December 11, 2002

Congressman David Wu 1023 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Wu:

In recent weeks, there have been reports that a delegation from the Government of Israel will travel to Washington, DC, to plead its case for $8 billion in loan guarantees and $4 billion in defense and other grants spread over 10 years. I am unequivocally opposed to Congress acceding to this request.

In a recent study commissioned by the US Army War College, it was calculated that since 1973, the State of Israel has cost the US about $1.6 trillion dollars or, more than $5,700 per person in the US. This amount is more than twice the cost of the Vietnam War. I find it unconscionable that taxpayer dollars of this magnitude have been squandered on the State of Israel or any foreign beneficiary.

Congressional consideration of the Israeli request should not warrant a hearing. The front page November 28, 2002 The Oregonian headline read the State of Oregon “Budget takes another wallop”. The article stated “even if voters approve a tax increase in January, revenues will fall $126 million short of paying for state programs...”

When is the US government and Congress going to cease propping up a regime that has been astronomically costly to the US taxpayer? If the Federal government has money to give the State of Israel or any foreign country why not divert some of those funds to state grants? After all, the money Congress gives away is, in fact, American taxpayer dollars. I realize that certain special interests dominant the political scene in Washington but in this case I feel the special interests of the people of Oregon demand priority.

Yours truly,

Louis Farshee

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