GOP's 'abstinence-only' teachings hurting fight against AIDS in Uganda

The issue that I have often praised President Bush for has to do with his pledge to help tackle A.I.D.S. in Africa.  But lately his emphasis has slowly been unraveling.  The effort to help prevent the spread of HIV in Africa is being hijacked by the far-right wing of the GOP.  United Nations envoy Stephen Lewis is warning the Bush Administration that their Evangelical-based abstinence-only education teachings are reducing the quantity of condoms in African countries like Uganda (BBC):

"Over the last eight to 10 months, there's been a verysignificant decline in the use of condoms, significantly orchestratedby the policies of government...At the moment, the government of Uganda appears to beunder the influence of the American policy through the presidentialinitiative of emphasizing abstinence far and away over condoms."

Right now is the moment of truth.  We have made so much progress in the last few years to raise awareness about this devastating plague in Africa.  The Live 8 concert earlier this summer brought the world together around this cause to bring about a much-needed change of direction.  Are we going to let this process unravel due to the ignorant political agenda of those connected to elitist conservatives like Pat Robertson, or can we be a little bit more pragmatic about the root cause of HIV? 

Abstinence is without a doubt the most effective form of birth control.  Condom use is second on the list.  Are we going to let the fringe views of the right-wing prevent us from teaching both?  Condom use not only helps reduce the risk of developing STD's such as HIV, but the widely recognized form of birth control will also stop unwanted pregnancies -- a concern correlating with the very serious issue of overpopulation that has contributed to the decline in economic wealth in the south.