New Prime Minister Gordon Brown of England urged the world to focus on dealing with issues of poverty, ill health and education because there was increasing evidence of an emerging world crisis. The goal of halving infant mortality by 2015 which was set several years ago will not be achieved until about 2050. Thousands of children die each day due to hunger, inability to obtain proper nutrition or war and violence.

Brown is setting an example for other leaders. Just imagine if we ceased fighting in Iraq and used the $120 billion we could save in a war against poverty! Of course, one can never elicit patriotic fervor to serve in an army fighting against poverty, it makes more sense getting people excited to fight in wars where they can get killed.