To the editor:

While the Republican leadership is pressing President Obama to make draconian cuts in social services to strike a deal on raising the debt ceiling, they seem to have forgotten some GOP actions in the recent past.

1. Under G.W. Bush, the debt ceiling was raised several times.

2. G.W. Bush added to the debt by, among others:

• Deciding to involve the United States in a war with Saddam Hussein in Iraq because he allegedly had WMDs. Experts stated that he had none, but Bush rejected their information.

• Deciding to go to war in Afghanistan, although it is known that no one had ever conquered that land. Also, Pakistan has been secretly supporting the Taliban for years (to get dominant influence in Kabul against India) and gave refuge to Bin Laden. He had to be killed, but fighting the Taliban did not do it. The Navy Seals did.

• Giving tax cuts for the wealthy.

• Ignoring bank regulations set up during the Great Depression. Result: the recession we are suffering today.