As if you needed another reason to love The Onion

The Center for Global Development posted an article from The Onion last month which looked at President Bush's request for PEPFAR's budget to be raised to $30 billion when it comes up for reauthorization. The Onion envisioned the following breakdown of the funds:

•$10 billion – Programs to get people off AIDS and back to work

•$30 million – Equipping future Black Hawks with crates of pamphlets and condoms, so next time won't be a total loss

•$1.5 billion – Installing particularly vicious anti-AIDS dictator in Uganda

•$17 million – Global campaign to promote dry humping

•$1,137.62 – AIDS-vaccine research

•$8.2 billion – Guns to shoot AIDS with

•$15 billion – Faith-based initiatives

•$.41 – Strongly worded letter to AIDS

•$14.80 – Nameplate for AIDS czar

According to the CGD, The Onion actually overestimated how much of PEPFAR's budget would be going to AIDS vaccine research by $1,137.62. That's right: zero dollars going towards AIDS vaccine research. Furthermore they note that "a recent recommendation from the outgoing Director of Foreign Assistance would reportedly cut USAID support for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative entirely - down from $29m in FY07 - as well as for many other critical research efforts to develop vaccines, drugs and microbicides for developing country diseases."

Looks like "The Onion" has taken on a double meaning here because I want to laugh and cry at the same time...

Link: USG Funding for AIDS Research is No Laughing Matter [CGD]