I used to work at OMB in the International Affairs Branch. The USAID budget was part of my responsibility. So let me tell you a little story about the power of foreign aid. Remember when a guy named Edward Snowden leaked classified information and then fled the US? 1/ - ThreadSky

melizbeez.bsky.social • 19 days ago

I used to work at OMB in the International Affairs Branch. The USAID budget was part of my responsibility. So let me tell you a little story about the power of foreign aid.

Remember when a guy named Edward Snowden leaked classified information and then fled the US? 1/

Comments

melizbeez.bsky.social•19 days ago

He was looking for countries that would take him in. I was asked to pull the foreign aid spending and programs for each country and provide that list to the president. He spoke with all of those leaders and said “is keeping Snowden worth $X hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars?” /2

melizbeez.bsky.social•19 days ago

Overwhelmingly the countries said no. It was more valuable to them to have access to US programs on health, development, education, etc, than it was to keep Snowden.

USAID ended its programs in Russia in 2012. It’s not a coincidence Snowden is there. /3

melizbeez.bsky.social•19 days ago

US foreign aid is not wasted money. It is good will and engagement with people from around the world. And when we are not there, we lose leverage with those countries. Our absence is also an opportunity for countries like China and Iran, especially when it comes to economic and education aid. /end

1marzipan.bsky.social•11 days ago

📌

1cate.bsky.social•17 days ago

But why does Elon want rid of it? Is it just because he is stupid and doesn’t understand what they do or is there more to it

melizbeez.bsky.social•17 days ago

I’ve heard that much of his antipathy is because USAID was used to fight against apartheid in South Africa. So he’s butthurt about that. Because he’s a disgusting racist

melizbeez.bsky.social•17 days ago

But I feel like people on the right think of USAID as charity and can’t make the leap from investing in development to US soft power and influence. They think it’s lame hippie shit when the Peace Corps does more capitalism building than private companies.

melizbeez.bsky.social•17 days ago

They think the only way for the US to demonstrate power is through the military. Even though we know the military is bad at nation building. The military begs for more funding for the State Dept and USAID. The Army Corps of Engineers even funds some USAID projects.

melizbeez.bsky.social•17 days ago

But more importantly, China and other competitors are out there investing in development. When we aren’t present, other actors fill the void. Extremist groups fund schools and indoctrinate children. People are exploited. It’s very important to our safety that the US be seen as a force for good.

1cate.bsky.social•16 days ago

The right MAGA are not smart enough to understand that concept.