by George W. Bush

About the author: The following viewpoint is excerpted from a speech President George W. Bush gave at the United Nations Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2002.

We meet at a moment of new hope and age-old struggle, the battle against world poverty. I’m honored to be with so many distinguished leaders who are committed to this cause. I’m here today to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to bring hope and opportunity to the world’s poorest people, and to call for a new compact for development defined by greater accountability for rich and poor nations, alike.

Iwant to thank Vicente Fox, [the president of Mexico], and the people of Monterrey for such grand...