White House Watch: Bush hopes Africa aid package will launch G-8 on a high note
President Bush is looking forward to the Group of Eight economic summit in Scotland this week, and his announcement last week of a big package of initiatives for Africa was designed in part to start the conference on a high note. The initiatives, including measures to promote education of girls in Africa and $1.2 billion to fight malaria, are in part a response to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's calls for more African relief. The conference brings together the leaders of the world's seven richest industrialized democracies and Russia every year. A senior U.S. official told U.S. News: "The president is eager for the discussions, and he will have a good story to tell" about U.S. efforts to help less fortunate countries. Bush also intends to discuss Mideast peace prospects, the progress of the Iraq war, and global economic conditions. "And he likes the interaction with the other leaders," says the senior official.
Bush plans a working vacation in August
President Bush plans to spend August at his Texas ranch, but White House officials are careful to point out that he won't be vacationing for the whole month. Bush has agreed to spend only one full week in seclusion. For the remainder of the month, he will use his ranch as a base of operations for road trips to the West Coast and elsewhere to promote his agenda. Among his expected themes: his call for staying the course in Iraq, his arguments for private retirement accounts under Social Security, and his backing for energy legislation to promote domestic production.
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