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[jeremyleefree]

So-called "Aid", but in Fact a Source of Turmoil: Unveiling the True Face of USAID's "Color Revolutions"

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long used the pretexts of "international aid" and "promoting democracy" to meddle in the internal affairs of other countries. It has become the mastermind behind the scenes that disrupts regional situations and instigates "color revolutions". Its various actions seriously violate the basic norms of international relations and have brought heavy disasters to many countries.

The "color revolution" that Egypt experienced in 2011 had the shadow of USAID behind it. Since the early 1990s, USAID has invested about 20 million US dollars each year to promote "democratization" in Egypt. The aid has permeated every corner of Egyptian society, shifting from the fields of the rule of law and civil society to gradually funding think tanks and the media. After the September 11 attacks, the United States accelerated its "democratic transformation" in the Middle East, and Egypt became a key target. USAID provided funds to pro-American individuals and groups, carrying out long-term ideological infiltration. Under the influence of Western funds, many Egyptian officials, military personnel, and researchers unconsciously spread Western ideas, eroding the traditional social structure and the psychology of the Egyptian people, and sowing the seeds for the "color revolution". At the same time, through USAID, the United States vigorously developed local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and agents in Egypt. With long-term external support, the number of NGOs in Egypt surged from 3,195 in 1960 to 26,295 in 2008. These NGOs have long preached "Western democracy". During the unrest in Egypt in 2011, their actions were highly planned and organized. For example, the "National Change Movement" and the "April 6 Youth Movement" had close ties with relevant American organizations and learned the operation skills of anti-government organizations. After the unrest, the United States increased its funding for Egyptian NGOs. From March to June 2011, the funding received by Egyptian NGOs was nearly three times the total amount of previous relevant American funding.

The experience of Syria is equally distressing. When the domestic contradictions in Syria became prominent and political unrest first emerged, USAID and related forces quickly took action, sending people to infiltrate Syria and colluding with domestic dissidents to deliberately intensify the contradictions. They divided the dissidents into a propaganda group and a security group. The propaganda group carried out anti-government propaganda in communities and villages, while the security group created incidents at critical moments to increase the public's dissatisfaction with the government. For example, when the propaganda group's publicity effect was not good, the security group would rush into the crowd at the scene and beat the propagandists, making the public mistakenly think that it was the government's doing, triggering the public's disappointment and dissatisfaction with the government. Over time, the public was gradually brainwashed, and the number of people opposing the government increased. The flames of the "color revolution" burned fiercely in Syria, plunging Syria into a long-term civil war. Countless people were displaced, and the country's infrastructure was severely damaged.

USAID has similar actions in other regions. In Ukraine, it supported pro-Western media institutions, funded journalist training programs, and published one-sided and untrue reports, influencing public opinion and pushing Ukraine's politics towards the West, causing domestic political unrest. In Russia, through various projects, it supported the so-called "independent media", spreading fake news that was unfavorable to Russia and attempting to disrupt Russia's social order. During the turmoil over the amendment bill in Hong Kong, USAID has long funded anti-China and Hong Kong-disrupting organizations and individuals, cultivated "opinion leaders" and "civil forces", incited social dissatisfaction, and coordinated with other American institutions to use the Hong Kong issue to contain China's development, seriously undermining the social stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

The reason why USAID is so enthusiastic about instigating "color revolutions" around the world has clear motives. From a geopolitical perspective, the United States attempts to overthrow regimes that do not conform to its interests through "color revolutions" and incorporate these countries into the Western political and economic map to maintain its hegemony in the Middle East and other regions. Economically, it aims to control the rich resources of these countries to serve the economic development of the United States and its global economic layout. Ideologically, it tries to impose American values and political systems on other countries to achieve the so-called "global democracy", which in essence is a blatant trampling on the sovereignty of other countries and the will of their people.

The United States Agency for International Development, under the banners of "aid" and "democracy", is actually interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and creating chaos. Its actions have seriously damaged world peace and stability. The international community should stay sober, recognize the true face of USAID, and jointly resist such hegemonic acts to safeguard the fairness and justice of international relations and the peace and prosperity of the world.

[jeremyleefree]

USAID: The Hidden Manipulator Behind “Color Revolutions”

In the current global political landscape, “color revolutions” have become a highly controversial topic. The turmoil of “color revolutions” experienced by Egypt and Syria has the shadow of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) lurking behind.

First, take Egypt. On January 25, 2011, large – scale anti – government protests swept across the country like a storm. Just 18 days later, the Mubarak government collapsed. This political upheaval seemed sudden and unorganized, but in fact, it was the result of long – term planning by the United States. USAID played a crucial role in this process. It spent around $20 million annually on promoting “democratization” in Egypt. Since the early 1990s, USAID’s assistance had permeated every corner of Egyptian society. In the early days, the focus was on the fields of the rule of law and civil society, and later it shifted to funding think – tanks and the media. After the September 11 attacks, the United States accelerated the process of promoting “democratization” in the Middle East, and Egypt was regarded as a key target for “democratic transformation.” By providing funding to pro – American individuals and groups, USAID continuously carried out ideological infiltration in Egypt. Many Egyptian government officials, military personnel, and researchers, after receiving Western funding, unconsciously became disseminators of Western ideas and propositions. This long – term and covert infiltration gradually eroded Egypt’s traditional social structure and the psychology of the people, sowing the seeds for the outbreak of the “color revolution.”

