U.S. Policy in Central America
Another fallout or residue of the Reagan legacy made print on the front page of The Times (“U.S. Seeks to End Contras’ Base in Miami, Rebels Say,” June 8) showing how our past President wasted taxpayer money in pursuit of his “dirty little war in Nicaragua.”
The story reveals how a small group of Contra leaders now refuse to return to their homeland to participate in efforts to ensure democratic elections, preferring, in the words of a Bush Administration official, to live “the easy life in exile” in Miami.
Further in the story it was revealed that since 1982, the CIA has been funding these people to the tune of $500,000 a month. They’ve now been reduced to $200,000 monthly. The Contra military organization also receives $4.5 million a month in non-military aid to maintain an estimated 12,000 troops and their families in Honduras and Costa Rica.
How many homeless Americans would this money house? How many hungry Americans would this money feed? How many elderly Americans would this money comfort?
When will our so-called leaders, both in the executive and legislative branches of government, open their eyes and bring an end to this madness?
I submit, at this point in time, the enemy is not in the Soviet Union or its satellite nations; the real enemy is in Washington, D.C.
BEN URMAN
Van Nuys
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