Letter: Solve problems at home first

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 | 9:02 a.m.

I am among many Americans concerned about the money President Bush has requested and has had approved by Congress to fund rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan. In all the wars and peacetime military actions of the U.S., only Finland has ever repaid money borrowed from us.

At this time we have thousands of southern California residents without homes due to the terrible wildfires. If Washington has all this extra money (ours, the taxpayers) to hand out every time there is a disaster somewhere in the world, then that money should be used right here in the United States before sending it elsewhere. Can you tell us which one of our allies is going to send money to help these Californians?

I read the Nov. 1 Las Vegas Sun article about the 12 million American families this past year who worried that they couldn't afford to buy food. The article said 32 percent of them (3.8 million people) actually experienced going hungry. Isn't it amazing that the United States can be the world's policeman and that we have money to give anyone outside our borders, but we can't take care of our own? God Bless America.

Although a registered Democrat, I voted for President Bush and I agreed with his decision to go to Afghanistan and Iraq, but I do not agree with the way he is now handling the issue. As a Vietnam veteran, I can see the writing on the wall. Our hands were tied in Vietnam -- Washington would not let the military handle it. The same thing is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. Don't be surprised if the U.S. winds up with another Vietnam.

EUGENE EICHELBERGER