The Ugly American

**Ray** · 09 May 08,, 08:22

Ugly American is not an anti US book.

It is like a Devil's Advocate!

The intention is pure!

It tells where inspite of all the hard work done by the US, it goes south and what should be done!

**Shek** · 09 May 08,, 12:40

Originally Posted by JAD_333

Off topic. I've been meaning to get your view on the economic stimulous payment. I was thinking about the effect it would have when it dawned on me that the brains behind it may have had something else in mind other than an economic stimulous. I don't mean the obvious political benefit. It's capped so people earning $75K and up don't get it. That almost seems like an acknowledgement of some weakness in the buying power of lower middle income earners. I would like to know your take on it.

I posted a response here. Essentially, I think folks will either save the money for future tax increases to pay for the debt the program creates or use it to pay off current personal debt. It's consumption stimulus value will be low.

http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/pol...tml#post494222

**JCT** · 09 May 08,, 20:53

Originally Posted by Ray

S2,

Developing countries want things that affect their lives immediately and uplift their population for the poverty, squalor and despondency. They do not want massive projects, which may be great in the long run, but do not really touch the misery of the population as such in the immediate reality.

Therefore, there should be a mix of these type of aid. Long term and short term immediate effect. The US normally does long term projects and it is believed that that is so because it allows big firms of the US a finger in the pie.

Small projects like improving agriculture and poultry or village amenities does not attract corporate munificence for the Administration, US and the benefiting country, and hence the interest is less.

Brigadier,
I think some of these lessons have been learned. In HOA, most of the projects are small irrigation, well digging, school building, medical visits, or something similar. I didn't have visibility on all the projects going on, but from what I saw, most of the projects were small in scope, rather immediate in their effect, and spread around.

Interestingly enough, I did not see any CJTF-HOA sponsored projects in the city of Djibouti itself, most were done in the surrounding countries, with a smaller number done in the outlying parts of DJ. We, as a tenant of the base, then organized some projects locally and it was heartening to see a good number of the base personnel volunteer to help out. It was disheartening to see the amount of red tape it took to get one of these off the ground. First the CJTF staff had to approve, then the US Embassy, then the DJ's and French had to have their say...

**Ray** · 10 May 08,, 06:05

I agree red tape is there everywhere and it does dampen the spirit!

Right now, while every nation is horrified by the devastation done in Myanmar by Cyclone Nargis, the Myanmar junta is not allowing aid workers in as they are suspicious of them!

And the poor people of Myanmar are disparately crying for help!

**Shek** · 02 Dec 08,, 03:13

Some links on appropriate technology, a topic that The Ugly American addresses before it even was titled appropriate technology:

http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Spec...c_notes_02.pdf

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/smith-talk.html

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...e/4273674.html

**~~pate~~** · 02 Dec 08,, 08:45

Not that I am remotely qualified to comment on this seven page debate... One of the most poignant passages from "The Ugly American" had to do with chickens and their eggs; that you had to feed the chickens calcium in some form to have good eggs... perhaps I just misremember... There was something to that vignette that just disturbed me...