The integration of international communications and trade, the growing peril of global terrorism, the rise of HIV/AIDS, growing poverty in developing countries, crime transnational and nuclear weapons – are all characteristics of a perspective of change and adjustment of the 21st century has germinated. Given the many threats to national security since the Cold War and particularly after the terrorism of September 11, Americans now understand that the security of their homeland depends greatly on civilization, freedom and development beyond of other nations. Since Congress passed the Marshall Plan in 1948 and the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961, the United States has been known around the world for its significant contributions abroad. However, this reputation is inevitably called into question. What has the United States really accomplished? Or was this effort just a counterfeit, golden mask? According to the CIA's 2009 World Factbook, the United States has been ranked first in gross domestic product (GDP - a basic measure of a country's overall economic output) 59 times in a row since then. 1950. Being the richest and strongest part of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and even having helped create the United Nations over 60 years ago, our actions can be felt around the world - from blatantly and magnificently. Yet we give the most which is the least. There is no doubt that we have always given third world countries the highest amount compared to all other first world countries. In fiscal year 2008, the U.S. government provided more than $25 billion in aid, more than double that of Germany and Britain (Figure 1). Ironically, the percentage of gross national income (GNI) we granted was the lowest (Figure 2). Forty years ago, along with other rich countries, the Americans......in the middle of the newspaper......nia News. Online. May 9, 1995. Google. January 25, 2010. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/usaid_frnAid.html Becker, Elizabeth. "Groups commit to accountability for tsunami aid." New York Times. February 25, 2005: A5.Heath, Dan and Chip Heath. “Is America Spending Too Much on Foreign Aid?” Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. New York: Random House Inc. 2007. 77-79. Lancaster, Carol. “The Phenomenon of Foreign Aid.” Transforming Foreign Aid: U.S. Aid in the 21st Century. Washington DC: Institute for International Economics. February 1, 2000. 9-13. Slavin, Barbara. “A relief role could bring the United States closer to Iran. » Los Angeles Times. December 31, 2003: A3. “United States Foreign Assistance Programs: 1980 to 2007.” Chart. Online. September 30, 2007. Google. January 25, 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s1262.pdf