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Sunday
Now, here's a good idea courtesy of the Letters to the Editor section of the San Diego Union-Tribune:
Finance resistance within Afghanistan In World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt instructed the Treasury Department to establish national banks and to print currency backed by the U.S. dollar for liberated countries like France. He considered this so important that Treasury officials followed the troops into Normandy after D-Day. Why not do the same in Afghanistan, where the per capita annual income has to be well below $500? Establishing an Afghan National Bank and printing a hard currency for the Northern Alliance (perhaps with the motto, "In Allah The Merciful We Trust") and paying the 15,000 troops the alliance currently commands a mere $20 a week would undermine the Taliban. This would cost only $15.6 million a year. In a poverty-stricken country, hoards of moderate Afghans would flock to join the Northern Alliance. There would be no need for a large bombing campaign, and we would have to field only a small strike force, perhaps one armored division and several helicopter gunship units and fighter/bomber units. Wouldn't it be better to let the Afghans, rather than the U.S. forces, fight for their freedom? JACK DUGAN
I truly hope someone in the Congress, Senate -- even the White House -- has had this interesting idea cross their collective minds. Nah. Makes too much sense and isn't as "exciting" as declaring war. Plus, it won't keep GWB's popularity rating in the high double digits. (Oops...getting political, couldn't resist.) Anyway, should the Powers That Be in this country decide to take the above course, I would hope that we do not abandon the Afghans once the Taliban has been eliminated. One last thing: In the wake of so many disgusting, loathsome acts of racial terrorism (i.e., harassing, even killing, Americans of Arab descent or anyone wearing any type of turban, including Sikhs fer crissakes), I must say that I am ashamed of such barbaric behavior. I'm ashamed that these racist-thug-miscreants even live in my country. If you are Arab-American and reading this: Please accept my humble apology on behalf of the United States of America's bigoted durance vile. If you are reading this and are curious as to what Islam truly means, read this. If you are among the racist-thug-miscreants who think it's your "duty" as an Amurrican to harass, bugger, or kill Arab-Americans, Muslims, and anyone resembling an Arab: Please go away. Preferably to some distant, remote atol where you might be free to find fault amongst your peers. Lord knows, there should be much to pick from. Just. Go. Away.
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