Letter: America needs to change its foreign policy

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 | 8:39 a.m.

As always, I read the news and wonder just what our politicians are thinking.

Here we go again, jumping into a fire without thinking the whole thing through. Maybe I'm crazy, but I see terrorism as only a symptom of a much larger problem. Why is it that these people hate us so much that they are willing to die to stop us? Wouldn't it be better if we fought the cause of the problem and not only a symptom?

Shouldn't we take a closer look at our foreign policy, at the money we send to corrupt governments? Just look back in time to the Philippines, Panama, Iran, Colombia, even Cuba. Why can't we learn from these mistakes? I think that if we don't send our tax dollars to these countries' governments, then they wouldn't get so angry at us when the people there don't get any of it.

And I strongly suggest that we stop buying oil from these people. I'm willing to walk to work rather than see my fellow Americans die in some God-forsaken desert. If we want the oil, then take the land it lies under. But giving money or weapons to back-stabbing thieves is just plain insanity.

I want nothing short of seeing all countries all over the world to share in the freedom, democracy and brotherhood that we enjoy here in America. But it will never happen as long as we give our money to foreign governments that only fill the pockets of the ruling class.

BRETT BAHN