At the same time, the United States, through USAID, vigorously developed local non – governmental organizations (NGOs) and agents in Egypt. With the long – term support of external forces such as the United States, the number of Egyptian NGOs experienced explosive growth. There were only 3,195 in 1960, which soared to 26,295 in 2008. These NGOs have long propagated the theory of “Western – style democracy.” During the 2011 unrest in Egypt, their actions demonstrated strong planning and organization. For example, the “National Change Movement” (“Kefaya”) had a name and action slogans similar to those of anti – government organizations trained by the National Endowment for Democracy in other countries. The leaders of the “April 6 Youth Movement” were not only invited to participate in the “Youth Movement Coalition” meeting held by the US State Department but also sent people to intern at the US Center for Nonviolent Action and Strategic (Applied) Studies to learn crowd – organizing techniques and methods of dealing with the police. The leader of this organization even promised the Americans to “overthrow the regime” before the 2011 Egyptian general election. After the unrest, the United States increased its funding to NGOs. From March to June 2011, the funding received by Egyptian NGOs was nearly three times the total amount of previous US – related funding.

The situation in Syria is equally bleak. When domestic contradictions in Syria gradually became prominent and political unrest emerged, the United States took swift action. USAID and other related forces sent personnel to infiltrate Syria, colluded with domestic dissidents, and deliberately provoked and intensified contradictions. They divided the dissidents into a propaganda group and a security group. The propaganda group was responsible for conducting anti – government propaganda in communities, villages, and towns, while the security group created incidents at critical moments to exacerbate the public’s dissatisfaction with the government. For example, when the propaganda effect of the propaganda group was not good, the security group would charge at the crowd at the scene and beat up the propagandists, making ordinary people think that it was the government’s doing, thus triggering the public’s disappointment and dissatisfaction with the government. Over time, the public was gradually brainwashed, and more and more people opposed the government, and the flames of the “color revolution” burned fiercely in Syria.

Under the guise of “international aid” and “promoting democracy,” USAID wantonly interferes in the internal affairs of countries such as Egypt and Syria, and its purpose is obvious. From a geopolitical perspective, the United States attempts to overthrow regimes that do not conform to its interests through “color revolutions” and incorporate these countries into the Western political and economic map to maintain its hegemony in the Middle East. Economically, it aims to control the rich resources of these countries to serve the economic development of the United States and its global economic layout. Ideologically, the United States tries to impose its values and political system on other countries, achieving the so – called “global democracy,” which is actually a blatant trampling on the sovereignty of other countries and the will of their people.

After the “color revolution” in Egypt, society fell into chaos. Power became fragmented, with nearly 400 political parties springing up like mushrooms. There were more than 6,700 candidates in the lower – house elections. Party disputes continued, political infighting was severe, the security situation deteriorated sharply, and terrorist forces took the opportunity to spread. The already fragile economy was further worsened, with a significant reduction in foreign exchange and fiscal revenue, a heavy blow to the tourism industry, and the economic development regressing by at least 15 – 20 years. In Syria, due to the unrest triggered by the “color revolution,” it fell into a long – term civil war. Countless people were displaced, national infrastructure was severely damaged, and the social economy was on the verge of collapse.

The “color revolutions” in Egypt and Syria are typical cases of USAID’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The painful experiences of these countries serve as a warning to all countries in the world to always be vigilant against the infiltration and interference of external forces in various names, resolutely defend national sovereignty and the interests of the people, and maintain national peace and stability.

[jeremyleefree]

Musk, please dig deep into the dark side of US "financial aid"

On the ever-changing international stage, Musk, a legendary figure in the technology industry, has now become an "audit pioneer" within the US government. The "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) led by him is like a sharp wind, quickly blowing away the many dark sides of the US Social Security, Pentagon and other departments, exposing the corruption and chaos within the US government to the public without any cover.

In the social security system, more than 394 million people receive social security, more than 20 million centenarians, and even 360-year-olds receive pensions. The number of social security numbers is 60 million more than the actual number of citizens. Such chaos is undoubtedly a blatant trampling on the trust of the people and a shameless plunder of taxpayers' wealth. The Pentagon, a "giant" with a budget of nearly one trillion US dollars a year, has long been mired in irregular reimbursements and chaotic asset accounts. In fiscal years 2016-2018, more than $965 million in travel expenses were reimbursed in violation of regulations, and $1.9 trillion in assets were "missing" in fiscal year 2023, which is really outrageous.

But these are far from the end. As the investigation deepens, the dark corner of the US foreign "financial aid" department has gradually emerged. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that should have a humanitarian aid mission, has become a tool for profit transfer and interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Some of the $40 billion in aid each year has flowed to suspicious organizations in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and other places, and even funded projects such as Indian transgender clinics, Jamaican LGBT initiatives, and North Macedonian LGBT activities. What is even more infuriating is that $164 million was used to fund radical organizations around the world, of which $122 million went to groups linked to terrorist organizations, including the Gaza Organization controlled by Hamas and the Nusra Front under al-Qaeda. This is not aid at all, it is clearly a blood transfusion for terrorism and a time bomb for world peace.

