U2 lead singer Bono appealed today for $1 billion from America for the global fight against AIDS.
The U2 frontman pointed to the $87 billion dollars (€48.1 billion) President George Bush is seeking for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and asked: "How about $1 billion dollars extra for an entire continent?"
Speaking as he embarked on a week of campaigning in Washington, Dublin-born Bono said it was "much cheaper" to deal with the AIDS epidemic quickly.
"People will die in their tens of thousands for lack of $1 billion dollars," he said in an interview with the USA Todaynewspaper.
He said if the United States could boost its image around the world, championing the cause of issues such as AIDS, it could help "shut off" the "oxygen" that feeds anti-American terrorist groups.
Although he has so far struggled to secure cash for his anti-AIDS crusade, Bono is optimistic: "I actually do think we're going to sort this out this week," he said.
PA