There can be no defence and justification for the plight of millions of our fellow human beings in Africa today.” That ringing summons was issued by Britain’s PM, Tony Blair, earlier this year, when he presented the findings and lucid recommendations of his Commission for Africa. Later this week, we will see whether President Bush has the vision to meet those challenges, and grasp a historic opportunity to improve the life prospects of millions of those fellow human beings. A mutually reinforcing set of possibilities is converging around this week’s summit meeting of the world’s richest countries in Scotland. Africa is not looking for handouts. It is looking for help in nurturing the human capital, physical infrastructure and governmental capacities that are indispensable to modern development. But so far there has been a discouraging gap between Bush’s generous declarations and the money Washington has actually made available to Africa. Africa comes to this week’s summit proclaiming its commitment to be a responsible and constructive partner in its own development. Nurturing these positive trends and providing hope for Africa’s millions, is, as Blair unflinchingly put it, “the fundamental moral challenge of our generation.” We beseech Bush to embrace that challenge on behalf of the American people. — The New York Times