Billions spent on war but nothing on want

A BUDGET of 120 billion is to be released by the US Congress to fund President Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the same time I read that schools in Liberia — a country with close ties to America — are desperately short of books and teaching materials while there is a dire shortage of medical supplies in a whole string of west African countries.

Jonathan Swift once said we have just enough religion to hate but not enough to love. Taking my cue from the great man, I should say we always have enough money to put to destructive use but there’s never a penny to spend on want.