Bush, not citizens, spent the money

In the Oct. 31 Herald, I read an article on page A5 that does you no credit, even if your staff did not write it. Headlined “Taxpayers spent $43.5 billion on spying last year,” I see deception, convoluted thinking or propaganda.

My first objection/clarification is that the taxpayers did not spend that money; the politicians and Bush administration did so.

The second misrepresentation is that the money was not all spent on spying, but rather on satellite surveilance ($10 billion), eavesdropping ($10 billion) plus Army support equipment (unlisted).

An almost equal amount has gone into clandestine operations which are not necessarily spying.

It is my thought that your editors should have edited the original article or made additions to correct some misimpressions.

John R. Howard

Arlington