U.S. Will Withhold Population Aid to U.N. Fund Because of Abortion Link

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB6KVDPQWD.html

U.S. Will Withhold Population Aid to U.N. Fund Because of Abortion Link, Powell Says
By Barry Schweid
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration will withhold $34 million in congressionally approved assistance to the U.N. Population Fund because of the fund's connection to China and forced abortions, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday.

The State Department said it was convinced the fund helped China manage programs that involved forced abortions.

Powell said in a letter to Congress that the administration would continue to help women and children around the world through other programs.

The withholding of the money was criticized by Tim Wirth, who is president of the United Nations Foundation, Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and several members of Congress. <snip>


The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, meanwhile, has blocked a proposal by Rep. Lowey to spend $25 million for a family planning program by the United Nations in Iraq, Afghanistan and four Asian and African countries.

[UpInArms]

1. how righteous!

and stupid!

these freakin' morons don't care about the living in any way, shape or form.

I can only wish that their own lives end in some personal misery.

I spit on them and those that adhere to their belief systems.

:spit:

[tandot]

2. I guess family planning involves birth control pills, condoms,

and other things that give women more control over their lives.

Of course every God-fearing "compassionate" conservative must object to that. Women must stay at home, cook, clean, and take care of their husband and their children.

See, we already importing our "Democracy" to them: Iraqis are free to do whatever Christian fundamentalists want them to do. Isn't that great. /sarcasm

[raifield]

3. Anti-China

Not only do we have a majority of our Navy over there, doing "exercises" (flexing IS an exercise, I suppose), now we blame China for withholding $34 million of international aid funds because of some asinine reason.

What ARE they trying to stir up with China lately?

[theHandpuppet]

4. A Handmaid's Tale

From Planned Parenthood Federation of America, at http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

UNFPA Loses Funding Appropriated by Congress in 2003

Divisive measure would have undermined most basic constitutional freedoms and liberties

July 16, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC — The State Department announced today that it is withholding its annual contribution to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. This is the third year in a row that the administration has refused to fund UNFPA.

"This decision is clearly based on politics, not on public health," said Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). "Make no mistake: this administration will always choose anti-family planning extremism over women's health programs here and around the world."

The decision comes as the United States was under fire this week at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Public health experts and AIDS activists criticized the United States for promoting abstinence as the best method of preventing AIDS, when a comprehensive approach has been shown to be more effective.

More...

[MissAnnThrope]

5. Forced Abortions. Nice Cover.

Is there no way they can check to see if the UN is funding forced abortions in China? I mean, we fund lots of killing in this world. It's ok to kill the person, but not the fetus. Let it grow up, become a soldier or political dissident and kill it then?

Not that I'm for forced abortions, you understand. But it's a cover in my opinion, to keep women from having control over their own bodies. It's to appease the hard right who don't believe in any kind of birth control other than the rhythm method or abstinence. Which is fine if you're asexual or have a low sex drive. But for a person who is healthy sexually, that can't always be the answer.

This is just another way to keep women in their place. Barefoot and pregnant.

[Pachamama]

6. MoFUCheney's-On a day that Bu$h touts concern for human trafficking

and "life", he rejects the funding that our Congress provided to the UN population fund that provides birth control, medical attention that helps prevent miscarriages and defects and maternal health, info on protection from STD's (and especially AIDS) etc.

Motherf*ckers....may they rot in hell for their lies and the blood on them... :grr:

On edit: "W" stands for Women? Yeah right...more like "WIPE 'em out"

[gatlingforme]

7. That's a given with Bush - he tends to not support women at all

and least of all pregnant women. He is an effing MF.

[Rose Siding]

8. Babies and women will die because of this regressive decision

That fund provides sterile paks with sheets and med supplies for women giving birth in third world countries.

[struggle4progress]

9. Overcrowded, starving nations: perfect for out-sourcing. eom

[eridani]

10. That's the Bush terrorist breeding program n/t

[Manix]

11. Just in time to pander to the bible thumpers!

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Third year now, we've withheld funds -- n/t