256 Comments
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Yuri Bezmenov's avatar

"Trade over aid, opportunity over dependency, and investment over assistance."

Fantastic framework. NGOs and charity are abject failures, just like socialism. I recommend everyone at the State Department watch the documentary "Empire of Dust": https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/its-all-so-tiresome-empire-of-dust

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CC's avatar

Even Obama was concerned about the grift of Third World Leaders who were enriching themselves and ignoring their people…let’s hope Rubio’s refocusing diminishes this abuse as well.

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TheKoopaKing's avatar

The documentary you cite is not about NGOs or charity. And programs like PEPFAR were started by Republicans to save lives, and they do. https://www.state.gov/results-and-impact-pepfar

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Elia Ayoub's avatar

How's the boot tasting Yuri?

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Monique Spence's avatar

Socialism is not bad. Low character humanism destroys any kind of ism governance including capitalism free and fair. Told my colleagues at USAID for years that “bandaid” would contribute to its ending. Told my colleagues for years you can not sell an American TV to someone living on $2 a day. USAID should not have been closed for following orders. Agree merger with State would have been better. Sustainable development requires a lot of diplomacy and engagement. Congress members should be fired too. As the oversight entity in our democracy they failed to protect USAID as a government implementation institution from narrow selfish interests that derailed the Agency’s focus on sustainable development and projects that supported American markets. Real men take responsibility for their failures. Rubio you should be the first to acknowledge your failure in this oversight function as a member of Congress if you are not a coward.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Tag team back again!!!

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Ross Goldsmith's avatar

You truly believe that foreign aid alone should dictate how nations support us in the UN Security Council? Or that the reason our approval rating among Middle Eastern countries isn’t partly to do with US invasions? I know you understand that foreign aid is a soft power tool in our diplomatic strategy, not the means to an end. It’s clear our State Department has lost all credibility if this is the “analysis” it’s using to justify the end of USAID and our efforts to build a stronger, more free world order. Stop the lies.

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CC's avatar

No - it’s very clear that the USA is more credible than ever. 🇺🇸 let’s banish ‘sour grapes’ 🍇

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JanL's avatar

Ross, American taxpayers are sick of giving our hard-earned money to countries that hate us and do not support our values. If you are an actual tax-payer, meaning you have to make out a check every spring to the Feds, you would understand. Sec. Rubio actually listens to Americans and why he and the State Dept. are so popular. However, if they go back to funding child genital mutilation and drag shows in foreign countries, they will be as unpopular as before.

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RV's avatar

Interesting! I haven't heard of the drag shows. I wonder if you're thinking of the $47k for a "transgender opera" in Colombia? Or $32k for a "transgender comic book" in Peru? Interestingly, the grants the White House (Karoline Leavitt) was referring to were funded by the U.S. Department of State (not USAID). Unfortunately the WH lied and still has the incorrect info on its website. Secretary Rubio also failed to correct the record. The info is publicly accessible on USAspending.gov.

Colombia:

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_SCO20021GR3086_1900

Peru:

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_SPE50022CA0009_1900

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Leah walters's avatar

Not everyone though. I’ve got a tax auditor that helps me when filing my taxes and i do get a refund yearly.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

The Taliban actually cracks down on the pedos in Afghanistan…that’s why in February 2020 Trump finally understood what was going on and surrendered to the Taliban. Still hard to believe McMaster manipulated Trump into helping the people that were pro-pedo!?! WTF???

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

I don't think that they understand what "soft power" is. It comes from the top, from a President who cannot comprehend that his power is not absolute.

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Ezlksunmorn's avatar

Just cutting out the money funnel to the MSM and tge democrats pet NGOs is well worth the "justification" you claim..

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

14 million deaths is not a couple too many for you?

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Ezlksunmorn's avatar

Prove it...

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Michael Schrage's avatar

umm, i did...not persuasive at all...but clearly partisan in origin and execution....this on par with lancet's past DEI and covid 'research'.... the power of its politics/partisanship overshadows the 'integrity' of the purported numbers....to be sure, USAID funds helped save people's lives....the better question, can those monies be better spent and invested for america and americans....? secretary rubio's answer more persuasive than lancet's agitprop....your mileage may vary

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

Sure, well, obviously it's a complex situation and any number is guesswork. So give me your guess: how many people die without American foreign aid?