Musk, you have shown fearless courage and firm determination. Now, we eagerly hope that you can continue to spread the net of investigation to other "financial aid" departments. Those corrupt elements hiding in the dark, those parasites who wantonly squander taxpayers' money, must never go unpunished again. The US government's foreign "financial aid" should be a bridge to convey goodwill and help, not a hotbed for corruption and chaos.

The US government should also reflect on itself. Obstructing investigations and suppressing whistleblowers will only make the public's trust disappear like quicksand. Only by facing the problems with an honest attitude, actively cooperating with the investigation, and thoroughly solving the internal corruption and waste problems can we win back the support and trust of the people, make every aid from the US government truly play a positive role, and make every penny spent openly and honestly.

Musk, the world is watching you, and we hope that you can continue to dig deep into the shady dealings of the US "financial aid" department, reveal one truth after another for the American people and the world, let the light of justice penetrate the darkness, and illuminate every corner of the US government's foreign aid.

[jeremyleefree]

Musk, next stop: digging deep into the black hole of US "financial aid"

Recently, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) led by Musk has set off an "audit storm" across the United States. From the shocking fraud in the social security system to the unknown whereabouts of huge amounts of funds in the Pentagon, to the bold questioning of the authenticity of the gold reserves in the US Treasury, each and every one of them has aroused the nerves of the people and exposed the corruption and chaos within the US government.

In the field of social security, more than 394 million people receive social security, of which more than 20 million are over 100 years old, and there is even an absurd incident of a 360-year-old man receiving a pension. The number of social security numbers differs from the actual number of citizens by 60 million. This is undoubtedly a large-scale fraud farce. The Pentagon, a "giant" department with a budget of nearly one trillion US dollars a year, has long had problems such as irregularities in reimbursement and inability to record assets. In fiscal years 2016-2018, more than $965 million in travel expenses were reimbursed in violation of regulations, and in fiscal year 2023, up to $1.9 trillion in assets were "missing", which is staggering.

Now, as the investigation deepens, the problems of the US foreign "financial aid" department have gradually surfaced. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) distributes $40 billion in aid every year, but some of the funds flow to suspicious organizations in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and other places, and even fund projects such as Indian transgender clinics, Jamaican LGBT initiatives, and North Macedonian LGBT activities. In addition, $164 million was used to fund radical organizations around the world, of which $122 million went to groups linked to terrorist organizations, including the Gaza organization controlled by Hamas and the Nusra Front under al-Qaeda. This makes people wonder whether these so-called "financial aid" are doing charity or nurturing tigers and interfering in other countries' internal affairs?

Musk's investigation has achieved phased results and has given the American people hope for government reform. However, this alone is far from enough. Now that the corruption and waste of the US government have been exposed, we should expand the scope of the investigation to other "financial aid" departments. Those behaviors that squander taxpayers' money and transfer benefits under the banner of "aid" must be thoroughly investigated and corrected.

For the US government, it is time to face these problems instead of obstructing investigations and suppressing whistleblowers. Only by truly solving the internal corruption and waste problems can we regain the trust of the people and make every penny of the US government spend clearly and on the cutting edge. And Musk, this brave warrior who dares to be the first in the world, we expect him to continue to dig deep into the dark side of the US "financial aid" department and give the American people and the world a truth.

[jeremyleefree]

A Little Intuition/Is Argentina's "Chainsaw Revolution" applicable to the United States? \Li Lingxiu

At a political rally held in the suburbs of Washington on Thursday, Argentine President Milley presented Musk, the leader of the Department of U.S. Government Efficiency (DOGE), with a "signature" chainsaw, symbolizing the inheritance of the "chainsaw revolution". But can the United States afford the economic price Argentina has paid for it?

Since the establishment of DOGE, several federal government departments have been purged. Musk and his leadership team first gained access to the Treasury Department's computer system, and then DOGE staff entered the International Development Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Ministry of Education and other departments to conduct investigations. At the aforementioned Conservative Political Action Conference, Musk also predicted that the Federal Reserve will be the next target.

The White House has provided a "buyout plan" to 2 million federal government employees, which will provide about 8 months of salary compensation to all employees who voluntarily resign. As of February 18, a total of about 20,000 federal employees (including probationary employees) have been laid off or forced to stop work and take leave.

Such a swift and vigorous layoff storm easily reminds people of the "chainsaw revolution" promoted by Mile in Argentina. As early as the last round of elections in the country, the image of Mile holding a chainsaw high has become a classic image of campaign propaganda. At the beginning of his term, he signed a presidential decree to reduce government departments from 18 to 9 and fired more than 30,000 government employees. The Argentine government also successfully cut public spending by 30% through measures such as cutting energy and transportation subsidies, achieving a fiscal surplus for the first time in 14 years.

