President Bush's signature foreign aid program, the Millennium Challenge Initiative, "has fallen well short of Bush's stated ambition. He envisioned spending $1.7 billion in 2004, $3.3 billion in 2005 and $5 billion per year thereafter.....the corporation has committed or approved just $1.6 billion in development aid since its inception. As of December, $19.5 million of that money had been disbursed, as recipients are given money only as their projects move ahead." The article is relatively optimistic about John J. Danilovich, the former ambassador whom Bush installed as head of the Millennium Challenge Corp. in November.
Danilovich, a smooth-talking manager with long-standing Republican connections, is described by colleagues as much more decisive than Applegarth. But unlike his predecessor, Danilovich came to the job with no experience in development assistance. Although he can rely on his staff -- the agency has about 200 employees -- many of them are not development experts, either. With notable exceptions, they tend to come from the private sector, the diplomatic corps or Capitol Hill.
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