African Aid Dominates G-8 Summit

Aid to African nations is among the main topics at this year's annual Group of Eight (G-8) Summit, which kicked off today in Toyako, a resort town in northern Japan. Leaders from the eight major industrialized nations are expected to sign off on an initiative that would assess the contributions promised by individual countries. Partly due to the recent global economic downturn, studies have indicated the G-8 countries will fall short of their African aid goal set in 2005, though the U.S., Germany and Great Britain have fulfilled their individual commitment.

Our Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index has seen a steady rise in public interest over the last few years when it comes to global development. About three-quarters say helping other countries struck by natural disasters, cooperating with other countries on environmental problems, and assisting in the development of clean water supplies should be "very important" priorities. And the public views international relief as one of the nation's strongest suits, with 76 percent giving the U.S. an "A" or "B" for achieving its goals in that area. Yet while Americans certainly want to help others, humanitarian aid isn't ranked high as a national security strategy.