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TheKoopaKing's avatar

Why did Trump funnel so much money to MSM and Democrats' pet NGOs during his first term? https://www.usaspending.gov/search/?hash=939169b64963c58d9094f3b723a8985c

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Andrea Plamondon's avatar

Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that it is better to teach a man to fish than to continually spoon feed him. Humans like every other animal get lazy and greedy.

As to invasions... we all would benefit by studying the histories of other imperialistic and conquering peoples. We can begin with Islam, and end with Christianity. Many many atrocities on varying scales have been committed by humans of all persuasions. It is technological prowess that most often determines the ultimate winners.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

Ok, fine, but this is not the way to do it. We could have had a responsible unwinding that would have asked careful questions about the impact of pulling back in different places and planned for the challenges, but we didn't. There's a moral problem with the indifference to human suffering going on there, but there's also a self-interested case for not doing it this way, too.

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Andrea Plamondon's avatar

It is immoral for a country that is so deep in depth to squander its' tax payers money. Such exorbitant levels of waste have been a long time brewing, and the remedy cannot and will not be perfect, but the status quo is no less egregious. Because we live in such a huge country, people are not equally affected by problems, but without dialogue and debate, and a reliable press I don't see things getting much better.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

Oh, please. The GOP is planning to give a huge tax break to its rich benefactors while leaving 30 million people, more than half Americans, vulnerable to malnutrition, disease and death. The tax cut is what is immoral here.

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Andrea Plamondon's avatar

In am not talking in absolutes as to which party is the most corrupt, both are complicit in over reach. Tax breaks for corporations make us competitive in the world market, and companies make jobs. Allowing millions of unvetted migrants who need government, support, and who may or may not commit crimes, is also the actions of a king. It is unconstitutional and especially insane for a country in debt. Joe Biden and Obama never supported open borders until they did. Our country has been in decline long before Trump came into office, and will continue to decline after him no matter what he is able to accomplish or what he does not. Teaching kids to hate their own country, that the US is a country founded on slavery (when slavery still exists in this world and always has) ) that all evil actions in the Middle east are the result of the US or Israel is false and wicked. As my mother who lived through Hitlers bombs once said, they are using our tolerance and freedoms against us. What I see is every Tom, Dick and Harriet wants a piece of the American pie, and what better way to get it than to demonize the country as unworthy and hand it over to those who are no more worthy. Too many unassimilated people have come into this country who do not want to be a part of our constitutional Republic. Rome found out the hard way.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Our low point was 2008. 2024 looks like our high point thanks to Biden’s leadership and thankfully Trump is following Biden’s lead on foreign policy. But these Republicans in Congress are just reheating Bush’s failed domestic policies. Look forward to increased deficits with 2.5% GDP growth…just another own goal like 2003.

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JasonT's avatar

and in 100 years the questions would still be unanswered. End it now.

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Moses's avatar

The time for reenergizing the world is now, and tough decisions such as this withdrawal of USAiD is a stich in time. Corrupt leaders from sub-Saharan Africa should be held accountable for squandering their common resources.

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Tracy Whittington's avatar

Absolutely! That'll show those babies with HIV. Lazy SOBs.

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Tom Richardson's avatar

Stunning the sea change from every previous administration regarding the purpose and objectives of U.S aid. Keep up the GREAT work, Marco! You have been the greatest, positive surprise of this entire administration!

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Vance calling President Bush “dumb” was a straight up baller move! America’s weakest point was in 2008 after Bush/Cheney got us stuck in two quagmires while selling us out to China and destroying the American economy…Obama and Biden and Trump have made America stronger than I could have imagined in those dark days of 2008.

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Tom Richardson's avatar

And he's just getting warmed up...

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Unfortunately Vance is under the impression that only Bush’s foreign policy was “dumb”…Bush’s domestic policy was possibly even dumber than his foreign policy jacking up the deficit to give the economy a sugar rush. Trump’s Tax Cuts failed to produce 3% GDP growth in his first term but did increase the deficit and so these are just rehashed Bush policies by Congress.

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Mike's avatar

How does diminishing the U.S. standing in the world - which is what the State Department is doing - advance our interests? Short answer, it doesn’t.

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SteamerRolling's avatar

Nobody diminishes US standing in the world better than Democrats.

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Patt's avatar

trump is a worldwide joke.

