Iran's Nuclear Policies Leading to Greater Isolation, Rice Says (2007-02-25) By refusing to suspend its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities, Iran is continuing to isolate itself from the international community, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Responding to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stated refusal to "reverse" his country's nuclear program, Rice said, "They don't need a reverse gear. They need a stop button. They need to stop enriching and reprocessing and then we can sit down and talk about whatever is on Iran's mind." Speaking on Fox News Sunday February 25, Rice pointed out that Iran's nuclear activities already have isolated the nation from the international community through a 15-to-0 Security Council vote for a Chapter 7 resolution that imposes sanctions.

Cheney Hails Security Alliances with Japan, Australia (2007-02-24) On visits to Japan and Australia February 21-25, Vice President Cheney declared that the close alliance the United States has with both nations has enhanced international peace and security through a shared commitment to the global war on terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, individual freedom, and economic prosperity. The vice president reaffirmed the unwavering U.S. commitment to the security of Japan and Australia, as well as to working cooperatively on regional and global issues of mutual concern. Cheney paid special tribute to the deployment of Australian troops in Iraq, and to the ongoing reconstruction efforts of Japan in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

United States Strengthens Ties with Canada, Mexico (2007-02-24) Cross-border security threats and efforts to boost trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico were the focus of the February 23 meeting in Ottawa, Canada, of top officials from the three countries under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, head of the U.S. delegation, joined her Canadian counterpart and host, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, and Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa in a series of discussions that will set the stage for a third SPP meeting with President Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Felipe Calderón in Canada later in 2007. Launched at a March 2005 summit hosted by President Bush in Waco, Texas, the partnership is a forum aimed at helping the three North American neighbors develop common approaches to transnational security threats and to expand economic productivity by streamlining trade among the countries. Leaders from the three countries met again in Cancun, Mexico, in March 2006.

U.S. Aid to Africa Triples During Bush Administration (2007-02-23) By tripling U.S. assistance funds for Africa, President Bush has made good on promises made at two Group of Eight (G8) summits that the United States will support development on the continent, a senior U.S. aid official says. Walter North, acting assistant administrator for Africa at the U.S. Agency for International Development, spoke February 21 to USINFO about the $3.6 billion in humanitarian and development aid to Africa that he currently oversees. “If you look at the level of resources moving to Africa, it is astounding,” said North, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. For example, after Iraq and Afghanistan, Sudan -- just one of dozens of African aid recipients -- now ranks third among nations receiving the most aid from the United States. In addition to providing humanitarian aid in places like Mozambique, which recently experienced a devastating flood, USAID also administers health, education and governance programs in more than 40 other African nations.

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