London — I feel a little sorry for U.S. President George W. Bush. Whatever his other many failings, he has a pretty good record on aid to poor countries, particularly in health care. True to form, he recently announced a big increase in U.S. food aid good for the hungry poor and good for American farmers.
It was a faster response than some other countries have made to the global food crisis. After falling for more than 30 years, food prices have recently soared.
The Economist's food price index has risen to its highest level since it started in 1845. As has happened throughout history, rocketing prices and shortages have caused riots from Bangladesh to Bolivia. The word for bread in Egypt is aish, which also means life. Threats to life bring crowds onto the streets.