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Ezlksunmorn's avatar

Say you.. And you know this how? CNN?

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SteamerRolling's avatar

You can only hope, as he brings world leaders to heal. MAGA MAGA MAGA

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Patt's avatar

Hahaha Don't believe me.

"U.S. President Donald Trump receives mostly negative ratings in a new Pew Research Center survey of 24 nations. More than half in 19 of these countries say they lack confidence in Trump’s leadership of world affairs."

"When asked about Trump’s personal characteristics, most describe him as arrogant and dangerous, while relatively few see him as honest."

https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/11/us-image-declines-in-many-nations-amid-low-confidence-in-trump/

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SteamerRolling's avatar

I’m sure cutting off their USAID fraudulent funding and making tariffs closer to reciprocal hurt many “nations feelings” but my feelings and bank account feels much better. I just want some of my stolen lax money back from those demorats who laundered it back to themselves.

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RV's avatar

Interesting! What would be an example of the Dems laundering money back to themselves using USAID? I'm trying to come up with examples. Thanks!

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Sonia Nordenson's avatar

And the joke's on you, Patt.

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Robert Goldman's avatar

You going to give yourself a head injury. Though I think you already have one from banging your head against the wall since November. Nosebleeds ears bleeds what? Mini strokes big strokes and aneurysm? Brain damage is evident.

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larry's avatar

Hope your daughters don't know your are a pussy grabber supporter.

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Robert Goldman's avatar

You're a total cuntfaggot who's uncle should have had a better pull out game with your mom ya in bed short bus riding twatwaffle

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larry's avatar

Your words tell all we need to know about you

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Bessent is living that fairy life married to Prince Charming with two IVF babies culled from hundreds of embryos and implanted in an Indian surrogate. Oops, I mean fairy tale life!! #MAGA! Make America Gay Again!! 🧚

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Patt's avatar

Hahaha Very erudite. You're a true MAGA.

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Robert Goldman's avatar

Likud.. I'm Likud..

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larry's avatar

Hope your daughters don't know you are a pussy grabber supporter

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Robert Goldman's avatar

Only you grab your mom's twat after she's done turning tricks for crack..

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larry's avatar

Who bragged about grabbing pussy? Your hero Trump

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CC's avatar

Not really #TDS

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Anthony Dewees's avatar

Being seen is the international equivalent of a school shooter. It's not power

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KaiKai's avatar
7dEdited

You might want to review what Australia, New Zealand, and Canada accomplished in folding their aid agencies into their Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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SteamerRolling's avatar

Well your last installed resident Dementia Pedo-Joe Biden sure made a splash globally!

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Chris's avatar

Great to see State on Substack! Tammy Bruce is the best in the business at Public Relations and Marco is proving to be a powerful secretary for Our Great Nation! 🇺🇸 Thanks for keeping the world informed about the US.

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Dave M's avatar

Love Tammy Bruce.

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Roman Gatsby's avatar

Tammy bruce is super questionable for one reason. Theres this video of her in Israel where she's like "I'm so happy I got this job at State, it's so great to work for the greatest country in the world! – Next to Israel of course *wink* hahahah – " https://youtube.com/shorts/cVPStXwBIYI?si=kvNuoWL_BOOC5cqx

I think dual loyalty to a foreign country is fucking weird asfuck. Not sure if I trust her to be looking out for American interests if they don't align with Israel's let alone if they harm Israel!

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Chris's avatar

well good thing I love The Jews then lol you ain’t gonna fluster me Roman.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

When she talks it is more like, is Tammy taking a deuce?? 💩

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Jason's avatar

If we ever want a documentary record of a man who sold his soul, here it is.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

The Lancet is projecting that 14 million people will die because of the demolition of USAID. There is nothing, absolutely nothing great about what you are doing to America.

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Stunned Gen Xer's avatar

The Lancet said C19 was naturally occurring virus from a wet market, which turned out to be total bullshit. Here is an interesting story form Germany. Public tv reports on the coverup. Also our own intelligence agencies made a report in summer of 2020 about the lab leak situation. https://open.substack.com/pub/disinformationchronicle/p/german-public-television-reports?r=6d4q1&utm_medium=ios

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TheKoopaKing's avatar

No it didn't, none of the epidemiological evidence supports lab leak theory. All the original cases were clustered around the wet market where there was already existing reporting of wild animal trading.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Yep, that’s what was so crazy about lower class Republicans not getting the vaccines—either way a lab experiment was getting into your body!! So everyone had two options—an experimental Western vaccine or an experimental Chinese bioweapon.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

Big fucking deal. You know that the Lancet is a journal, right? As in, independent researchers publish their own findings, after peer review, yeah? The veracity of one article (and I am not sure I buy the idea that this was debunked) doesn't reflect on other work by different scientists.

