U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged millions for Aushwitz, however the story played differently around the world. Notice the difference between these two headlines:
1. Clinton announces U.S. pledge of $15M for Auschwitz preservation (The Hill)
2. Clinton: U.S. to contribute $150 million to Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation (Haaretz)
The discrepancy is $135 million. Haaretz made an error in their title. The body of their piece states $15 million. Given that most people read the headline and move on, what does this "error" imply?
Here's my guess. The U.S. government is making a definitive statement about the Holocaust, intending to thumb its deniers and curry favor among Israel supporters. While this could be a reasonable aim, American citizens may not appreciate our generosity in difficult economic times.
This $15 million foundation grant comes atop a $50 million gift to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek. Hillary Clinton promised change in America's foreign aid. It's working.