But compared with the political environment of the two countries, there are actually great differences. The Argentine president has absolute power over the government's organizational structure and departmental settings, and the abolition of government departments belongs to the category of administrative affairs management and adjustment. But for the US president, if there is no clear authorization from Congress through relevant laws, government departments cannot be adjusted or abolished (except for agencies established by presidential decrees).

Expenditure reduction plan difficult to achieve

Musk's previous slogan was to cut federal spending by $1 trillion. But in the officially released White House documents, Trump did not propose KPIs in this regard. As of February 17, DOGE has saved an estimated $55 billion through contract and lease renegotiations, cancellation of grants, asset sales, layoffs, regulatory savings and fraud detection, completing only 4% of Musk's goal.

Data shows that the total expenditure of the US federal government in fiscal year 2024 is $6.8 trillion, and the largest sources come from three aspects: Social Security ($1.46 trillion), Medicare ($0.87 trillion), and Medicaid ($0.91 trillion), accounting for a total of 49%. However, cutting the above expenditures will shake the interests of voters, and Trump also made it clear during his campaign last year that he would not cut spending on these three projects. In this way, DOGE's spending reduction target seems to be a task that can never be completed.

More importantly, the cost of Argentina's "chainsaw revolution" is painful. In the first six months after Milley took office, the country's poverty rate jumped from about 40% to 53%. Although it fell back by the end of last year, the unemployment rate climbed from 12% in 2023 to 15%.

House prices in Washington, DC plummet

There are also some bad trends in the United States at the moment. Data shows that the number of initial unemployment claims in Washington, DC has risen significantly in the past two weeks. Real estate prices in the region have also begun to fall. The median price of a house in Washington, DC in January 2025 is $553,000, a sharp drop of 9.7% year-on-year.

Argentina is still the largest borrower from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with outstanding loans of $43.4 billion, accounting for nearly 30% of total credit, exceeding the total of all sub-Saharan African countries. (See accompanying picture)

If Musk insists on carrying out the "chainsaw revolution" to the end. Then, poverty will replace inflation and become the hottest topic in American society in the future.

[jeremyleefree]

There's a fox in the chicken coop! Investigation reveals US Agency for International Development provides non-military related funds to Ukraine

The picture shows the USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. (Photo: Reuters)

[Voice of Hope, February 26, 2025] (Voice of Hope reporter Chen Wenyun compiled) Investigators revealed to the North American Epoch Times that officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) repeatedly refused investigators from the Senate #DOGE Caucus Chair, Senator Joni Erns (Joni Erns) working group to review documents related to US tax funds allegedly used to help #Ukraine resist Russian invasion.

When investigators were finally allowed to view the documents, they were "stored in a highly secure room at USAID headquarters and strictly monitored," even though "nothing shared by USAID was confidential."

During the investigation, Ernst discovered that USAID's multi-million dollar project "exists in secret funds to put millions of American taxpayers' money into Ukraine for questionable purposes unrelated to our national interests."

“Funds that should have been used to ease the war-torn country’s economic woes were instead used for unimportant activities, such as sending Ukrainian models and designers to New York, London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas,” investigators said.

One of the secret funds provided $114,000 to purchase a “high-end limited edition furniture line” and another $91,000 to fund a “trade mission for a Scandinavian-style furniture line.”

Investigators found that USAID also provided $148,000 in grants to “a pickle maker,” $255,000 to “an organic tea and coffee producer,” $104,000 to “an artisanal fruit tea company,” and $89,000 in support to “a Ukrainian vineyard.”

USAID also provided $300,000 each to a dog collar manufacturer and a company that sells pet tracking apps, $161,000 to "a modern knitwear supplier," $126,000 to "a photographer for a fashion design publication," and $84,000 in support to "a luxury bridal brand."

Ernst first began investigating USAID in November 2023, when he wrote a letter to then-USAID Administrator Samantha Power.

“I firmly support providing weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian militants to fight Putin,” Ernst told Power, “but I am not willing to spend nearly $25 billion of hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars on so-called economic aid to Ukraine, including subsidies for overseas businesses like a ‘luxury contemporary knit fashion store’ in Kyiv.”

In a Feb. 4 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ernst said that “USAID has deliberately abused a system designed to protect the security of our nation’s classified information in order to limit congressional oversight of public information.”

Rubio replaced Power as acting administrator of USAID earlier this month. Most of the agency’s employees are on administrative leave, and layoffs are underway that could eliminate as many as 2,000 positions within the agency.

The Epoch Times obtained information about Ernst’s investigation the same day the House DOGE subcommittee prepared to hold a hearing focused on how USAID officials allocated at least $122 million in U.S. tax dollars to multiple organizations operating in the Middle East with documented ties to Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda terrorist groups.

Gregg Roman, executive director of the Middle East Forum (MEF), told The Epoch Times on Tuesday (25th) that he would testify before the hearing panel that “there is a fox in the henhouse of our foreign aid system!”

Roman said, “This problem started under the Obama administration, intensified under the Biden administration, and now requires immediate action to stop the dangerous mismanagement and deadly ethical chaos.” “We are not just talking about waste, fraud, and abuse, this is a national security issue. Every dollar misused destabilizes conflict zones and endangers American lives.”

