Letter to the editor

Sometimes it makes sense to settle for temporary solutions to long term problems.
For example, while we are in the process of trying to get the Iraqi government to
expend some of that huge backlog of oil revenue they have stashed in offshore banks, on the war effort that has so far been mostly an all-American enterprise,
we might, in the interim, suggest that they at least provide free gas for the tanks, planes and trucks we are so generously providing. This would be a small gesture on their part to show, at least marginally, some degree of appreciation for our sacrifices. As it stands right now, it is highly unlikely we'll see much movement towards freeing up some of those offshore billions any time soon, so a little help at the pump could go a short ways towards making us not want to cut bait and bail out just yet. The reason given, by an Iraqi official, for not releasing those billions of oil revenue dollars, was that through no fault of their own, Iraqi governments tended to be corrupt and have always been so, even before Saddam. Well, gee, what could we expect then, right? I mean, traditions are traditions. It's probably far too much to hope for, but we could at least ask them, politely of course, to let the gas flow
on their tab and keep things moving along....until we come to our senses and get the hell out of there.

George Morin
Auburn, Ga.