U.S. Refuses Aid to Nicaragua

I am outraged after reading that the U.S. government will not provide the usual military transportation to fly private disaster relief materials to the country of Nicaragua (“U.S. Accused of Impeding Relief Effort for Nicaragua,” Part I, Oct. 29). Thus forcing private groups to spend $40,000 to charter a private airplane--money that could better be used to buy additional supplies. In addition, the Reagan Administration is refusing to allow the shipment of small portable power units and other equipment needed for the reconstruction of housing destroyed by Hurricane Joan because these could be used in military activities.

I have some questions for President Reagan.

Have you no sympathy for the poor, the hungry and the homeless? Are you so blinded that you will sacrifice these people on the altar of an ideology and deny people their basic creature comforts of shelter, food and clothing because you don’t trust the government of Nicaragua to use the help properly? President Reagan, do you want to be remembered as the President who would use any means to destroy a small country against the overwhelming wishes of the American people?

CARLYLE SMITH

Sun Valley