Government must prioritize policies
Hal Bernton wrote a fine article about Marnie Gustavson, a brave Seattle woman working for years in Afghanistan to improve the lives of thousands of orphans, the innocent victims of 34 years of war [“War orphans,” page one, Dec. 9]. She has made a positive difference in the lives of many children while risking her own life. She should be supported.

The spending priorities of our government, on the other hand, are making Gustavson’s job harder. Just as war produces more wounded soldiers and civilians, it also produces more orphans.
Good people like Gustavson try to help Afghans move forward, but our government's policies keep driving them backward. This should be reversed.

—Bill Distler, Bellingham