USO sent 7 entertainment groups to Afghanistan in 2007, asks O'Reilly for support

Bill O'Reilly should support the USO if he wants to help U.S. troops fighting abroad, the charity organization said in a curt letter to the Fox News Channel commentator.

The missive came a day after O'Reilly complained the non-profit charity organization was not sending enough celebrities to entertain troops in Afghanistan.

"If you really want to support America's service men and women and their families, please set the record straight," USO Chief Executive Edward Powell said in the letter, a copy of which was received by The Associated Press.

O'Reilly was traveling and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Speaking from Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, O'Reilly told the AP that he is disappointed the USO "doesn't put anybody out there (in Afghanistan). As far as I know, the only famous people in the past year were (country music singer) Toby Keith and me."

O'Reilly got that impression after meeting with hundreds of troops during a surprise visit to Bagram Air Base and Camp Eggers, in Kabul, last weekend.

The USO said it has sent seven entertainment tours to Afghanistan in 2007, after 12 tours _ including one with O'Reilly nemesis Al Franken _ went to the war-torn country in 2006.

"Putting together each of these tours is complex and requires a match between the troops' interests, celebrity availability and the military's ability to provide logistics and security," Powell said.

The USO _ the organization that famously brought Bob Hope to Vietnam and Marilyn Monroe to Korea _ has also been active sending comedians and professional golfers on entertainment tours to bases in the Persian Gulf.