BBC NEWS | Americas | US and UK 'close to Africa deal'

US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair say they are close to an agreement on providing debt relief for Africa's poorest countries.

It's an important step. Will it enforce systemic changes in corrupt and dictatorial African regimes? Will the debt relief include a call for market economy reforms those African nations still in love with socialism?

It better. Otherwise, the money will never help the average man, woman and child. Families will continue to suffer as Elites divide the spoils.

That may be why the US is hedging it's bet:

At a joint news conference on Tuesday, Mr Bush pledged $674m (£350m) to fight hunger in Africa - a sum aid groups said was a "drop in the ocean".

The prime minister had earlier said he planned to convince rich countries to add to their existing contributions - and help raise an extra $25bn (£13.5bn) in African aid.

Of course, the reasonable world screams at the US and Bush over this. When has the world not screamed? The Choir of criticism from elite institutions across Western Europe and the US should be hoarse by now. Imagine European Elite reaction if the US demanded payment on all the debt Europe owed from the World Wars.

You would think the reasonable would learn once in a while.