Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2001
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Author: Roger D Long

GIVING AFGHANISTAN AID MAKES NO SENSE

To The Editor:

Last week, the Bush administration announced that the United States is 
giving Afghanistan a gift of $43 million.

The Taliban controls this country. These people enslave their girls and 
women. This government also provides sanctuary to Osma bin Laden, one of 
the world's most dangerous terrorists. The United States government has 
publicly denounced the human rights practices of the Taliban. Our 
government has also publicly denounced Afghanistan for its association with 
Osma bin Laden.

It seems to me that this so-called gift is directly supporting the 
enslavement of females in Afghanistan and terrorism at the same time!

How many homeless people in our own country could we have housed with $43 
million? How many hungry children could we have fed? What about drug 
rehabilitation programs? Assistance for the elderly? The list could go on 
and on.

I am one citizen who supports foreign aid that makes sense. This action by 
the Bush administration simply makes no sense at all.

Roger D. Long
Mountain Home