The Nation's Chris Hayes on the Politics of Aid

By Al Jazeera

July 2, 2009

» More

Chris Hayes, Washington Editor of The Nation, reports for Al-Jazeera English about the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). President Obama promised, on the campaign trail, to double US foreign assistance, but though USAID's staff has increased, it still lacks a director and suffers from problems of privatization and militarization left over from the Bush years. Carol Lancaster, of Georgetown University and the Center for Global Development, says it has become "less of a thinking agency and more of a check-writing agency." Will Obama manage to turn USAID back to its original mission?

--Sarah Jaffe

Check out more great Nation videos on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Blogs

» The Beat

Timetable for Health Bill Passage (w/o Public Option) Locks In | On or near the 18th, there will be House and Senate votes. There may be a White House bill signing, or two. And Obama is going to be central to the process.
John Nichols
110 Comments

» The Notion

Aren't We Cheneyed Out Yet? | At what point do we call them the family of mass intimidation and simply stop playing into the Cheney clan's tired old terror tactics?
Laura Flanders
96 Comments

» Altercation

Slacker Friday | On Evan Thomas, birthers, and the health care bill "stepping-stone" argument.
Eric Alterman

» And Another Thing

Nazia Quazi Update | Watch the video; write a letter; get involved!
Katha Pollitt
34 Comments

» Editor's Cut

Around The Nation | Nation editor Chris Hayes guest-hosts Maddow. Plus: 145 years of women's history and an exchange about the conservation movement's future.
Katrina vanden Heuvel

» Act Now!

Heidi Montag: Consumer Advocate | Hills' star spoofs self in calling for financial regulation.
Peter Rothberg
100 Comments

» The Dreyfuss Report

Hopeful Signs in Iraq? | Results are unknown, so far, and the threat of violence still simmers.
Robert Dreyfuss
97 Comments