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JasonT's avatar

And you believe the grifters? They appreciate your support.

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Envelope Pusher's avatar

This is amazing, I’m interested to see how deep the level of fraud and intentional sabotage was within USAID as well

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TheKoopaKing's avatar

It'll come out after Trump reveals all the instances of fraud that was present in the 2020 election I'm sure. Or maybe after the Epstein files. Keep waiting

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sarah paige's avatar

Did you do any fact checking??

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larry's avatar

Easy to criticize. lets have the govt check on your business- no doubt some fraud there.

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Envelope Pusher's avatar

There isn’t. And even if there was, I’m not using taxpayer dollars. Get a grip.

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Mich's avatar

This is brilliant. Bravo Trump and Rubio

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Dave M's avatar

Outstanding work Secretary Rubio. Thanks for the update and Godspeed as you implement these worthy goals.

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Tasmin Gardner's avatar

Worthy goals? MAGAs have infiltrated Substack. 👹

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Anna's avatar

You made a mistake by cutting aid before doing an analysis of how to make it better. You cut off aid for 6 months and knowing the speed of government it will be six years before any nation sees aid. It that time China and Russia will provide aid without the same strings. By the time the new USAID shows up it won't be needed.

Your "a Zambian man told American diplomats it would be more helpful for his countrymen to learn how to fish than to be supplied with fish by the U.S. Government" is just an unimaginative retelling of a biblical fable and sounds so contrived it's childish.

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Bill Lacey's avatar

Rubio's efforts have already produced results. The No Kings protests fizzled out real fast. Without paid protestors funded by the NGO cutouts of USAID, that anti-American psyops couldn't even last through its inaugural weekend. Hard to deploy rent-a-mobs willing to be tear-gassed and jailed when all you can give them are t-shirts and Mexican flags.

I always wondered how these Antifa stormtroopers were able to be instantly available in the middle of the week while normal people had to show up for work. Thanks to DOGE, we now know. They were well paid by the Fifth Columnists operating inside the US government using taxpayer money.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Remember when you threw a tantrum because you wanted Elian Gonzalez to remain with his American kidnappers instead of his father?? Republicans fast tracking citizenship to Cubans turned Florida red and helped elect Bush the worst president in history!! Cubans should have to fight the next war because the blood of the 7000 fallen soldiers in the GWOT is on their hands along with the $5 trillion in defense spending flushed down the toilet!!

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Bill Lacey's avatar

No, I don't remember throwing that tantrum. You have me confused with someone else. Sorry.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

Remember when you voted for Bush/Cheney?? 😝

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Bill Lacey's avatar

No. You seem to have me confused with someone living in your head.

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Gene Frenkle's avatar

So you voted for Kerry?? Good for you! Can you imagine having voted for Bush/Cheney and in 2015 realizing what a dumbass you were for having been conned by Rove’s Orwellian propaganda that got 7000 of our soldiers killed while Bush was making China great again?? I don’t think I could ever forgive myself!!

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Bill Lacey's avatar

How dare you dead age me. What makes you think I could be old enough to vote for Kerry back then? Shame on you.

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Manalog's avatar

Trillions in development money given to countries around the globe since the UN charter and folks are poorer, hungrier, thirstier and sicker while they still harbour resentments to the #1 country that has gone in debt to assist them. Time for a more accountable and transparent system

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Eric Inman's avatar

Outstanding!

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Greg Gardner's avatar

I voted for this.

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Dr Ahmed Yabarow's avatar

As a Somali I can attest this point “ The only ones living well were the executives of the countless NGOs, who often enjoyed five-star lifestyles funded by American taxpayers, while those they purported to help fell further behind.

And we need a trade, opportunity and investment over so Called Aid and assistance who only benefited by International Organizations and local NGO executives.

Thank you Marco,

Dr. Yabarow

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