Protecting our oil interests

Had President Bush not recognized the vital need to protect our oil interests in the Middle East, he might not have undertaken the risks of the Gulf war.

Had we not fought and won that war, it is likely that our domestic economy would be under considerably more strain and stress than at present. Mr. Bush had our domestic economy uppermost in thought in pursuing the Gulf war, but there has been very little said about this. The reason: when Americans fight wars, we like to think that it is more for immediate humanitarian need than for our own domestic self-interest.

When we "vote our pocketbooks" on Nov. 3, let us consider the president who looked out for our pocketbooks when he energized the forces needed to protect our oil interests. Ruth Maki, Cherokee Village, Ark.

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