Bush promotes the “transformative power of freedom” for 21st century

President Bush stressed the need for future presidents and congresses to promote a closer-knit global agenda for the United States. At his address to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), he outlined the future challenges of spreading freedom and democracy throughout the world.

“The challenge for future presidents and future congresses will be to ensure that America’s generosity remains tied to the promotion of transparency and accountability and prosperity,” said Bush.

The mission of USAID is to end tyranny and corruption by building “democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture,” according to the document, “Democracy and Governance: Advancing Freedom Around the World.” USAID helped gather the 2008 census in Sudan, write a constitution in Afghanistan, and draft legislation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The President said the United States needs to use “foreign assistance to promote democracy and good government.” The future also depends on free trade agreements, Bush said, and the United States has agreements with 11 countries. Bush suggested purchasing 25 percent of U.S. food aid from developing nations to improve their local economies

Bush compared current enemies of the U.S. to Germany and Japan during World War II. He said those countries were once against the U.S., but now they are strong democracies and strong allies. In countries like Sudan, Iran, and Syria, the U.S. “spoke out against tyrannical regimes.”

Since Bush took office in 2001, the administration has doubled the federal budget for human rights programs, increased funds for the National Endowment for Democracy by 150 percent, and changed the nature of foreign assistance by creating the Millennium Challenge Account.