The New York Times - July 3, 2008
Sheryl Gay Stolberg

President Bush entering the Rose Garden before a news conference, at which he asked Congress to renew his AIDS initiative. Related Bush Keeps Up Pressure on Iran (July 3, 2008)

"We need people who not only make promises, but write checks, for the sake of human rights and human dignity, and for the sake of peace," Mr. Bush said in the White House Rose Garden. "Accountability is really important when it comes to our work on the continent of Africa."

The White House regards aid to Africa, including the AIDS program, which focuses primarily on Africa, as one of Mr. Bush's signature foreign policy achievements. But as Mr. Bush heads to Japan next week for his last meeting as president with the industrialized nations known as the Group of 8, the effort has run into roadblocks abroad and at home.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are stalled over a plan to renew Mr. Bush's global AIDS program by providing $50 billion for the initiative over the next five years. The White House had hoped to have the renewal in hand by the time Mr. Bush arrived in Japan, but a handful of Senate Republicans object to certain provisions in the bill and are blocking it.

Among them is Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, who has said the bill is too expensive at a time of budget deficits.

The White House deputy press secretary, Tony Fratto, said Mr. Bush remained "very optimistic" that Congress would pass the global AIDS bill. "All of the discussions have been positive," he said.

But there are signs that other Group of 8 countries may backtrack on a promise they made in 2005 to double development assistance to Africa by 2010 for an increase of $25 billion. In addition to the United States, the Group of 8 includes Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Russia.

A communique being prepared for this year's meeting says the countries are "firmly committed" to doubling the assistance, but it makes no mention of the $25 billion figure, according to people familiar with the draft.

Aid to Africa tops a long list of agenda items for Mr. Bush, including climate change and the global food crisis, as he goes to the meeting next week.

The president also used Wednesday's Rose Garden appearance to say anew that he favored diplomacy as the best course to deal with Iran.

While Mr. Bush has used that language before, his remarks followed a major military exercise by Israel last month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

At the Pentagon on Wednesday, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed the "need for better clarity, even dialogue at some level" with Iran to avoid a military confrontation that could further destabilize the Middle East.

Thom Shanker contributed reporting.

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