Empire strikes back

Empire strikes back

How things can escalate unnecessarily. What do recent remarks
on the structure of the English language have to do with "who won
the war?" Mr. Jon Morrison (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 17, 1996), you
are plainly a candidate for some free plastic surgery, and I
advise caution when frequenting some of the drinking
establishments of Jakarta.

No there is no longer an Empire, and a large reason for its
demise was the funding of two monstrous World Wars, the last one
when it alone initially stemmed Hitler's aggression for two long
years. Where was the U.S. for these two years, whilst the rest of
us were getting our full share of deprivation? I will tell you,
charging a bloody fortune for war materials, even though Truman
tried many times for more direct involvement. If not for Japanese
aggression how long would it have taken? Mr. Morrison, you are
out of order, and many will have been upset by your snide remarks
regarding war involvement, not least the Russian people who with
great sacrifice did much to halt Hitler's advance.

As regards your comments on John Major, dynamic he may not be,
but he does at least have a strong resolve on the subject of
terrorism, not something that can be said of Bill Clinton, who
openly endorses a well known front for a terrorist group.
Whatever happened to that old alliance? Maybe that has gone to
your new friend Japan.

Lastly let us not forget who your main ally is when the U.S.
require support in the UN, something for which the "new
administration" is hardly deserving. The U.S. is now the world's
policeman, a mantle once undertaken by the Empire, and never an
easy or pleasant duty to undertake. However, at least it knows
where it can rely on for immediate and active ground support, not
bad for a so-called "nothing."

STUART MARSH

Jakarta