U.S. NEEDS TO HELP AFGHANISTAN REBUILD

On Page 18A of the Nov. 25 Sunday newspaper, there was a story about an
Afghan farmer, Gul Haidar, who was happy to be able to plant opium poppies
now that the Taliban is on the run.

He said he only needed to water twice to get a crop of opium and had to
water nine times to get a crop of wheat, which he had grown to keep from
being imprisoned by the Taliban.

I can understand his logic, but is this what our military men and women are
fighting for - so that the world can be flooded with more drugs?

We could help Afghan farmers more by sending engineers and agriculture
specialists to Mr. Haidar's country to teach its farmers how to drill for
water and how to plant crops that will grow in Afghanistan's climate.

Drugs are not the answer for farmers like Mr. Haidar. I'm sure if he has
children, he would like to see them healthy from good food grown in his
soil - a crop he could be proud of.

It's my hope that we truly can help this poor country and its farmers after
Osama bin Laden and his ilk have been removed from power.

It's not enough to rid the world of unsavory characters. War is hard on
countries and their citizens.

We have the resources and manpower to help rebuild the war-torn areas, so
the people can live free and with dignity.

We are Americans, and that's what we do. It's the fact that we can do this
that makes me proud to be an American.

Anne P. Stanley

Amarillo