Bush defends relief efforts - 12/30/04

President Bush and the citizens of this country do not need to defend or justify our reaction to the tsunami crisis ("Bush defends relief efforts", Dec. 30). Our record on providing humanitarian assistance stands proud. If the United Nations needs more money, perhaps they can find some of the $21 billion in illegal profits generated from the Iraq Oil-for-Food program. As far as appeasing Muslim nations, it's a lost cause. The United States protected Muslims in Bosnia from ethnic cleansing and freed Muslims from the tyrannical rule of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, yet the world accuses us of persecuting them.

When these nations adopt free markets and democracy, they will no longer need to beg from the "stingy" in the world because they will have enough wealth to take care of themselves. In 2004, hurricanes caused $50 billion in losses to the United States but we did not need to depend on other countries for aid. Freedom begets wealth. And while money isn't the answer to everything, it sure alleviates suffering during disasters.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News - published 01/12/2005]