Tony Blair, UK British prime minister, in the well-established tradition of hosts shaping the Group of Eight G-8 agenda, has determined that Africa and global climate change will be constitute the focus of this year’s gathering. To be sure, These are both significant topics, worth the time of the heads of four European governments and Russia, Japan, Canada and the United States. US. Still, this year’s G8 cannot limit what it does to these two areas, given all else that calls out for urgent attention.

The emphasis on Africa is well and easily justified. Humanitarian, economic and strategic arguments combine to make a strong case for G8 members providing greater assistance to promote development, to combat HIV/Aids and other infectious diseases and to deal with security challenges. Two caveats are worth highlighting, however.