By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – At the Missouri Air National Guard base in St. Louis Friday, U.S. Senator Kit Bond, R-Mo., voiced his support for President Bush's $87 billion request for Iraq reconstruction funds.
Bond said the United States needs to invest heavily in rebuilding Iraq.
The Republican said winning the peace there is key to heading off future terrorist attacks.
"Unfortunately in the not too distant past, we showed too much of a tendency to fire and fall back--not to pursue the terrorist after Khobar Towers, Somalia, the bombing of embassies," Bond said. "And I'm afraid they became emboldened."
Bond says $66 billion of the requested funds would go toward U.S. troops, and the rest to Iraqi government and infrastructure.
Protestors say the government should invest as much in domestic programs.
As Bond addressed the guardsmen, several groups protested outside the Republican's office in Clayton.
Amy Blouin heads the Missouri Coalition for Budget and Policy Priorities. She said leaders should give similar financial support to domestic programs.
"We have seen a huge investment by the United States in foreign involvement," Blouin said. "We are asking for the same investment for the people in the United States, for family security."
Blouin said poverty and unemployment are on the rise, and more money should go to anti-poverty programs and health care.