What can you, I, we do to help Iraq

I'm not a soldier. I'm now too old to enlist as a private and I don't have the specialty skills that the military would be interested in to allow me to enlist, like being a doctor, lawyer or religious leader.

So what can I do to help the troops in Iraq? Well there are a number of reconstruction projects going on, but trying to get funding through the government procurement system is . . . . . . well lets just call it slow.

Jim Hake wanted to help and so is doing so. He is collecting money to buy items for schools, TV stations, toys, etc. and has arranged with the Marines to fly the stuff to Iraq where the Marines will see the items are used properly.

His organization, Spirit of America, works with the Marines and once a project is identified, he raises the funds, buys the equipment (all items are civilian and are locally available), ships it to Camp Pendleton and turns it over to the Marines.

His latest project is to raise $100,000 to purchase equipment so seven TV stations can be brought back on line in Iraq where Iraqis will own and run them. The only requirement is no anti-coalition propaganda and allow the Marines to BUY airtime for their own announcements.

Check out the article at OpinionJournal.com and consider donating part of your tax refunds towards a worthy cause. From the Spirit of America Web site, donations are TAX DEDUCTABLE so by giving part of your tax refund, you will lesson your taxes for 2004.