George W Bush Achievements that will stand the test of time

Much has been written of George W Bush's alleged failures. Perhaps it is time to look at some of his achievements.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States federal law that was originally proposed by President George W Bush on January 23, 2001. Congress based its legislation on the Presidents proposals. It was the most sweeping reform of federal education policy in a generation. The legislation, which closely followed the President's agenda to improve America's public schools, passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan majorities and signed into law on January 8, 2002.

After the September 11 attacks Bush beefed up security. The US removed the Taliban from power and shut down the terrorist training camps and liberated more than 25 million Afghans. The Bush administration has kept the US free of terrorist attacks since 9/11. This is no mean achievement.

The Bush administration introduced major initiatives to tackle aids and malaria.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history. When the President launched this initiative in 2003, approximately 50,000 people in all of sub-Saharan Africa were receiving anti-retroviral treatment.
Ahead of schedule, the United States has fulfilled the President's commitment to support treatment for two million people. As of September 30, 2008, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2.1 million men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS around the world, including more than 2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
As of September 30, 2008, nearly 9.7 million people affected by HIV/AIDS in PEPFAR's focus countries had received compassionate care, including nearly 4 million orphans and vulnerable children. Globally, the United States is supporting care for more than 10.1 million people, including more than 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.
Nearly 240,000 babies have been born HIV-free due to the support of the American people for programs to prevent mothers from passing the virus on to their children.
In July, President Bush signed into law H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act. This legislation will expand access to lifesaving antiretroviral drugs, prevent millions of new HIV infections, and provide compassionate care to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS. Under this legislation, the next phase of the American people's generous commitment to those suffering from HIV/AIDS will support:
Treatment for at least 3 million people;
Prevention of 12 million new infections; and
Care for 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children.
Faith-based and community organizations are important partners in the implementation of PEPFAR, the President's Malaria Initiative, and other U.S.-funded efforts. President Bush's Faith-based and Community Initiative empowers these organizations so that they can help create an effective, multi-sectoral response to need. Faith-based and community organizations are uniquely positioned to promote HIV/AIDS stigma-reduction and prevention messages and provide counseling and testing, home care, clinical services, and antiretroviral treatment, particularly in some of the hardest-to-reach communities. Last year, 87 percent of PEPFAR partners were indigenous organizations, and nearly a quarter were faith-based. More details here

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: George W. Bush signed legislation that entitled 41.7 million disabled and elderly beneficiaries of Medicare to new coverage of prescription drugs.

President Bush took a strong pro-life stance. He signed the ban on partial-birth abortions. President Bush also signed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. This ensures that unborn children who survive botched abortions receive proper medical care instead of being left to die or purposefully killed after birth. He has nominated pro-life judges. Bush refused to sign FOCA.

Dr Muravchik in staunch defence of US foreign policy on Newstalk FM

This morning Karen Coleman conducted a fascinating interview -with neoconservative Dr Muravchik-on US foreign policy.

Dr. Muravchik made a strong defence of US foreign policy.
He stated that it led to the defeat of Nazism , Fascism and Soviet Communism. Certainly the arms race which formed the cornerstone of Ronald Reagan's foreign policy helped bankrupt the Soviet economy and probably led to the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe.
He argued that with the weakness of the UN, US strength,generosity and self interest helped to prevent a Third World War. He stated that -depending on your point of view- we were either in the midst of a war on terror or in the initial stages. He stated that after 9/11 the US decided to wage war on terrorists. This fight back is making the war more intense.

He stressed that when -US invaded Iraq -that it was at war with Saddam Hussein but not with the Iraqi people. He agreed that the war in Iraq had not gone well but predicted that- if there were not a premature withdrawal of US troops -the world would be a safer place.