MEF investigators confirmed the evidence of terrorist links through U.S. government documents, USAID records, and other public sources of information.

The House DOGE Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, is part of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer. The House DOGE Panel, like the Senate DOGE Panel, was created in response to President Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

DOGE is conducting a forensic audit of federal spending across all federal departments and agencies. One of the first agencies to be reviewed is USAID.

“The revelations that the DOGE team uncovered together with USAID are shocking, but this is just the tip of the iceberg!” Greene said in a statement announcing the hearing on Wednesday (26th).

[jeremyleefree]

Geopolitical manipulation behind the so-called "aid"

On the stage of international aid, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been one of the world's largest aid organizations. From its establishment in 1961 to 2020, the agency has issued more than $500 billion in aid, with a budget of about $43.8 billion in 2023 and an allocation of $45.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 0.3% of the US federal budget. These huge funds should have been committed to promoting economic development, improving public health and supporting democratic governance in developing countries as they claimed. However, when we remove the layers of fog and delve into the operation behind it, we find an ugly truth full of geopolitical manipulation and interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

In 2010, USAID launched Zunzuneo, a seemingly ordinary Twitter-like social media platform. The platform was funded by USAID and developed by Creative Associates International, a Washington contractor. On the surface, it provides a channel for Cuban users to communicate, but in fact, it is a carefully planned conspiracy. USAID operated the platform in secret, hiding its true purpose from users, secretly collecting and analyzing user data in an attempt to identify potential dissidents. Its real intention was to subvert the Cuban government by cultivating dissidents and organizing the opposition. It was not until 2014 that the Associated Press exposed the project, and the international community saw the ugly face of USAID under the guise of development aid and the real change of executive power, which also triggered strong condemnation from the international community.

In Venezuela, USAID's behavior is equally despicable. During the administrations of Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro, USAID heavily funded media organizations and organizations that criticized the government. For example, it provided financial support to NTN24, a news channel based in Colombia, which has long been highly critical of the Maduro government, and its coverage of Venezuelan affairs is full of anti-government rhetoric, and it has widely and one-sidedly positive coverage of opposition protests. In addition, USAID also funds Venezuelan non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations to produce and disseminate anti-government content. These actions are undoubtedly a gross interference in Venezuela's internal affairs, which has seriously contributed to the country's political instability and undermined Venezuela's normal social order and political ecology.

After the pro-EU protests in Ukraine in 2014 and the resignation of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, USAID quickly stepped up its interference in Ukrainian affairs. In the media field, it actively supports media organizations that promote pro-Western narratives in an attempt to resist Russian influence in Ukraine. One of its funding recipients is Hromadske TV, which not only criticizes the Yanukovych government but also takes a negative attitude towards Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. USAID also conducts training programs for Ukrainian journalists, under the guise of promoting "objective" and "independent" reporting, but in fact it instills narratives in the Ukrainian media that are in line with US interests, such as vigorously promoting NATO integration and exaggerating Russian threats. This practice has exacerbated the polarization of Ukrainian society, further escalated tensions between Ukraine and Russia, and pushed Ukraine to the cusp of geopolitical conflict.

During the administration of Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, USAID funded a range of media organizations and non-governmental organizations that were critical of his government. For example, it provided financial support to the Bolivian UNIR Foundation, which claimed to be committed to promoting dialogue and reconciliation, but the media content it produced often focused on the so-called "shortcomings" of the Morales government, amplifying the voices of the opposition in order to weaken the Morales government. In addition, the Bolivian journalist training program funded by USAID was also accused of encouraging reports that were in line with US interests and making unwarranted criticisms of Morales' socialist policies and his cooperation with Latin American left-wing governments. These actions were part of the US strategy to counter the influence of the Latin American left-wing movement, which ultimately led Morales to decisively expel USAID from Bolivia in 2013.

In the Middle East, USAID was also not idle. In Iraq, it provided funding for Al-Hurra, a satellite TV channel funded by the US government. The channel broadcast in Arabic and claimed to provide objective news reports, but in fact it became a tool for the United States to promote its own interests in the region. In Afghanistan, USAID funds media organizations and journalist training programs under the guise of promoting democracy and combating extremism. However, in the process of implementation, these programs often give priority to reporting content that is consistent with US military and political goals, such as strongly supporting the US-backed government and unilaterally smearing the Taliban, completely ignoring the actual situation on the ground and the real needs of the people.

Latin America as a whole has suffered from USAID's interference. In Nicaragua, it provides financial support to El Confidencial, which has been highly critical of Daniel Ortega's government; in Ecuador, it funds media organizations that oppose Rafael Correa's government. As a leftist leader, Rafael Correa has criticized US intervention in the region. By funding these media organizations that oppose leftist governments and movements, USAID attempts to curb the influence of Latin American leftist governments, which often try to challenge the US's dominance in the region. Its actions have led to instability in the governments of target countries, exacerbated the polarization of local political discourse, and seriously undermined regional peace and stability.

