For aid, use half of military budget

The news from Nepal has been devastating; thousands killed and injured and the toll continues to rise by the hour. But almost as disheartening is the paltry response by the U.S. government. So far reports say that we’ve deployed 70 troops and promised $1 million in aid. But compare this minute expenditure with the cost of drone bombing in Iraq and Syria. In March, the U.S. government spent about $266 million or $8.6 million a day on drone strikes. (International Business News, April 25, 2015). Considering the dubious results of waging the decades old wars we’ve been engaged in, perhaps we ought re-consider our priorities and wage peace. Let’s tell our leaders to divert one half of our military budget to humanitarian aid in Nepal and elsewhere and then see which expenditures are most effective at winning hearts and minds.

Paul Miller

Everett

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