Dear Editor:

As early as May 14, Congress could vote on the Obama administration’s request for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House Appropriations Committee has increased this amount to $94.2 billion.

Both secretaries Clinton and Gates have said that economic assistance and diplomacy are the road to stability and security, but only about 8 percent of the funding in this bill is for non-military activities, the rest for military operations.

There is no military solution in Afghanistan. U.S. air strikes inside Afghanistan and Pakistan are stirring up more suffering, fear and hatred towards the United States. A recent U.S. air strike in Afghanistan killed as many as 100 civilians, including children. In 2008, air strikes in Afghanistan killed some 552 civilians. The estimated cost of a drone attack is over $4 million.

Please call Senators Mark Udall (202) 224-5941 and Michael Bennett (202) 224-5852 and Representatives John Salazar (202) 225-4761 and Jared Polis (202) 225-2161 and ask them not to vote for this supplemental appropriation.

Cathleen Krahe

Carbondale