Obama endangers troops by buying off Taliban
Re: “Pressure up on pastor who wants to burn Quran,” Sept. 7
I don’t dismiss Gen. David Petraeus’ warning that burning the Quran in Florida may cause more U.S. casualties in Afghanistan. But the Taliban grows stronger and more menacing due to President Obama’s continuance of economic aid to Afghanistan.
After nine years and 330 billion U.S. tax dollars, Afghan President Hamid Karzai funnels money to the Taliban because he is acting as a proxy for a U.S. foreign policy that now seeks to buy the Taliban off.
Giving billions of dollars to the Taliban who, in turn, buy more recruits and weapons is what’s really endangering our brave troops. It is galling to know that my hard-earned money is being used to buy the loyalty of a misogynist, terrorist group that justifies human rights abuses against women by quoting the Quran.
Helen Logan Tackett
Fullerton, Calif.
Emergency fund should be extended
Both Republicans and Democrats have rightfully praised a little known Recovery Act initiative known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. As noted in a recent CNN report, TANF is expected to put more than 200,000 unemployed people back to work in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
In Fairfax County, the program has already made a difference. Since the April 21 startup, nonprofits and county departments have helped more than 700 families with direct emergency assistance for rent, utilities and basic needs, and have placed 52 people in four-month subsidized employment opportunities, with more anticipated before Sept. 30.
From what I am hearing, Congress is considering a $2.5 billion yearlong extension. Should the proposal get bogged down in political wrangling, many of our nation’s most vulnerable residents will suffer. TANF is a good investment for the American people, one that clearly stimulates the economy. The returns have already been documented by both employers and local government officials.
John Horejsi
Coordinator, Social Action Linking Together
Vienna
Federal campaign is reducing underage drinking
As a practicing physician, I often counsel parents of teenagers to be extra-vigilant against underage drinking. Parents are surprised to hear that most teens who drink obtain alcohol from social sources — including sneaking it from their parents’ homes, having older friends buy it or obtaining it at parties.
The Federal Trade Commission has an informative Web site (www.DontServeTeens.gov) where parents can get additional information on how to reduce teens’ access to alcohol. This public service campaign and greater parental vigilance are clearly having a positive effect. The latest Monitoring the Future survey shows teens reporting easy availability of obtaining alcohol has declined considerably in recent years, particularly among eighth-graders.
Most importantly, parents need to know that their efforts are not futile. Even though they believe their teens are not listening to them, the research shows that parents have the most influence over their son’s or daughter’s decision to drink or not to drink.
Dr. Raymond Scalettar
Washington
