It is probably too early to say that Elon Musk has the blood of babies in his hands because he has effectively closed America's most American aid agency. But trust me: he will.
On the command of Musk, the work of the United States Agency for International Development came to a screeching standstill. The thousands of his administrators, employees and contractors were thrown from the work that his programs for the WHO-KNOWS -HOW-LONG and their website were no longer working.
“We'll complete it,” said Musk on Monday. “Basically, you have to get rid of the whole thing. It is beyond repair. “
I suspect that the Musk, the not elected, unused billionaire bureaucrat, who is responsible for the covering of the federal government, and his boss President Trump bet that most Americans do not take care of things that go overseas. The voters were in an isolationist atmosphere when they gave Trump a second term. And most of us only have a look from USAID that provides humanitarian aid for the development of conflicts, illnesses and natural disasters around the world. With a budget of around 40 billion US dollars, the USA is also The world's largest provider of food aid – What to even use musk pitchmeans that it saves the life of malnourished babies.
But – surprise – Americans take care of it. Pro-USAID demonstrations took place in the state captains across the country on Wednesday. In Washington, DC, where USAID is headquartered and many of its workers and contractors live, Thousands protested as protesting Musk is abrupt, potentially illegal move.
Critics may ask themselves what the agency does, but a better question is what what not it does?
USAID was founded during the Kennedy government to combat the Soviet influence and, in its struggle against Russia, helped to ensure that the elections are free and fair and work with partners in 100 countries around the world, poverty, hunger, Relieve illness and despair. It finances independent activists for foreign media and civil society and promotes global freedom and security. And almost everything stopped abruptly.
The New York Times reported That the Stop work order of the Trump government to all organizations financed by USAID leaves thousands of people “with experimental medication and devices in their body without access to surveillance or care”.
Like every massive agency, USAID suffers from a certain degree of waste, fraud and abuse. The general inspector of the agency recently recently put out his concerns about a frustrating lack of working with the USA and recommended changes to the United Nations.
But despite problems that should be addressed, USAID is the embodiment of the American Soft Power. It is simply the most convincing peaceful instrument that we have to improve to improve people's lives, spread democratic ideals and to counter China's growing influence in Africa and South America.
Therefore how you can imagine Autocrats around the world are enthusiastic to see it broken.
“Wound into the billions that the United States spends annually for foreign help – more than any other nation – are hundreds of grants for basic groups that are devoted to the struggle for democracy in authoritarian countries around the world. ” The Associated Press reported. Cheap reactions to the agency's shottering from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Russia.
Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation Blueprint for the second Trump administration, dedicates an entire chapter In order to accuse the administration of bidges, to allow the agency, to promote “a radical ideology” and “split political and cultural agenda, promote abortion, climate extremism, gender radicalism and interventions against perceived systematic racism”. “And yet in 2025 the project admits despite such an absurd exaggeration that the agency is decisive in order to” counter the strategy of the communist china of world domination “.
Musk named USAID as “devilish“Criminal organization.” Trump mingled with “a few radical insane”.
This is crazy. But it is not surprising, because – with apologies to “foreign things” – we all live in The head down At the moment.
“The idea that this is a criminal company? Please, ”said Peter Kerndt, a public healthcare center who recently worked for a USAID officer for five years in Mozambique to contain the spread of tuberculosis. His work included the persecution, identification and treatment of people with the fatal illness. On January 28, he was fired abruptly.
“It's like a blow on the stomach,” said Kerndt, who worked for the Ministry of Public Health in Los Angeles for 29 years before going to USA. “My God, Muschus does not know the work that is done. I think the richest man in the world has an agenda. “
Do you think?
Sen. Chris Murphy Advanced one a plausible theory Posted on Instagram in a video. Musk, whose business is dependent on government contracts, is simply on packing his bags, said the Connecticut Democrat. He noticed that Muschus does half of his Teslas in ChinaWhich is also his largest foreign market.
“He is currently in a row with China because China does not allow him to market his self -driving vehicle, and they try to gain advantage of their domestic self -drive product,” said Murphy. “How do you get in the Chinese government quickly? They disassemble the agency, which is the biggest thorn in the China side. “
The Inspector General Inspector also examined Like Musks SpaceX Starlink satellite terminals, Bought with agency agents, were used in the Ukraine war against Russia, although the details are sparse. biographer Walter Isaacson wrote This musk once reduced the Ukrainian military's access to Starlink to thwart a U -boot drone attack against Russia. This is just too much strength for a person to float.
Maga Republicans can be exported by the “bright” agenda of USAID, but the end result is that the agency does incredibly important and life -saving work.
I asked Dr. Kernt, why the Americans should take care of the work to prevent tuberculosis and heal, which is often fatal if they are not treated and for which there is no vaccine.
“Tuberculosis affects young, healthy people,” he told me. “It is a catastrophic price for these people, the detectors for families. It further narrowed them into poverty. It is something that we can prevent Pennies on the dollar. And it is a source of immeasurable respect for the United States. “
If you do this good job to appease a childish billionaire, this country will leave a permanent moral spot.
Bluesky: @Rabcarian.bsky.social. Topics: @Rabcarian