The American Spectator

AND NOW LET US LOOK for an American connection in Bush’s proposed visit.

The White House has set aside July 7 to July 15 for the president’s trip. This would allow him to address the Leon H. Sullivan Summit, just as he did when the Summit, once called the African-African American Summit, met in Washington last year. This year it will meet in Abuja, beginning on July 14. If you want to attend it will cost between $3,500 and $7,000, depending on how you fly.

At the Washington meeting Bush blessed with his presence last year, Obasanjo received a Sullivan award for his political leadership. David J. O’Reilly, the chairman of ChevronTexaco, received a Sullivan award for his corporate leadership. Andrew Young, once the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and later the mayor of Atlanta, was, and still is, chairman of the Summit. Jack Kemp — yes, that Jack Kemp — was vice chairman.

Young is close to Obasanjo, and he has business interests in Nigeria. At the same time, even though he keeps his headquarters in Atlanta and not in Washington, he is also a registered lobbyist for Nigeria, reportedly at $1 million a year. In addition, Young is on the ChevronTexaco payroll, and while Mr. O’Reilly is no doubt terribly distinguished, we may assume that helped him get the award.

Anyway that’s the way it goes with the American connection, and there’s really nothing personal about it; it’s just business. Meanwhile the White House will neither confirm nor deny that Bush intends to visit Nigeria, much less turn up again at the Summit, but it is devoutly to be hoped he does neither.