US to aid Syrian democracy groups

[Eugene]

(BBC News)

Last Updated: Saturday, 18 February 2006, 00:14 GMT

US to aid Syrian democracy groups

The US has announced it is to give $5m (£2.87m) in grants to pro-democracy groups in Syria.

The funds are aimed at "accelerating the work of reformers", a State Department statement said.

A website has been set up for groups to apply for the grants - which will range from $100,000 to $1m.

On Wednesday the Bush administration asked Congress for $75m to increase TV and radio broadcasts to Iran
and fund dissident groups there.

<snip>

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4726270.stm

With friends like the Bushies, democracy sure doesn't need enemies.

[saltpoint]

1. We've done such a bang-up job in Iraq, after all. / nt

[NanceGreggs]

2. How about funding some 'pro-democracy' groups ...

... here in the US? You know, groups that want to preserve the tenets of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, groups that believe in the time-hounoured tradition of transparency of government and ...

Oh, right, I forgot. Over here, those groups are called 'unpatriotic'.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fujiyama]

4. Oh yeah

This ought to work well! :eyes:

[Darranar]

5. "pro-democracy"

:eyes:

[HuffleClaw]

6. bwahahhhahaaaa

a paltry $5 million? i'm sure the syrian government will be very happy with whomever applies for those 'grants'. but it is a good idea. i think the international community should set up a similar fund for AMERICANS.

[sandnsea]

7. Pro-coup militants

Hamas anyone? Every time we overthrow one government, we get something worse in its place. Over and over and over, why can they never learn.

[cliss]

10. Unbelievable, isn't it?

And the fact that they are so open about it. They even set up a web site! Complete with an application form, download as a .pdf file.

I smell desperation...

[bemildred]

8. I think I'm going to become a "pro-Democracy" group too.

Sounds like a great, well-paying job with no duties other than the occasional gust of hot air.

[rodeodance]

9. this is the shift by Rice in foreign aid (her program set up about a month

or so ago).

[lxwen85]

11. The US's promotion of democracy in the world is

indeed very imppressive. But do the people of US are really willing to support it by their tax dollars?