I gotta say, this latest move by Nick Checker has me all kinds of conflicted
. On one hand, I get why they wanna highlight American generosity - it's a great way to spin the narrative and show that we're still committed to helping out. But on the other hand, can't they just be honest about the fact that aid cuts are a thing? Like, come on, we all know it's not always easy to work with countries that are kinda... complicated
.
And what really gets me is that this whole "partnering with reliable partners" vibe feels like a pretty rich way of saying "we're only gonna help you if you do what we want". I mean, can't they see how that just perpetuates the same kinds of systems and power imbalances they claim to be trying to disrupt?
It's all so... on the nose.
And don't even get me started on this USAID thing - it's like they're intentionally trying to create an environment where corruption can flourish
. I mean, who benefits from closing down these programs and handing out contracts to private companies?
you think about it, the US is gonna make America sound like the ultimate giver, but what's really going on? is this just a distraction from the fact that aid cuts are affecting real people's lives? 
and another thing, what does "capable, reliable partners" even mean? is it just a fancy way of saying "we're only gonna invest in you if you play by our rules"?