Is poverty inevitable in the Third World?

Since World War II, the developed nations, led by the United States, have spent about $1 trillion to address global poverty, yet today nearly half of the people live on less than $2 a day, according to the New York Times. And that prompts the question we posed in the headline: Is poverty inevitable in the Third World?
It shouldn't be, but it certainly seems that way, given the reality of the underdeveloped nations. No one is suggesting that America and its allies walk away from the problem, but President Bush is quite right when he contends that accountability must become more than just a buzz word spoken around the halls of the United Nations.
World leaders are gathering this week in Monterrey, Mexico, to talk about the ever-growing problem of poverty, but nothing will be accomplished unless there is recognition that the campaign to feed, clothe, cure and educate the poor has been a failure. It is not heartless to question where the money has gone. It is not irresponsible to wonder whether corrupt leaders in many of the world's poorest countries have enriched themselves at the expense of their own people.
Evaluation: And it certainly isn't arrogant of the president of the United States to suggest that before the amount of aid going to fight poverty is increased, there should be an evaluation of what has transpired to undermine the efforts of well-meaning people.
We are aware that poor countries are the breeding grounds of terrorism and that murderous thugs like Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al-Qaida terrorist network, prey on those whose lives have little meaning or hope. But throwing more and more money at the problem, as some of our European allies are willing to do, won't negate the central fact in this sad tale: things are getting worse, not better for the have-nots.
What should be done? As a first step, there should be a country-by-country analysis of the money spent on the war on poverty so the world community has a clear picture of the successes and failures.
Americans are a generous people, but they also need to be reassured that their money isn't being squandered. That is the challenge confronting this week's world conference on poverty.