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It is the worst of times. It is the best of times. It is the tale of two Cabinet Secretaries. And it is the tale of two international tragedies – AIDS and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – and what they say about our provincial priorities. The two Cabinet members starring in this tale are Colin Powell, Secretary of State, and Tommy Thompson, Secretary for Health and Human Services. Both recently returned from trips abroad, representing the President on separate, crucial diplomatic missions to lands infested with the most insidious killers. Colin Powell went to the Middle East in an attempt at shuttle diplomacy, trying to craft some sort of peaceful way out of the cycle of Palestinian suicide bombings and Israeli military response. Tommy Thompson went to Sub-Saharan Africa, trying to help these countries, whose populations are being decimated by HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, identify ways to stem the carnage. Because of his long-standing commitment to help young people achieve healthier futures, Secretary Thompson invited me to join his delegation on a 4-country tour of Africa. When we returned, I found no news reports waiting. A search of the online archives of The New York Times and The Washington Post reveals nary a mention. By contrast, of course, Secretary Powell’s mission was headline news for days on end. Why the difference in news coverage? Why does nearly every American know that our Secretary of State went to the Middle East, but practically no American knows that our Secretary for Health and Human Services went to Africa? Both the Middle East conflict and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa have global economic implications. Both crises are national security issues – the national security ramifications of entire African populations, their political and economic leadership, their young people, being decimated by AIDS have been documented by our intelligence apparatus. What is it that kept AIDS and Africa out of the newspapers, especially given that AIDS in America often captures headlines? I guess it’s true that people blowing each other up makes for better television coverage. But print coverage looks the same no matter how it is that people are dying. Is it possible that millions of dark skinned Africans dying just doesn’t interest us? Whatever the reason it’s a shame, because, while debate swirled around the success or failure of the Powell mission, the success of the Thompson mission is inarguable. I saw firsthand a skilled statesman. Secretary Thompson articulated a vision for the African heads of state he met, a vision for how they can confront this disease and a vision for long-term cooperation between their countries and the United States. Secretary Thompson’s diplomacy is yielding immediate results. Less than two weeks after he visited with South African leaders, the South African government announced a 180-degree turn on HIV and AIDS. 4.7 million people in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS – more than any other country in the world, according to the United Nations. In the past, President Thabo Mbeki has publicly questioned the link between HIV and AIDS and refused to allow wide access to life prolonging drugs. But now, Mbeki says he will lead the fight against HIV/AIDS in his country. “It is critically important that I, sitting in the position that I sit in, communicate correct messages,” Reuters quotes him as saying. “I think if people are told the truth they can get through this.” This change alone will save countless lives. As evidence, the government of South Africa has just announced that it is reversing its ban on the treatment of rape victims with anti-retroviral AIDS drugs and will extend a mother-to-child prevention program nationwide, protecting any nation’s most precious heritage, its children. Americans need to hear the important strides our government is making in crafting a partnership between the United States and African countries to fight HIV/AIDS. It’s vitally important to our national interest. Unfortunately, in this tale of two Cabinet members, the one who went to Africa to take on the greatest epidemic in world history did so invisibly – at least in this country. Shepherd Smith is founder and president of the Institute for Youth Development, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes a consistent, comprehensive risk-avoidance message to youth for the leading harmful risk-behaviors: alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco and violence. For more information, write to IYD at P.O. Box 16560, Washington, D.C., 20041 or visit www.youthdevelopment.org.
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2004