ... that
you are not going to win this war by killing terrorists," Graham said.
"We have a moment now that we haven't had in decades" in
terms of political attention to the issue, said Kelly Clements, the
Deputy High Commissioner from the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
Senator Patrick Leahy, the top subcommittee Democrat, said he would work with Graham on a plan.
The hearing took place days before the Senate Appropriations
Committee is expected to release a new spending plan including cuts in
international aid. Congress has also been unable to agree on a relief
package to fight the Zika virus currently threatening parts of Latin
America.
Graham will have a difficult time winning over his fellow
Republicans, who tend to be skeptical about international organizations
like the United Nations and generally want tight controls on spending.
For example, Republican Senator Steven Daines said he was
concerned about being effective for the American taxpayer. Another
Republican, John Boozman, discussed a role for partnerships with private
companies.
Bono, who co-founded the ONE international aid organization,
has lobbied in Washington and other world capitals for a variety of
causes including debt relief, alleviating world poverty and fighting
AIDS.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by James Dalgleish)
- Reuters
Rock Star Bono seeks US Senate backing for Mideast 'Marshall Plan'
Reviewed by Bizpodia
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