Senegal's Statue

For Senegal: U.S. aid, 164-ft. statue

“ In April, the president of the poverty-stricken nation of Senegal  unveiled what he boasts is the world's "highest statue" — a $24 (to $70)  million bronze artwork called "African Renaissance" that measures slightly taller than the Statue of Liberty. Next month, a U.S. government aid agency is scheduled to begin delivery of $540 million in taxpayer money under a program that rewards developing countries with emerging democracies and a track record of good governance. ”

Actual statue may differ The money is being paid through a Bad George Bush initiative in 2004, the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), that Obama is seeking to increase (natch).  Good governance?  Senegal is an utterly corrupt "country coming off its rails." Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade just gave a $200,000 farewell gift to an International Monetary Fund representative, "in recognition to his contribution to Senegal."  Not only that, the statue was built by North Korea, and is not even the world's largest statue (China's Spring Temple Buddha, which stands almost 420 feet).   That statue, as modified, could easily replace the Statue of Liberty.