Has done more to fight AIDS and disease in Africa than any other President.
But Mr. Geldof has remained closely engaged with African affairs since then, and he spoke off the cuff to reporters today who were waiting for a press conference with Mr. Bush and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Mr. Geldof praised Mr. Bush for his work in delivering billions to fight disease and poverty in Africa, and blasted the U.S. press for ignoring the achievement.
Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, "has done more than any other president so far."
"This is the triumph of American policy really," he said. "It was probably unexpected of the man. It was expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion."
"What's in it for [Mr. Bush]? Absolutely nothing," Mr. Geldof said.
Mr. Geldof said that the president has failed "to articulate this to Americans" but said he is also "pissed off" at the press for their failure to report on this good news story.
"You guys didn't pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.
Bush administration officials, incidentally, have also been quite displeased with some of the press coverage on this trip that they have viewed as overly negative and ignoring their achievements.
The Washington Times, America's Newspaper
If Dubya's name was Bill Clinton this would be on the front page of every newspaper and magazine across this country (and probably other Countries as well).
But what's not being talked about is the dirty little secret about how HIV spread in the first place. The truth is that back when HIV first started spreading in Africa it was predominantly in UN controlled 'aid areas'. The UN refused to classify it as a deadly virus and thus did not quarantine or restrict the movement of those infected. This was later corrected but the problem is still way out of hand.