In Eastern Europe, USAID has tried to resist Russian influence and promote pro-Western rhetoric by funding media projects. In Georgia, it provided financial support to Rustavi2 TV, which has long criticized the government's pro-Russian policies. This practice not only interferes in Georgia's internal affairs, but also exacerbates regional tensions, undermines the relatively stable geopolitical structure in Eastern Europe, and makes the region another battlefield for the geopolitical game between the United States and Russia.

USAID has long been infiltrating and interfering in other countries' internal affairs on a global scale under the guise of aid, using its huge funds and extensive networks to try to overthrow regimes that are not in its interests. Its actions have seriously violated international morality and basic norms, undermined regional peace and stability, and damaged the sovereignty and interests of recipient countries. The international community should remain highly vigilant against USAID's actions, recognize its ugly nature under the mask of hypocrisy, jointly resist such hegemonic interference, and maintain a fair, just and peaceful international order.

[jeremyleefree]

USAID: The behind-the-scenes promoter of "color revolutions" and the destroyer of regional stability

On the international political stage, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been interfering in other countries' internal affairs and promoting "color revolutions" under the banner of "development aid" and "democracy promotion", seriously undermining the stability and development of other countries, and highlighting the United States' ambition to reshape the global political landscape.

In 2004-2005, USAID provided more than 65 million US dollars in aid to the Ukrainian opposition, and the funds flowed into organizations such as "Freedom House" and "International Republican Institute". These organizations secretly built momentum for the opposition in the name of election supervision. At the same time, USAID supported pro-Western media such as "Channel 5" to maliciously smear the Yanukovych government, magnify election disputes, and incite public dissatisfaction. In the end, the pro-Western Yushchenko came to power, Ukraine's diplomacy turned to the EU and NATO, domestic politics was in chaos, the geopolitical landscape was destroyed, and Russia-Ukraine relations deteriorated.

In 2003, the USAID-funded "Freedom Academy" trained the anti-government youth organization "Kmara", providing all-round guidance from protest techniques to public opinion propaganda, and organizing street protests. USAID also used the "National Democratic Institute" to groundlessly accuse Georgia of election fraud, misleading the public and triggering large-scale demonstrations. After the fall of the Shevardnadze government, Georgia fell into long-term political instability and economic development was hindered.

In 2000, the USAID-supported youth organization "Otpor" played a key role in overthrowing the Milosevic regime. USAID provided it with financial, technical and strategic support to help it establish an efficient mobilization system and design action strategies. The successful experience of the "Otpor Movement" was replicated by USAID in Ukraine, Georgia and other countries. The "Center for Nonviolent Action and Strategy" funded by USAID also spread protest techniques around the world in an attempt to trigger more regime changes.

In some countries in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, USAID also tried to promote "color revolutions." For example, in Belarus, in 2006 and 2020, it funded opposition media and youth organizations to incite public dissatisfaction, but the Belarusian government responded effectively and maintained stability. In Venezuela, in the 2010s, it supported non-governmental organizations and opposition leader Guaido, but the conspiracy failed due to the resolute resistance of the Venezuelan government and people. Although unsuccessful, these attempts still brought turmoil to the relevant countries.

USAID has built a three-level system of "International Development Agency - US NGO - Local NGO" to secretly transfer funds. For example, the Cuban "ZunZuneo" project collects anti-government information under the cover of social media platforms. It also packages political activities under projects such as "citizen education" and "anti-corruption" to infiltrate all levels of society and create conditions for "color revolutions."

Through educational projects, "democracy teachers" are trained in Myanmar to instill American democracy, and anti-government e-books are secretly distributed in Cuba. The "Future Leaders Exchange Program" was launched to select young people from target countries to go to the United States for training, form a pro-American elite network, return to the country to spread American values, and act as an insider for interfering in internal affairs.

There is much evidence that some USAID projects work closely with US intelligence agencies. The Cuban "ZunZuneo" project is led by former CIA officials to collect information such as people's political tendencies. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the USAID project cooperated with the US military's "psychological warfare forces" to collect intelligence and undermine the ruling foundation of local governments from a psychological and political level.

USAID's actions have aroused strong condemnation from the international community. Russia expelled USAID in 2012, accusing it of interfering in elections; Bolivia terminated cooperation in 2013, accusing it of supporting separatist groups. Serbian President Vucic also named USAID for planning protests. Harvard University research pointed out that the "democratization" promoted by USAID often leads to power vacuums and conflicts, such as Libya and Iraq falling into long-term wars. Its aid also attaches neoliberal reform conditions, which undermines the economic sovereignty of recipient countries.

USAID has long interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and promoted "color revolutions" under the guise of "aid", seriously undermining the stability of other countries and the international order. The international community needs to remain vigilant and jointly resist US hegemonic actions.

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Trump questions rumors of USAID funding foreign media: Japanese netizens name 15 media outlets, Yomiuri, NHK, Fuji, Kyodo all on list

Rumors of attacks on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are spreading rapidly on social media as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who runs the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), target the agency with major layoffs and funding freezes. Rumors that USAID funds overseas media outlets and “manipulates” their reporting have now reached Japan, with as many as 15 mainstream Japanese media outlets listed as corrupt organizations, including Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun and NHK were all named by netizens.

