Using AIDS as a pretext to give billions to Northrop

Oct 25, 2004

The Bush administration promised in 2003 to deliver AIDS treatment to two million people affected by the disease in Africa. Although this is a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed, little was done. Now, almost two years later, the administration has finally signed a contract worth seven billion dollars to deliver AIDS treatments to Africans.

Logically, the money ought to go to existing humanitarian organizations, which already work in Africa and know the people, the health systems and the governments, and have been carrying out campaigns to deliver this aid.

Instead, the U.S. government has contracted with Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor. Its business isn't health care – it is weapons systems!

Using the pretext of the AIDS crisis in Africa, the government is going to deliver only one thing – profits to Northrop and its subcontractors.