Merry Christmas from the USA, starving people of the world: Putting Christ in Christmas means yanking aid to the world's hungry, according to the Bush administration. Remember this when Bush prioritizes permanent tax cuts for the rich ahead of doing our part for those suffering in the world:

With the federal budget deficit expanding and President George W. Bush promising to reduce spending, the administration has told representatives of several charities that it is unable to honor some promises...

The cuts to charities, estimated by some charities at up to $100 million, come at a time when the number of hungry in the world is rising for the first time in years and all food programs are being stretched. As a result, Save The Children, Catholic Relief Services and other charities have suspended or eliminated programs that were intended to help the poor feed themselves. The programs helped with food supplies through improvements in farming, education and health.

"We have between five and seven million people who have been affected by these cuts," Lisa Kuennen, a food aid expert at Catholic Relief Services, said. "We had approval for all of these programs, often a year in advance," she added. "We hired staff, signed agreements with governments and with local partners, and now we have had to delay everything."

Kuennen said Catholic Relief Services had to cut back programs in Indonesia, Malawi and Madagascar, among other countries.

Officials of several charities, some Republican members of Congress and some administration officials say the food aid budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 was at least $600 million less than what charities and aid agencies would need to carry out current programs.