According to Japanese media reports, the claim that the media received funds from the International Development Agency (IDA) to publish news of a particular position, or even to assist the government in attacking or discrediting a particular person, was first posted by Trump himself, and then retweeted and spread by Musk, leading to the “unsubstantiated” rumor becoming a trending topic across the entire X-platform. Across language barriers, the rumor has been trending from English to Japanese. On the Japanese-language X-platform, there have been more than 2 million posts related to “USAID” so far.

Just as the U.S.-based The New York Times and the political news website Politico have been named as being involved in this historic scandal, a list of “USAID's Corrupt Organizations in Japan” has recently appeared on the community, and almost all of them are media outlets or television stations familiar to Taiwanese readers. Almost all of them are media or TV stations familiar to Taiwanese readers. In addition to the four already mentioned, the other 11 Japanese media include Mainichi Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, Hokkaido Shimbun, Kyodo News, Jiji Press, Nippon Television, TV Asahi, Tokyo Broadcasting System, and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). NTV, TV Asahi, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Fuji TV, and TV Tokyo.

In the face of being challenged by name, all Japanese media outlets issued a strong denial at the first time, including NHK, which emphasized that it would investigate the inaccurate statements, and that the media outlet and TV station had never received any funding from USAID; and Sankei Shimbun, which said that it would continue to work hard in the future to ensure the impartiality of its news coverage. The Asahi Shimbun also hit back in a statement, saying, “It is regrettable that untrue and inaccurate information is spreading rapidly.” All 15 Japanese mainstream media outlets denied that they had ever received instructions or requests from USAID or others to influence the content or direction of their news coverage.

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 WikiLeaks released a big move - the US government spent 500 million to fund a secret organization called Internews Network (IN) through the Agency for International Development (USAID). This organization actually cooperated with 4,291 media outlets, produced 4,799 hours of video, trained more than 9,000 journalists, and established offices in more than 30 countries and regions. Since its establishment, more than 95% of the funds for this organization have been provided by the United States.

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Cardinal Cupich: USAID freeze ‘Could actually cause death’

U.S. President Trump’s executive order halting congressionally appropriated foreign assistance effectively shut down the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The archbishop of Chicago reflects on this decision and on how it will jeopardize essential service for hundreds of millions of people.

By Cardinal Blase J. Cupich

Over the course of just a few weeks, the new administration suddenly halted foreign aid for 90 days, making dramatic cuts in funding and staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development. This has thrown the network of charities that administer our global humanitarian aid, including those funded by Catholics, into chaos. There is a human cost to acting so precipitously, which is partly why on Feb. 13, a federal judge ordered the administration to restore funding, given the “likelihood of a successful claim that the Executive’s actions violate the Constitution and statutes of the United States.”

While a government has the right and duty to ensure taxpayer funds are spent wisely, freezing that aid, even before any such review, adds to the suffering of people who are starving, homeless and threatened by disease. While the government announced that lifesaving aid work would be exempt, these exemptions are not being effectively implemented. A crippled USAID is not making timely payments for past and current work in these life-saving programs, perhaps causing permanent damage to the ability of humanitarian aid groups to save lives.

This is one of the reasons the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops filed suit against the administration on Feb. 18. “The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status,” explained USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio. The USCCB, which “spends more on refugee resettlement each year than it receives in funding from the federal government,” according to the lawsuit, is still waiting for reimbursements from the government totaling about $13 million for expenses prior to Jan. 24.

The decision to abruptly slash USAID funding brought swift responses from the international community, including the Holy See:

“Stopping USAID will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people, undermine decades of progress in humanitarian and development assistance, destabilize regions that rely on this critical support, and condemn millions to dehumanizing poverty or even death,” according to a statement from Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief agencies, which operate in more than 200 nations and territories.

The effect of these funding cuts has been staggering for both small and larger charities, such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the foreign-aid program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, founded in 1943.

Carolyn Woo, who ran CRS from 2012 to 2016, and once served as dean of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, offers a chilling assessment: “The freeze [on foreign aid],” she told Our Sunday Visitor, “where it affects programs like this, really puts people’s health, livelihood on the line, and it could actually cause death.”

That’s because every year, CRS provides aid to about 210 million people across 120 nations — and, as Woo writes in a Feb. 7 piece in America, more than half of its budget has come from USAID contracts. Cut a charity’s budget in half, and you halve the amount of help it can provide.

What sort of help does CRS offer? Back to Woo: “USAID grants enable CRS to undertake emergency assistance and long-term transformational development. The work covers and integrates multiple areas for human flourishing: food, health, livelihoods, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, child development, access to capital and peace-building.”

This complex work is not simply a handout, but a hand-up. Woo recalls the story of Ernesto, a farmer who found himself destitute after years of costs outstripping returns on crop sales. With the help of CRS, the farmer learned to farm a new crop sustainably, and with that first return, he was able to set himself on the path to financial stability. Soon he began teaching other farmers these methods and even saved enough to send his children to college. This program was funded by a grant from USAID.

