Consider costs of being at war

An increase in our national debt is an automatic increase in our citizens' income tax. Before there is an increase in the debt limit, our citizens should request detailed and financial information from our president on the following:

• How many years have our U.S. troops and equipment been in Iraq and Afghanistan and what has it cost our U.S. taxpayers?

• Why are they still there and what has been accomplished?

• What U.N. countries have given us any help financially?

• What foreign countries receive aid, financial or military, from our U.S. taxpayers?

E.A. SMITH

Modesto

Editor's Note: The House voted last week to suspend the debt ceiling until mid-May. Denham voted for it; the Senate is scheduled to vote on the issue Wednesday.