War on Terror Diverts Attention from War on AIDS, but Long-Term Optimism Persists

The Sept. 11 attacks and the ensuing war on terrorism have diverted attention and resources from another global battle, the campaign against AIDS, just as its front-line combatants were savoring a rare stretch of good news. Since the attacks, donations to the UN Global Fund to Fight AIDS have slowed sharply. The US government, a crucial source of support, has dismayed AIDS activists with a contribution far below their expectations. And yet, despite the distractions of war in Afghanistan and an economic slowdown, there is long-term optimism on the eve of Saturday's World AIDS Day events.

Advocacy groups hope the United States will emerge from the current turmoil with a broader international outlook, more eager than ever to work alongside poorer nations against pandemics such as AIDS. "The Bush administration, I hope, will reach the point where they want to show the world they're not so obsessed with Afghanistan and terrorism that everything else falls off the table," said Stephen Lewis, the UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa. "AIDS, alas, is the perfect vehicle for that," he said. Congress is on pace to contribute about $200 million for the current fiscal year, though some members are seeking a much larger appropriation -- up to $1.2 billion. Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) agreed this month to head a new task force seeking to boost America's role in the global fight against AIDS.

"The events of Sept. 11 may have temporarily shifted our legislative focus, but our resolve to stop the death toll for HIV/AIDS remains a top priority," Frist said. "The global AIDS epidemic has become our greatest humanitarian crisis." Some activists are skeptical, however. "The United States has spent more time and money bailing out the airline industry than investing in life-extending medications for Africa," said Asia Russell of ACT UP Philadelphia. Activists hope World AIDS Day will refocus attention on their campaign.

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