Gorbachev may have decided that no economic reform is possible without massive Western assistance.

Still, critics have urged that Western assistance be suspended and some form of economic sanctions imposed.

Here is where Western assistance can be most useful.

Kenya must at least take notice of international pressure because it needs Western assistance and international investment.

Ukraine is eager for Western assistance, though, to clean up the site.

Traditional "strong man" rulers must give way to "strong institutions" if they are to benefit from future Western assistance, he said.

Closing this gap has been a crucial objective of Western assistance.

Unless the Western assistance is carefully targeted, it could solidify the power of these bureaucrats.

Western assistance is designed to support fundamental political and economic reform.

Western assistance, he said, "has to be accompanied by a vigorous reform program."