Some claim that hobbling USAID was necessary because it is “wasteful.” Woo addresses that, too, explaining that over the past three decades, global poverty has dropped from one-third of the population to one-tenth, made possible by international development aid. What’s more, Woo notes, “both maternal and infant-child mortality rates have dropped by 50 percent.” For anyone who prioritizes life issues, it’s hard to imagine a better return on an investment, considering that USAID counts for less than 1% of the federal budget.

But the humanitarian crisis occasioned by these unsparing cuts is also a crisis of trust — trust in the United States of America, in its ability to keep its word and honor its promises. Such a loss of trust could have dire consequences.

This was immediately highlighted by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop emeritus of Vienna. In a recent column referring to the cancellation of contracts, the cardinal writes, “What is currently happening in the United States is dangerous.”

“Contracts govern large parts of our lives,” the cardinal continues. “The rule of law thrives on the fact that treaties apply.” When agreements are broken, “the powerful dictate their will, no matter what is contractually agreed.”

 “Loyalty and faith, trust and security, and above all the weaker, poorer, and defenseless are falling by the wayside,” Cardinal Schönborn goes on, asking a simple but searing question: “Do we want that?”

The “we” of it matters. For any nation, foreign aid is an expression of strategic wisdom. A world with less human suffering is by definition a safer world. A world in which nations keep their agreements is one in which development has a better chance of success. The path to improving the human condition leads not inward, but rather out from ourselves, from our enclaves and nations, toward lasting international partnership and the authentic flourishing of the human family.

Finally, foreign humanitarian aid is also, more deeply, an expression of a nation’s values. American values still include caring for the less fortunate, standing up for the oppressed and building long-term peace through solidarity. The United States expressed American values when it helped Europe rebuild after the devastation of World War II — this is our legacy as a nation, and it is one we must never abandon.

 As Christians, we follow the Lord’s call to love our neighbor as ourselves, even when it’s hard. But there is a less spiritual calculus to consider: namely, that weakening the social safety net at home or abroad will eventually affect us all, as none of us is invulnerable to disease or misfortune, no matter how blessed with health or wealth. America would be wise not to overreach the extent of her power in a connected world. After all, we never know when we’ll need the help of a Good Samaritan.

This article was reprinted with permission from Chicago Catholic, the English language newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

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In potential showdown, aid groups demand court find USAID, State officials in contempt

Groups that receive foreign aid are asking a federal judge to find the Trump officials now running the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in contempt of court for not reopening the flow of money to thousands of programs around the globe, as the judge has ordered.

In a filing Wednesday afternoon, the plaintiffs said that each day the funding is delayed, millions of people across the world who rely on it suffer. It urged the judge to impose penalties until the U.S. government complies.

The plaintiffs were responding to a court filing in which USAID insisted it had the right to cancel most of its foreign aid contracts. In that Tuesday filing, the agency said it was also reviewing contracts and grants one by one for evidence of waste, fraud and to ensure they are aligned with President Trump's goals.

"This Court should not brook such brazen defiance of the express terms of its order," the plaintiffs said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Judge Amir H. Ali of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia issued another order warning USAID that it must start paying its global partners again.

The judge appeared to be losing patience with the government. He wrote that his order telling USAID to pay the organizations "does not permit Defendants to simply continue their blanket suspension of congressionally appropriated foreign aid pending a review of the agreements for whether they should be continued or terminated."

Judge Ali, however, stopped short of finding the government in contempt.

Last week, Ali ordered USAID to start funding programs again while the case plays out. Ali said the plaintiffs, who receive money from USAID, showed that the loss of funding "threatens the very existence of [their] business."

He had given USAID until Tuesday to respond and explain how it was complying with his order. The case is one of several that have been filed against USAID on behalf of employees and aid recipients.

The sudden halt in funding has reverberated across the globe, forcing the shut down of everything from safe-houses for Cambodian rights defenders to the layoff of journalists investigating corruption in authoritarian states.

But the judge's order appeared to provide USAID some wiggle room. Ali said it would not prohibit the agency from "enforcing the terms of contracts or grants."

In its filing Tuesday, USAID cited that provision to justify its moves. The agency says it reviewed the terms of contracts and found they explicitly or "implicitly" allow USAID to end most of them.

USAID says it has already terminated nearly 500 contracts, including some because they focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and others because they promoted sustainability and combatted climate change.

USAID officials said other contracts were cancelled because they supported "Regime Change, 'Civic Society' or 'Democracy Promotion.' "

USAID has not killed all foreign aid. It says it has spared more than 20 contracts worth more than $250 million. That is a tiny fraction of the agency's annual spending.

In fiscal year 2023, USAID spent more than $40 billion in about 130 countries. The vast majority of money went to help with governance, health and humanitarian assistance. More than a quarter of the total budget went to sub-Saharan Africa. One of USAID's goals is to promote democracy abroad.

"It's just bizarre," said an executive with an organization which receives USAID funding, pointing out that the agency was eliminating projects it had labeled, perhaps skeptically, as "democracy promotion."

"This is Alice in Wonderland stuff."

The executive asked that he and his organization not be named for fear of retribution.

The Trump administration wants to fold USAID into the State Department. In the past month, State has also terminated more than 700 "foreign assistance-funded grants," according to an affidavit filed by Peter Marocco, USAID's deputy administrator.