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.

“What is man that you should be mindful of him?”, the psalmist of old asked God.

What indeed.

Jim Buckley

35 Myrtle Hill Tce

Lr Glanmire Road

Cork