Reaching Out to Africa

Re “It Takes Heart to Embrace Africa,” Commentary, June 1: Shame on the media for fawning over President Bush and Colin Powell’s “exciting” new policies toward Africa. “Embracing” a continent where almost a quarter of all residents will eventually die of AIDS requires more than encouraging words and a respectful attitude. It requires money.

The $200-million increase the U.S. is proposing this year is a drop in the reservoir; $200 million is the equivalent of every American paying less than a dollar extra a year in taxes. Our economy could afford 10 times that, and it would better U.S. and African relations. What the Bush administration is doing is buying a photo-op with taxpayers’ money. A cheap one at that.

John R. Singleton

Los Angeles