State Department favors a
prevention/eduation program in Africa. That is affordable and
desirable. However, we
see a dilemma. First,
the top --and mid-elites like
teachers
and doctors--are needed to run the country.
There is value to stability and governability.
We
need to preserve elites, and that includes treating the military
and police;
half of Botswana's army is likely to die from AIDS, for example.
We are
trying to use African military in Africa for peacekeeping, under UN
auspices; otherwise we have a significant security problem there.
If these countries lose their leadership echelons, we fear an explosion
of tribal conflict. The
breakdown of civil order will make prevention and treatment impossible.
Realistically,
any treatment plan established by any group is likely to be diverted to
provide drugs to the elites, no matter what the verbiage.
That is like "true lies"--it is
"good corruption." What
is risky is collapse of governments and regimes.
NGOs
and the activist groups around the world may not understand this need.
They have not thought through the consequences of the breakdown of civil
order. That breakdown has begun--did you see those reports on
baby-rape?
-
The
prime focus of the US government should be the less-costly
prevention programs
-
The
US should provide treatment for an essential core to keep government and
society functioning.
-
Let corporations
protect their workers. That is their
self-interest.
This
three-pronged approach will help protect against political and economic
collapse.
