Even if not the intention of the USAID proposal, the controversy has served to reveal that NGOs belonging to InterAction may indeed have possible links to terrorists they don't want to disclose. Otherwise, why object to disclosure on principle? Qui bono?
Although The NY Times reported that InterAction members receive some $4 billion a year from Uncle Sam, they apparently object to telling Uncle Sam exactly who is getting the dough. A more reasonable position would be only to demand that USAID allows a right to appeal any finding that aid money is going to terrorists, through some sort of public administrative law procedure. But that's not the InterAction position. They demand "privacy." Last time I checked, public programs paid for by public funds were not private--even if contracted out to NGOs. US taxpayer dollars remain accountable to Congress. Which is a good thing, in principle and in practice.
Among the InterAction board members is former Congressman Lee Hamilton, vice-chairman of the 9/11 Commission which reported that Al Qaeda used charities in order to funnel money to terrorists. Now Lee Hamilton's organization objects to tracing the recipients of such charity funds...
What ever happened to calls for open government, transparency, accountability and "the public's right to know?"
Given the clout of InterAction's board, I'm pretty confident the Bush administration will cave under pressure--further emboldening America's enemies. To see why, take a look at the list of InterAction board members on their website:
InterAction Board Members
(as of April 2007)
Charlie MacCormack, Chair
Save the Children
Lelei Lelaulu
Counterpart International
Ritu Sharma, Vice Chair
Women's Edge
Jo Luck
Heifer International
Amy Coen, Treasurer
Population Action International
John McCullough
Church World Service
Nancy Aossey
International Medical Corps
Steve Moseley
Academy for Educational Development
Ken Bacon
Refugees International
Dan Pellegrom
Pathfinder International
David Beckmann
Bread for the World
Linda Pfeiffer
INMED
Carol Bellamy
World Learning
Robert Radtke
Episcopal Relief and Development
Sekyu Chang
Korean American Sharing Movement
Yolonda Richardson
CEDPA
Julius Coles
Africare
George Rupp
International Rescue Committee
Helene Gayle
CARE
Zainab Salbi
Women for Women International
Ann Goddard
Christian Children’s Fund
Ron Sconyers
Physicians for Peace
Lee Hamilton
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Richard Stearns
World Vision
Khalil Jassemm
Life for Relief and Development
Kathy Spahn
Helen Keller International
Neal Keny-Guyer
Mercy Corps
Tsehaye Teferra
Ethiopian Community Development Council
Elizabeth Latham
US Committee for UNDP
