While the hiv/aids crisis is the most urgent threat facing Africa and the world, the Bush administration's current orientation is to delay action. In contrast, Washington's interest in African oil and the specter of terrorist cells quietly shapes the immediate course of us Africa policy.

Africa's issues are global issues— hiv / aids , human development, new models for economic growth, peace, and democracy. Worldwide consciousness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has even forced its way into the pages of a United States president's State of the Union address. In practice, however, priorities are being set by another agenda, a war agenda.