Forgive Them Their Debts

President Clinton, who is travelling through South Asia this week, announced yesterday that the U.S. will spend $50 million over four years to promote clean-energy projects in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. He also announced a debt-for-nature swap with Bangladesh under which the U.S. will forgive $6 million in debt in exchange for Bangladesh protecting tropical forestland that provides habitat for Bengal tigers and a host of other species. One of Clinton's main goals for his trip is to persuade India and Pakistan to scale back their nuclear weapons programs and sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.