Foreign Aid Essential to War on Terrorism

Re “Unlikely Note Is Struck on World Financial Stage,” Feb. 3: At the World Economic Forum Bill Gates, U2’s Bono and others urged Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill to push for a substantial increase in U.S. foreign aid. O’Neill responded that we have “precious little to show” for past aid programs.

O’Neill is correct that there have been abuses and that the U.S. should not throw money down a rat hole. However, food, medicine, economic infrastructure and democratic reforms are as essential to winning the terrorism war as apprehending terrorists and preventing future terrorist acts by Bin Laden and his cohorts. Polls taken prior to Sept. 11 show most Americans favor a substantial increase in foreign aid.

We could keep nonperformance to an acceptably low level. O’Neill could prepare a new foreign aid program featuring contracts calling for reviewable performance by donor and recipient.

Donald E. Mueller

Huntington Beach

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Gates, Bono and O’Neill make an interesting trio. Let’s hope that not only billionaires and rock stars are concerned about what is arguably the most important long-term strategic and humanitarian problem facing the world. This is typified by the 10 million children under 5 years old dying each year from largely preventable hunger and disease, and by the 17,000 of all ages dying each day from tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria.

For less than an additional dime a day from each person in the industrialized countries, many additional millions of lives could be saved each year. Let’s further hope that such millions will not die just because our otherwise seemingly knowledgeable Treasury secretary hasn’t done his homework.

Troy Miller

Huntington Beach

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This tapped-out taxpayer is sick of calls from billionaire Gates and mega-millionaire Bono for increases in U.S. foreign aid. Who do these well-heeled, holier-than-thou nags think ultimately ends up footing the bill for debt forgiveness plans and “welfare for the world” giveaways? Every middle-class, wage-slave working stiff who thinks America already throws away too much money on other countries, that’s who.

Whether here or abroad, charity should be a matter of one’s personal conscience, not a public concern. Gates, Bono and other lap-of-luxury liberals are welcome to dispose of their assets in whatever manner they see fit. They--and the U.S. government--should allow the rest of us the same privilege.

James Dawson

Tarzana