An expert's testimony

An expert's testimony

An article in the April 12 issue of The Jakarta Post on the
identification of areas of possible future unrest in Indonesia
appears to have incorrectly applied the background of at least
one of the two major contributors to the article. Much of the
article references the thoughts of one whom the Post identified
as being a historian.

However, none of the statements quoted as sourced from the
historian have even the slightest connection to the scholarly
subject of history. Rather, the errant quotations fall more in
the category of futuristic fiction, if not trash. But, that which
is more significant to the reader is that no reputable historian,
even one of lesser or mediocre repute, would allow pure and
unsubstantiated prognostications to be published under his name.

Based on facts that are published in thousands of the world's
most highly respected journals, every day of the year, the United
States of America is the greatest power the earth has yet known.
No amount of insidious innuendo will alter that fact.

While the U.S. government has erred, as in the Vietnam War,
the power of the U.S. electorate did prove its might by its
ability to have its collective voice heard and acted upon. With
God's grace, the world will enjoy the benefits of this greatest
of world powers, made possible by the wisdom of its electorate,
for many more generations yet to be born.

C. M. DUPUIS

Jakarta